Is there a penalty if the pitcher stops his delivery before releasing the ball toward the batter. I know balks are not used in softball.

I did not find this specific situation in the rule book. During the delivery, pitcher "looses his rhythm" while making a two step approach to the rubber and staying within the pitching box. He stops before releasing the ball, so the ball is still in his hand, and is still in the pitching box.

Is this an illegal pitch (penalty is a ball), or a "no pitch" (no penalty)?

Turbobob, BJ can correct me should it be necessary but as you describe the pitch it would be “illegal” in senior ball. My left arm goes out and I holler “illegal”. Should the batter swing at it it’s game on.

turbo.. if you are saying he did not release the ball then you don't have a pitch.. therefore you have nothing.. but that wasn't the only violation that the pitcher made.. once the pitcher takes his stance in the box he is only allowed 1 step either forward, backward or sideways before releasing the pitch

stick8 and BJ,

It is senior ball, and I can see the two step approach is illegal per the rules (1st step with the left foot, ball is released during the 2nd step with the right foot).

Now, how about when a one step delivery is used with the 1st step being with the right foot and the ball is released at the same time. If the pitcher holds onto the ball without releasing it, is it an illegal pitch or a "no pitch" situation?

"Juking" is not allowed in senior softball. Turbo, you did not say if he ever released the ball to the batter. You said "he stops before releasing the ball". Did he release it or not?

OZ40, the ball is never released.

TB.. as I said earlier you have no pitch it isn't released

Once the pitcher starts his or her motion, the ball must be delivered in one motion. Whether a step is taken, or the ball is actually released does not matter. Taking two steps forward in delivery or "walking the box" is not allowed either. Illigal pitch and a ball.

TB.. you are wrong that senior softball allows a 2 step approach.. below is part of the pitching rule..

E. The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher's box until the pitched ball leaves the hand. If a step is taken, it can be forward, backward, or to the side, provided the pivot foot is in contact with the pitcher's box and the step is simultaneous with the release of the ball.

Bigcat.. there is no violation if the pitcher stops his motion and the pitch is never released.. there is no rule covering this exact scenario but here is one similar to it where the pitcher has started his motion..

6.13 • NO PITCH
No pitch shall be declared when: E. The ball slips from the pitcher's hand during his windup or during the back swing.
EFFECT: §6.13 A-F: The ball is dead, and all subsequent action on that pitch is nullified.

the only way you can possibly get a ball called with out a pitch being made is if the pitcher has been told to pitch and he just stands there.. then the umpire can begin a 5 count and give a ball call if a pitch is not made

Turbobob, in your original post you stated “he stops before releasing the ball.” Should that happen, it’s an illegal pitch.
If he doesn’t release the ball it’s no pitch.

stick.. but he wrote after that.. (so the ball is still in his hand)

BJ and stick8,

What I am understanding from my post: if the pitcher uses a one step approach in his continuous delivery and stops his delivery before releasing the ball (the ball is never released from his hand), then it is a "no pitch, no penalty" situation.

Correct?

yes.. also I assume that this was a 1 time thing in the game

BJ,

This scenario happens every now and then, and when it does, it may occur once or twice during a game, at the most. We want to make sure the correct call is made when it does happen. Thanks.

BJ,

Forgot to add the we are a self umpiring league that wants to avoid unnecessary arguments.

turbo.. as long as you don't think the pitcher is doing this on purpose as to confuse the batter then you have no call.. I've been umpiring senior softball for over 15 yrs and I can't remember more than a few times where a pitcher did not complete a pitch

Turbo: Good luck self umpiring, if it's a league that is more for fun and recreation that may work out for you. If the majority of players are tournament grade or 'highly competitive', well, then...... in that case "unnecessary arguments" could turn out to be an oxymoron.

A few years I had a pitcher who slightly bumped his hip coming forward and then released the ball. It looked a bit odd and the other team wanted to know if it was legal. As far as I could tell he didn’t stop his motion so I let it go. His team lost the game but his motion was different!!