13 illegal pitches in state final
 

WIAA state softball: Mineral Point takes advantage of 13 illegal pitches and finishes pitch perfect : Prep-zone

The losing team (the team with the 13 illegal pitches called against them) was 25-0 going into the final.

well probably they finally had umpires with the stones to call IPs ... thats usually the case in stories like this

Reporter apparently doesnt understand softball bases are only 60'.

Worst part of it is, they even called the coach in before the game and warned him they were going to be looking for it. Found some video from last years WIAA softball championship on youtube, but cant find anything on this years game yet. Would be interesting to see what they were calling.

There's a video there somewhere. Wait, this is it. Not sure how much of the game they show -- it's just highlights:

Video: Mineral Point wins WIAA Division 3 state softball title : Prep-zone

BTW, the headline originally called them balks, too. :D

Not the greatest video and the first 2 pitches he called illegal they start the video with the ball half way to the plate. But based on ones later in the video, yes she is sidearm on some of her deliveries.

"I just hope the umpires do this at the beginning of the year and not in the championship game. That’s what stinks.”

A) Will he really feel this way at the beginning of next season?
B) All you umpires who refuse to call your local superstars for IP's, please take this to heart.
C) All you assignors who stop sending umpires to certain schools because the coach complains that they actually dare to call IP's ... please take this to heart as well.

I agree this is an issue. Should never have gotten that far without knowing she was illegal. Should have been called, just like equipment should be checked correctly starting at game 1 of the season. Had a team with 8 bats thrown out at the state finals this weekend, bats they had been using all season without a word from umpires. All 8 were no doubt types of issues that should have been caught. I feel sorry for the team because they have been getting a disservice all year then on possibly the biggest game of thier careers thus far the bat they are used to, been swinging all year lucky grip etc. is taken. Of course who are they mad at, the umpires that let it go ALL season long....nope the ones standing there enforcing the rules correctly!

And she doesn't help the visual effects by what looked like her shifting her hips to the left during the delivery.

They certainly were no using NFHS mechanics :)

The one at 1:38 is definitely illegal. Ditto 2:02

Provided for discussion.

Two screen captures here. The time is shown for each picture.

Especially where coaches have direct input to assignments. :eek: :(

Where's the BU in your screen shots? If they are using a three man crew, shouldn't U1 be closer to 1B shoulder of F4? Trying to learn softball mechanics.

Although that is an unrelated to the OP, the mechanics by this crew are not standard NFHS (the first play had U3 "rotating home" when U1 chased; there was another play where U1 turned and looked, but didn't chase).

The pre-pitch positioning for U1 with a runner on second is to use either shoulder of F4, where I prefer to use the right shoulder. Your responsibilities (in part) is to cover the pick off at second, and cover first/second if U3 does not chase. Where you choose to position yourself is where you are comfortable.

No. F3's shoulder shouldn't be in the equation.

Who's the goofball guy wearing the blue shorty shorts, sleeveless shirt and Minnie Pearl hat at 3:08?

That's scary! :eek:

I see no smiley face, so I'm not sure if you were trying to joke.
If not - he didn't say anything about F3's shoulder.

You are correct. I have a tendency to use right and left when designating a shoulder. I misread it.....probably because I see so many umpires, FP & SP that hang near F3 instead of getting their ass over where it belongs, near F4.

And I see some doing the opposite, too lazy to hustle on the steal/PB and in no position to call a pickoff at 1st.

Seen both ... sometimes the same guy at different points in the game or day.

That is why it is stupid to use SHOULDERS as a factor in starting position. Just use 20-30 feet.

From where? BTW, the shoulder is a focal point, not a specific origin from which one measures.

How about 1/2 way between bases, 12-15 feet beyond base line, then adjust to runners & fielders.

It has always been my feeling that the ASA standard training of being on the left or right shoulder of F4 or F6 is assuming that those fielders are playing in the "normal" spot on the field.

As we have all seen, especially in the SP game, those two fielders can be pretty much anywhere but those "normal" positions.

When I train Base Umpire Mechanics, I refer to the standard training, but advise that it may be better to pick a spot, somewhere between 1/2 to 2/3 of the way between bases as a starting point and adjust from there.

I always suggest staying near and behind the infielder when possible, which should be just about always in the FP game. Something I picked up from HP & BS years ago, if you stand in the hole, you become the target. I also find it easier to avoid a moving fielder if you are within 5-6 feet of the fielder.

Just as with a catcher, just watch the fielder's direction, swing open and let them pass. You don't need to have a fielder start running in your direction and then you both choose to move into each other's path. Or even worse, getting run over by fielder while trying to dodge a batted ball.

The parking lot. :rolleyes:

THE BASE. Obviously it varies depending which runners are on.