RULE 6 PITCHING

            Section 1: Pitching Regulations

Article 1...The pitcher shall pitch while facing the batter and having at least one foot in contact with the pitching mark at the time he releases the ball.  He may receive a verbal signal from the catcher.  This signal indicates that the batter is ready and the pitcher shall quickly proceed to pitch.

Article 2...The pitcher is required to give two verbal signals when delivering the ball to the batter.  The first signal, “Ready” may be stated at any point, prior to the batter’s swing, during a pitching sequence. At least 1 verbal signal, by either the catcher or pitcher, should be clearly audible to the defense at the start of each pitching sequence.”, These are the only signals considered to be legal, any other words/signals used by the pitcher will result in a no-pitch call. 

Article 3...Each legal pitch shall be declared by the umpire to be a strike, pass (ball), foul hit, or dead ball.  A pitch dropped during delivery shall be a no pitch.  A foul ball shall be called a strike unless it is the fourth strike.  A foul tip shall be ruled a foul ball and called a strike unless it is the fourth strike.  The fourth strike must be a clean miss.

Article 4...The pitcher is not a fielding position and must make every effort to avoid touching or being touched by a batted ball.

            Section 2: Infractions By Pitcher

A Pitcher Shall Not:

Article 1...Deface the ball or deliver a defaced ball.  Illegal acts include:

[a] Applying foreign substance to ball or glove; or

[b] Attempt to alter tone of ball; or

[c] attempt to soften ball by bouncing it against the ground or other hard surface; or

[d] Allow a batted ball to touch his person or clothing for purpose of receiving a “no pitch” ruling.  If, in umpire’s opinion, pitcher allows batted ball to come in contact, or initiates such contact prior to umpire calling ball dead, umpire may call batter out.  Repeated action of this type may result in ejection of offending pitcher.

Article 2...Delay the game.  This includes:

[a] Consuming time as the result of the coach or his representative conferring with batter, pitcher, or catcher after having been charged with two offensive charged conferences for that inning; or

[b] Failure to make a pitch, legal or illegal, within 30 seconds after receiving the ready signal from the catcher  umpire.  NOTE: At the beginning of each half-inning the pitcher may warm up for eight pitchers or two minutes, whichever is less, timed from the moment the third out of the previous half-inning is called.  If a pitcher is replaced during an inning, the new pitcher may warm up with no more than eight throws.  In either case, the head umpire may authorize more than eight throws because of an injury, inclement weather, or other reason.  Umpire shall suspend play and the batter shall remain out of the batter’s box.

Article 3...Since runners do not hold or occupy the bases in Beep Baseball, there is no Balk.  However, there is the possibility of an Illegal Pitch.  The following acts shall constituted an Illegal Pitch:

[a] Failure to release the ball after the second of two required verbal signals or releasing the ball before the second verbal signal; or

[b] Dropping the ball after beginning the pitching motion, even though accidental; or

[c] Making a pitch from any position other than as required in Rule 6, Sect. 1, Art. 1; or

[d] Failing to pitch to the batter in one continuous motion immediately after giving the first of two required verbal signals; or

[e] Failure to give either of the two required verbal signals, or failure to make either of the signals audible to the defense.

PENALTY for Illegal Pitch: For (b) a no-pitch; for (a), (c), and (d) a strike may be charged to the batter; for (e) on the first occurrence, the head umpire shall warn the pitcher to speak loucer or more clearly, each subsequent infraction may result in a strike being charged to the batter.  Penalties will be imposed in precedence over any action by the batter (i.e., regardless of what the batter does, whether a foul ball, miss, hit or pass, that action will be ignored and the result will be a penalty call as set forth above.)