Warm up pitch?
 

This happened over the weekend. I think this was debated a few years back (but then again what hasn't been? :) ), but I can't find it. USSSA game, but all rule interps are welcome.

Mary has been pitching for 3 innings. In the middle of the 4th, Sally comes out to the circle, picks up the ball, and throws a warm up pitch. Coach then tells Sally to go to right field and for Mary to throw the remaining warm ups. No substitution was ever reported/made. Any violation?


My partner said there is a slow pitch rule that would require Sally to pitch to at least one batter after throwing the warm up. I felt there was no fast pitch rule to support that interpretation, especially during the dead ball situation with no substitution made.


USSSA 6-1-L and Fed 6-2-5 mirror each other in addressing warm up pitches, but I don't feel either specifically indicate who is entitled to throw them. NCAA 10.19.3 is quite clear about a warning, then penalty (coach ejection) when this happens. But even they don't state that the non-pitcher who throws the warm up must now become the pitcher.


What do you think?

It's a kid tossing a softball between innings. Nothing more.

It's not clear (to me) from your post.....bolded part, was this Sally's first time in the game?

Speaking ASA

No issue. The pitcher is whomever the coach tells to go pitch.

In ASA, warm-ups are nothing wrt this rule. I believe that in LL if you step on the pitcher's plate and throw a warmup pitch, you are the next pitcher. But I'm not positive on that. I think FED baseball is the same.

For LL or Fed BB, you are correct.

And the rule behind this is the unreported/unannounced substitution rule. In LL (and I assume Fed BB), an unreported/unannounced substitution of the pitcher takes place when the player throws one warm-up pitch from the pitcher's plate.

So you really need to look at when a player becomes an unreported/unannounced substitute of the pitcher in softball. For example, Fed Softball rule 3-3-3-b and -e says a player becomes an unannounced substitute for the pitcher when she takes her place on the pitcher's plate AND the plate umpire declares the ball live. Delivering warm-ups has nothing to do with it.

KJ, Sally was already in the game as a right fielder. She simply picked up the ball and threw a warm up. Maybe she thought she was going to be put in as pitcher, but no substitution was made.

In ASA, NFHS, and NCAA; all I have is someone used up one of the 5 allowed warmup pitches.