Intentional walk ... coach goes berserk

[bobbrix]

Girls 10 & 11 year old league final (orthodox pitching).

Team A has a pitcher that no one can hit off of. Further, when she bats, she hits the ball a mile.

Team B coach starts complaining that she's a ringer and shouldn't be allowed to play.

So, Team B coach tells her pitcher to walk this kid.

Team A coach goes nuts ... swearing, rude gestures, etc and gets tossed. A horrific display for everyone all the way to the parking lot.

(I'm a spectator at this one.)


Question:

Is it legal to intentionally walk a batter in an obvious manner??? These were pitch-outs like you'd see in major ball (except the catcher wasn't standing, she was in her crouch but like 2 feet off the plate).

I thought they could try to throw just out of the strike zone, to try to draw strikes on close pitches, but still had to try to pitch to the batter.

... bobbrix

[SC Ump]

Originally posted by bobbrix
Is it legal to intentionally walk a batter in an obvious manner???

In this day when criminals go to trial and challenge the definition of what it means for a glove to "fit", or what the actual definition is of "sex" when had in the oval office, I can understand your confusion. Please be assured that it is perfectally legal to do an "intentional" walk "intentionally".

[jhawley]

In every rule book that I have ever read in fast pitch softball, the pitcher MUST deliver 4 balls in order to walk the batter. There are no INTENTIONAL WALKS as in baseball, where the batter goes to first w/out seeing any pitches. I dont like intentional walks either, but it is part of the game jsut as bunting or hitting home runs.

[Dakota]

Originally posted by jhawley
In every rule book that I have ever read in fast pitch softball, the pitcher MUST deliver 4 balls in order to walk the batter. There are no INTENTIONAL WALKS as in baseball, where the batter goes to first w/out seeing any pitches. I dont like intentional walks either, but it is part of the game jsut as bunting or hitting home runs.

I don't know what levels of baseball allow a "declared walk" rather than throwing four pitchouts, but it isn't MLB.

ASA fastpitch requires four pitches to be thrown, but they may be obvious pitchouts as long as the catcher starts in the catcher's box, the pitcher pitches a legal pitch, and all other defensive players are in fair territory (just like a normal pitch).

ASA slowpitch allows the "declared walk" rather than throwing four pitches.

[jhawley]

national federation baseball allows a DECLARED walk.

[Dakota]

Originally posted by jhawley
national federation baseball allows a DECLARED walk.

Thanks. As you can tell, I don't call baseball. FED or otherwise.

[bethsdad]

I do little league ..... The only problem I see is the catcher is not in the proper position. You can walk them but you cant intetionally roll balls in.