Thwap...thwap...thwap

bellnier · #1 (**permalink**) Wed Jul 15, 2009, 09:34am

I've been away from softball for some time - daughter has moved on to bigger and crazier things (premier women's rugby). But I was pulled back in as a photographer. Anyway, ASA FP tournament, pitcher steps both feet on rubber - thwap, thwap, thwap - before every pitch she throws the ball in mitt, digs it out, always 3 times, and then starts her motion. It looked odd to me and I vaguely recall that the pitcher is allowed to bring hands together only once. Is this a violation (IP?)? Just curious...it's bugging me. Thanks in advance.
Dave

wadeintothem · #2 (**permalink**) Wed Jul 15, 2009, 09:42am

Once on the rubber and hands are together, if they separate their hands they must deliver the pitch..

So she has 2 IPs per pitch

bellnier · #3 (**permalink**) Wed Jul 15, 2009, 10:25am

Thanks. It was a 14U tournament. I suppose at some point in her career (she threw pretty hard, had a decent change and the beginnings of a pretty good drop ball) someone will correct this quirky habit.
Cheers,
Dave

SC Ump · #4 (**permalink**) Wed Jul 15, 2009, 09:46pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Once on the rubber and hands are together, if they separate their hands they must deliver...

bkbjones · #5 (**permalink**) Wed Jul 15, 2009, 11:56pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Once on the rubber and hands are together, if they separate their hands they must deliver the pitch..

So she has 2 IPs per pitch

so that's two bases on balls with hardly any time elapsing...second quickest time to walk two batters I've heard of in the past couple months!

JefferMC · #6 (**permalink**) Fri Jul 17, 2009, 03:14pm

Most pitchers who do this (while on the pitcher's plate) at least have the good sense to drop the ball from the glove into the bare hand, so the hands can be said to not have come together.

But most of them have enough sense to do it behind the pitcher's plate in the first place.