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It's another hump back liner off the bat of a punchin' Judy!



Hello Again Everyone - It's Thursday night here and it's a night following a day that was fit for only waterfowl to enjoy in this part of the state. Judging by the number of score reports coming in, the ducks won out in most of the state. Grantsburg got a game in against Barron today and Hudson beat Eau Claire Memorial. Hudson, by the way needs to be considered by all the D-1 Rankers. And speaking of rankings, the D-3 rankers should note that Thorp is 10-2 up in the neck of the state. There are some other clubs that are worthy of consideration as well and they'd probably get it if they'd send in some scores and reports.



Here are some questions and answers from the WIAA -



Question 1 I recently purchased a Mizuno Ice, model #340139. I couldn't find it on the ASA approved bat list even though it has the 2004 ASA seal. Is this a legal bat?

Answer Legal. The ASA added the Mizuno Ice, #340139 to the approved bat list last week.



Question 2 Where can I find the Crow Hop video?

Answer Access the main WIAA web page (not the School Center), go to the Softball page and scroll down the right hand side. Click on the Crow Hop link. Please note that there is also a slide show on the Leap located on the Softball page.



Question 3 Field umpire calls time and proceeds to tell the young lady playing first that she must leave the field as she was disqualified for wearing a metal barrette. Shouldn't a warning have been issued? Or was the pre-game conference discussion considered the warning? Answer Rule 3-6-1; team warning on the first violation, next violation results in the offender and the head coach restricted to the dug-out.



Question 4 As the home team, I was designated the official scorebook. After each inning, the home plate umpire would ask the opposing team the score in their book, and then check with me to see if mine matched. After 7 innings, and several substitutions, the home team is ahead 14-10 in the top of the 7th. The opposing team scores 3 runs and then we get 3 outs to close the game at 14-13. The teams shake hands, we say "Thank-You" to our umpires and teams and coaches get ready to leave for home. About 5 minutes later, after the umpire have gone home, the opposing team finds an error in the score book and by freak chance--I have the same error. The error ties the score at 14. What is the outcome of the game played.

Answer The score would stand. Once the umpires have left the field the game is considered to be over. Rule 10-1-2; "Umpire jurisdiction...when the umpires leave the field of play at the conclusion of the game."



Question 5 Clarification of the DP/Flex. We have a girl that can hit and ield, but is very slow. We want to call this girl the Flex and put her in the 10th position of the lineup and have a girl that can run for her be the

DP and put her in the 3rd position of the order, where we want the Flex girl to hit. Then, when it is the DP's turn to hit, we substitute the Flex in for the DP so the Flex can hit. By rule, the DP has then left the game.

Then, when the Flex gets on base, we want to re-enter the DP to run for the Flex. The DP is then back in the 3rd position and the Flex returns to the 10th position and has never left the game. The next time the DP's turn comes up to hit, we again want to substitute the Flex in for her to hit. By rule, this DP has left the game a 2nd time and is done for the game, having used up her re-entry. When the Flex then gets on base again, we enter an eligible substitute for the DP and then enter the DP to run for the Flex, with the DP back in the 3rd position and the Flex returning to the 10th position. We keep doing this as long as the 3rd spot comes up to hit and the Flex gets on base, using eligible subs for the DP.



Answer Legal. When the DP's turn to bat arrives the coach can have the Flex bat. The Flex has not left the game but the DP has. He/she can then bring the DP in to run for the Flex should she get on base. That is the DP's re-entry. Flex only leaves the game if she is replaced defensively. This doesn't happen in this scenario. Next time DP comes to bat the coach can have Flex bat, but the original DP cannot re-enter to run should the Flex get on base. A legal substitute could enter the game as the new DP or DP2 and run for the Flex. DP2 would have to re-enter to run. Next time DP2 comes to bat the Flex could take her place but DP2 has left the game and cannot return. Coach could use another legal substitute, DP3, and continue this method for as long as he has legal substitutes.



Question Is it legal to use pine tar in the grip area on a metal bat?

Answer Rule 1-5-6; "No foreign substance may be added to the surface of the bat beyond 15 inches from the end of the handle."



Question Batter is a lefty, drag bunter. How is a strike determined?

Answer Umpires judgment using Rule 7-2-1. Case Book 7-2-1, Sit. B; "Normally there are four areas that constitute whether or not the batter has swung at the ball or checked the swing: 1) rolling the wrist, 2) swinging through the ball and bringing or drawing the bat back, unless drawing it back occurs before the pitch gets to the bat, 3) the bat being out in front of the body, or 4) the batter makes an attempt to hit the pitch. Inbunting, any movement of the bat toward the ball when the ball is over or near the plate area, is a strike. The mere holding of the bat in the strike zone, or pulling the bat back, is not an attempt to bunt."





The 2007 Poynette Fastpitch Jamboree schedule is posted on The Fastpitch Chronicle website now. It's tentative until tomorrow night then it's finalized unless - I get several more teams that want to play a game or two as I have some open time slots at 1 and 3 on the 5th of May. Umpires are listed there as well.



Features have been posted on that page of the website as well and don't forget that there is a messageboard and forum page for your use as well.



The Muskego Slugfest is the 5th too so people in that corner of the state can get in on a great event there too.



I keep watching scores from the WIAC softball race and keep noticing some names I recognize that are doing superbly. Amy Gahl of Parkview is tearing the cover off the ball for Whitewater and Ronessa Stampfli is twirling the sphere pretty well for Oshkosh. There are other names that pop out there too. MATC in Madison is having a nice year in this, their first year of compeititon after being on hiatus for quite a few years. Check out their stuff online as well.



Keep the scores coming in and as always



Have a great day and

Keep it Rising!



Bob