Balk question

[khumbert45]

I had a question come up from a baseball coach I work with today. Pitcher is pitching from the set with a runner on first base. He comes set, lifts his leg up and without moving towards home, turns to first base and throws to first. He never disengaged the rubber or did a jump-step.

I looked at 6.1.3 which states "During these preliminary motions and during the set position until a delivery motion occurs, the pitcher may turn on his pivot foot or lift it in a jump turn to step with the non-pivot foot toward a base while throwing or feinting as outlined in 6-2-4 and 2-28-5, or he may lift his pivot foot in a step backward off the pitcher's plate which must be in or partially within the 24" length of the pitcher's plate."

From what I am reading, the move that occurred is a legal pickoff attempt. What is putting doubt in my mind is the verbiage "until a delivery motion occurs". I would say until he breaks his hands and moves towards home, then he is able to turn and throw to any base that is occupied to put out a runner. The coaches I work with said lifting the front leg is the delivery motion.

Looking for opinions. A balk was called in this coach's game and I am of the opinion that it was the wrong call. I don't want to make the same mistake in one of my games.

Thanks