Pretty much the same thing happened in FL one year.

HOWEVER, I would be cautious about believing a coach who claims that "No one has called that all year."
I can't count the times I've been told that only to run into other umpires who have called the exact same illegal pitch.

Better yet, I had a pitcher tell her coach that I was the umpire that called the same thing on her the week before.

That's great, when the pitcher has to tell him (or her)!

I had one (during a HS Regional Semi) where I called the pitcher for stepping outside the 24....
As I was thinking "oh boy, now I gotta explain this", the catcher tells me "she gets that called that all the time".

Two pitches later she does it again, but this time the coach asks to talk to me and says, "I don't understand it, she's never done that before"
I just told her, "well, she's doing it now and it's illegal"

Coach took her out of the game... put in studdette number two and went on to win the game in 9 innings.....

They won, now 5:00 Sunday vs. California.

Some terrible umpiring things:
First inning, two umps each missed what looked obvious calls. Both overturned on replay.
On one, the U2 signaled out, then safe after the F4 dropped it trying to throw to 1st.
Worst of that was that the PU sees the replay then overrules the BU.
On one, gave the wrong signal, safe when he meant out.

Also, no reason for U1 to be in foul ground on a ball hit to pitcher.

If using 6 umps, U1 should not signal f/f along with URF (?). Just because I did that a few times as PU when U1 had it is no excuse.

JUCO game a couple of years ago. Bottom of first inning, visiting team pitcher is taking a small step forward with her pivot foot before she pitches. I am BU, call like seven of these in a row, several of which were pounded for extra base hits and home runs. Coach and pitcher have no reaction at all. Bases empty, I call it again and walk over to the first base dugout where the V team is and tell the coach what I am seeing. Her response is "I know, she has done it all year and I can't get her to stop." I call about four more, then the coach comes out and replaces the pitcher.....

So much for "coaching" the player.

Was she stepping in front of the plate and completely losing contact? I saw a pitcher this spring who "slid" her foot forward on the plate until only her heel was touching the front of the plate.

College allows the pivot foot to be lifted off the plate so long as the foot is not moved closer to home plate when it is set back down.


Got a call to work a solo friendly scrimmage a couple of months back for a couple of coaches I know. As the scrimmage went on I was talking with both coaches about different things I saw with thier pitchers that could be a problem. The one team changed to their 3rd pitcher and I immediately saw she was taking a small step forward with her pivot foot. I went over between innings and mentioned to the coach what she was doing, he said "I know, that is one of the reasons she lost her position on high school team, been on her for a year about it and she wont fix it, I guess she just isnt going to be able to pitch anymore". Then he hells out to his pitcher, "if the plate ump can see it from behind the plate, do you really think you are going to get away with it? Fix it or dont plan on pitching anymore."

Yes....otherwise I would not have call the illegal pitch.....

+1
:rolleyes: