Walking steal.

[Roger Greene]

During a rain delay today, this sitch came up from some softball umpires.

R2 only, count doesn't matter. F1 delivers pitch. R2 takes lead on release, and then begins stroling toward 3rd slowly. F2 returns ball to F1. F1 either forgets about R2 or ignores her, and R2 keeps moving toward 3rd without a stop. F1 steps on pitchers plate and delivers a "pitch" to batter who has remained in batters box in a ready position while R2 is between 2nd and 3rd.

What do we have????

I first proposed "no pitch". Then was asked what do we do with the runner, and what do you do if the battter hits the second pitch? I didn't have an answer.

The umpire that offered the sitch stated he had received an interp from someone at USSSA that the runner was out for being off base before second pitch was released.(I'm not sure who offered the interp, or if it was official.) None of us liked that, as there is no rule requiring a runner to advance at any certain speed.

Ruling a quick pitch didn't seem to fit, because that only refers to the batter being ready.

I'm interested in the oppinions here, in ASA or Fed.

Thanks,
Roger Greene