Funny you should say that. I was watching the telecast of the Tennessee / Auburn game last weekend. Whoever the color person was in the booth, she kept referring to a mound. I would suspect she's a former NCAA D1 player who should know better!

I've heard a few D1 NCAA coaches call it "the mound" too. So, however much it might make an umpire cringe...apparently it is an accepted slang/colloquialism throughout softball, even by those that do know better.

Well, a little, but that's because I don't know your recidivism rate. :p

LOL. My parole officer told me to let it go. :) From this point on, I'll probably be the only guy around here who refers to it as the plate instead of the mound.

That's what I said, if there's space I call it. :cool: I'm not sure if we're just talking past each other or if we actually differ in some way on this call.

Well, then, it's up to you to carry the message to your blue brothers and sisters. Change occurs slowly, particularly when you have folks that work both small ball and softball.

And as mentioned, even the talking heads on softball broadcasts fail our sport!

Fight the good fight! :)

It is a leftover from the baseball invasion of softball. Still have a fair amount of people from baseball in the game. The players repeat what they hear from the coaches and fans.

And the talking heads......well, their respect for the game is questionable at best. JMHO.

Unless the pitcher was stepping forward off the pitcher's plate, this is a legal pitch in all codes. F1 does not have to be in contact with the plate at the time of release. Good job on the base umpire. Fed 6-1-2-C for reference.

First, as mentioned earlier, her foot was never on the top of the plate. Secondly, the FU acknowledged it WAS illegal but declined to go any further under the circumstances, and I, quite frankly, did not want to stop the game and cause a scene. And yes, I know the foot does not have to be in contact with the plate at the time of release.