Illegal Pitch Play.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

From the OhioHSAA Softball Bulletin 2019-1:

Play #5: B1 hits an Illegal Pitch for a Double. B1 misses 1B and is called out on Appeal. Since B1 did not reach 1B safely, is the Illegal Pitch nullified or is there an option?

What say you?

MTD, Sr.

[teebob21]

deleted

[ilyazhito]

The illegal pitch penalty is enforced. Because the batter and all runners did not advance at least one base safely, the illegal pitch penalty takes precedence. The batter returns to the plate with 1 ball added to the count. If the illegal pitch results in Ball 4, the batter is awarded 1st base on the base on balls, and runners advance if forced.

[RKBUmp]

B1 did reach first base safely but missed it. By rule she is assumed to have touched the base until properly appealed. The appeal stands and B1 is out.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Good one. I initially thought no option would be given and the batter declared out.

Then I thought (always dangerous) what if we started with a runner on second and 2 outs? Otherwise the same. BR misses first base, defense appeals, BR is ruled out. Does the run score? 9-1-1-d? Now is there an option?

[Big Slick]

There is no option on this play (IP is nullified), as the batter-runner achieved first base safely. She just choose not to touch it, which is a separate violation in which she would be out on an appeal. As someone stated, a player is assumed to have touched the base when they pass the base, ergo, she touched first base.

This is a common misconception. The crew missed this exact play in a DIII regional (more than 5 years ago --- purposely vague to not implicate the crew, and let's just say this particular play got a "pass" because of the S-storm that was apart of that particular regional).

For those who think that missing the base absolves her of "achieving a base safely" -- how can violating one rule benefit any player?

[Big Slick]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

Good one. I initially thought no option would be given and the batter declared out.

Then I thought (always dangerous) what if we started with a runner on second and 2 outs? Otherwise the same. BR misses first base, defense appeals, BR is ruled out. Does the run score? 9-1-1-d? Now is there an option?

No and No. No option because both the BR and runner advanced at least one base (nullifies the IP). Then BR called out for missing first base on appeal; no runs can score because of the third out on BR at first. Same ruling in USA/NFHS/NCAA.