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The ASA Umpire manual states "Any time the contact is prior to the pitch, call DEAD BALL". That makes it a NO PITCH, you called a dead ball. Further, you could cite 6-10.B, no pitch when the batter is off balance (and you assert the contact put the batter off balance). But, I think that call has to be made almost immediately, and a retroactive "no pitch" call will always bring a disgreement from one or both teams.
Agreed that the pitch technically starts when one hand is taken off the ball. Depending on the pitcher's motion, that doesn't mean the NFHS start of any motion associated with the pitch, and the touch (and separation) may occur after motion has begun. For consistency in application, I would assert that if you can still stop the ball from being thrown, or get the "DEAD BALL" out even as the pitch is thrown, then that is the best resolution. You have a rule and a manual direction that support you, and the actual timing of the contact is so close to being before the pitch that it would be the best game management outcome. It is similar, in my mind, to a batter (legitimately) requesting time just as the pitcher starts her motion; if you can safely stop, that is better, and who's to argue (at least very long) against a statement that the batter requested it early enough, I just didn't pull the trigger fast enough?
In Rachel's case, where she says ball was being released at the time of contact, too late for a no pitch. It has to be CO or INT; and without a judgment of intent, it has to be CO. If intent is judged, or contact is so late that the pitch already is in the glove, then INT.
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Wed Mar 22, 2006, 11:52am
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