ASA Girls Fastpitch - illegal pitches

[billvp]

I think it's USA/ASA, 13-14 year old.

The umpire called about half of a pitcher's pitches illegal due to crow hopping and replanting (or something similar). He treated it similar to how illegal pitches are in slow pitch - the batter can swing if they want, otherwise it's a ball.

Was that the correct treatment? Even in slow pitch, the call is often fairly late to the point where someone is about to swing. In fast pitch, the batter has almost no chance to react to or accept an illegal call - the pitch is basically over the plate by the time the ump calls illegal. I'm not sure what should be done, but calling pitches illegal without either making them a dead ball or kicking the pitcher out after so many seems weird. Having only half of them be illegal made it even worse. What's the correct call / treatment?

 

[NCASAUmp]

It’s a little more complicated than slow pitch.

If the batter safely makes it to first base, and all runners safely advance one base, the illegal pitch is nullified.

However, if that doesn’t happen, then the offensive coach has two options. He can either A) take the result of the pitch or B) have the batter get awarded a ball, and all runners advance one base.

That’s the proper call. Some leagues and tournaments have modified this rule in favor of letting the girls learn from their mistakes, as the penalty is quite steep.

 

[billvp]

It’s a little more complicated than slow pitch.

If the batter safely makes it to first base, and all runners safely advance one base, the illegal pitch is nullified.

However, if that doesn’t happen, then the offensive coach has two options. He can either A) take the result of the pitch or B) have the batter get awarded a ball, and all runners advance one base.

That’s the proper call. Some leagues and tournaments have modified this rule in favor of letting the girls learn from their mistakes, as the penalty is quite steep.

thanks, that makes a lot more sense than the way it was being treated