PITCHING
QUESTION: In high school, baseball only, runner on first base; count on batter is two balls and two strikes; pitcher commits a balk which is called by the plate umpire. Runner is advanced one base to second while batter is awarded a ball making the count 3 balls and 2 strikes. Correct call?
ANSWER: Ball is dead as only the runner receives an award while the count stays the same on the batter (Rule 5, Sec. 1, Art. 1, k; Rule 8, Sec. 2, Awards Table).
QUESTION: In high school, softball only, runners on third base and second base; count on the batter is three balls and two strikes. Base umpire signals / calls illegal pitch as the plate umpire calls strike as batter looks at strike three. Does this strike out stand? Does offensive coach get an option? Are runners awarded a base? Does batter gain a ball in the count? Does batter gets a bat over?
ANSWER: Delayed dead ball is the call in order to let the entire play continue. Since batter struck out and runners remained, coach will select the option to accept the penalty for the illegal pitch. As a result, each runner gains a one base award with runners advancing to home and third while the batter is awarded a ball in the count; hence, rather than striking out, batter gains an award to first base (Rule 5-1-2, a; Rule 6-1-1, Penalty).
