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BPF = 1.20 but only when contact is achieved!



Hello Everyone - It has been a few days since the last Bulletin was sent out and I have a little time tonight to compile something for you.



We had a good scrimmage on Saturday at McFarland. Everyone learned something, the umpires were fantastic and the food, all endorsed, according to the sign at the concession stand, by The Fastpitch Chronicle was also good. McFarland really knows how to treat people (until you have to play them and then they become tigers).



Here are some situations that arrived in my inbox today from the WIAA so read and enjoy and comprehend as well.



Question 1 Can a pitcher wear a pitching toe?

Answer Rule 3-2-11 prohibits metal toe plates. If the pitching toe is plastic or rubber it would be allowed.



Question 2 The pitcher has the ball in her possession. The batter steps out to take signals from the base coach. If the batter takes 15 seconds does this mean the pitcher has only 5 seconds remaining to release the pitch?

Answer From the NFHS: "They both have the 20 seconds. The pitcher can't deliver the ball unless the batter gets into the box. The umpire could enforce the violation on either one." The NFHS Rules ommittee will discuss this at their summer meeting.



Question 3 Slow grounder to first base. First baseman does not field the ball cleanly and the ball is within a step and a reach. The ball is in front of first base in foul territory and in the running lane. What rights does the batter-runner have? Since the path to the colored base is blocked by the defensive player the batter-runner can't touch the colored portion of the base. Is the batter-runner allowed to run outside the running lane to avoid contact with a fielder attempting to make a play?

Answer From the NFHS: "Since the ball is within a step and a reach, this is still the initial play and it is up to the runner to avoid the defensive player. This would be no different if it were the runner going to

second base and this was directly in the base path of the runner before reaching second. It is the obligation of the runner to give way when a fielder is making the initial play on the ball, even if it means leaving their base path. Rule 8-6-10a".



Question 4 The pitcher steps on the mound with her hands apart. She then moves the glove so that it is hiding the ball but clearly not touching if you were viewing her from the third base side. It was not nearly as clear from behind the plate and first base. She then separated her hands then brought them together again to being her pitching motion. Questions are: A) Rule 6-1-1a; "...the hands separated." How far is this? Is this a judgment call for each umpire? B) "...bring hands together in front of body..." Does together mean touching? C) Glove covering the ball on the hip is not the front of the body?

Answer From the NFHS: "A) There is not a limit on the distance. The plate umpire and the batter must be able to determine that the hands did indeed separate. B) Yes, the hand holding the ball must come in contact with the glove either inside the glove or outside the glove. C) When we say bringing together in front of the body, this is so the home plate umpire and the batter can see them together. Then once the hands have separated, everyone knows the pitch has begun. Must be visible from the front...so judgment by the umpire."



Question 5 For the initial play (step and reach) would that include diving for the ball?

Answer No. Rule 2-47 does not include diving as part of the definition of a "step and a reach".



Question 6 At the recent Softball Meetings the presenter mentioned that the double first base is considered "one big base". When does this happen? Answer Rule 8-10-3; "The batter runner or runner may touch the white or colored base: A) When advancing on balls hit to the outfield with no play being attempted or when returning to first base B) When tagging up on a fly ball C) When returning on an attempted pick-off play."



I have posted quite a few previews for conferences and teams so take a look at the 2007 preview page on the website. There are also game results on Week 1 and now Week 2 of the site so check those out too and be sure to e-mail your results to me.



Be forewarned that my e-mail address will probably be changing. I've been on America Online for a long, long time but I live out in the country and have only been able to get dial-up all this time. It's really time consuming waiting and waiting for things to load up. I can now get high speed internet access from our telephone company and although I don't like Century Tel, I think it's time to move to their high speed access and get things done quicker. I'll keep my AOL account for a couple of months to be sure to get the results you send me but I will be changing it to something else. I will try to keep the faspich1 part so it won't be that tough.



I would assume that most daily papers have now sent out their preseason surveys for coaches to fill out and get back to them. I got mine from Rob Hernandez at the State Journal today. Both Rob and Dennis Semrau at the Capitol Times tell me that spring coaches and softball coaches included are the worst they encounter in terms of getting information on those surveys returned. Let's make an effort to get that stuff to them.



Don't forget to join the WFSCA by April 14th or you and your players will be "shutout" of any post-season awards. Send it to Jane Briehl at River Valley as she is the WFSCA Treasurer.



The number of people receiving the Bulletins just keeps growing and growing and that is a good thing. Be sure to tell your players about the site.



Have a great day!

Keep it Rising!

Bob