Illegal Pitches

[Riddy]

I am not an official. I am a softball fan and my daughter pitches. I watch a lot of college softball. Mainly SEC and Big 10 and whatever is on ESPN. I would like some input or reasoning or clarification as to why Illegal pitches are not called or maybe they are not illegal pitches. There is video of them on youtube to check out. For Example

Silkwood from Mississippi double plants
Littlejohn from Alabama- double plant and lands outside the 8 foot circle
Carlson from Auburn lands outside the 2 foot wide alley allowed for pitchers.

I have watched other pitches and some leap but it is very hard to see. The examples I gave are very obvious.

I am looking for an answer.

[RKBUmp]

The simple answer is the umpires are ignoring it. Yes many pitchers are illegal and for whatever reason officials look the other way.

[Umpire@1]

It's easier for them to look the other way, and ignore it.

[Manny A]

The premiere umpires are working SEC games. Their games are meticulously scrutinized by assignors, trainers, and NCAA SUP staff watching at the parks, on TV, or on computers using streaming video. If these pitchers were as obviously guilty as you suggest, I would have to believe that something is being done to rectify the problem.

To date, I cannot recall seeing anything come out from those higher-ups instructing umpires to tighten up on their IP calls. Perhaps they don't think it's an issue.

[MD Longhorn]

I went and looked for a little video on the people you mentioned, and I could not find an example of any actual illegal pitches. Do you have video?

Often, what looks like a "double plant" isn't. And 2 feet is wider than you think, especially when you have to be COMPLETELY out to be illegal.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Riddy

Littlejohn from Alabama- double plant and lands outside the 8 foot circle

The circle has no relevance as to whether a pitch is legal or not