AboutDr. Mark R. Ambrose Expertise I can answer all questions about book rules and "case book" rules governing the playing of ASA softball. Have a REAL situation that happened and are not sure the proper rule was applied, ask me.
Experience I am a registered ASA umpire, a MASA "At-Large" umpire since 1996 and a retired District Umpire-In-Chief. I have very extensive experience in MASA State Championship and ASA national qualifying tournament play both as an umpire and an Umpire-In-Chief. I completed 3 ASA National Schools including the ASA national advanced umpire school in Ok City("Bernie" for those who know him was the lead clinician, I survived the week and couldn't let my kids watch the game tapes when I got home. No, I love you Bernie). I was one of 4 "Yankee" umpires selected to umpire the Men's D National East Championship in 2002 in Winter Haven FL
Organizations Amateur Softball Association (The authority in softball)
Question Do you have some way to determine wheter a pitch is above or below the 12 ft celing. I get a lot of what I would call border line pitches during the games I am behind the plate. Eventually both sides start complaining about the pitches. Any advice?
Answer Hi Don,
I wish I could help you a lot but I'm afraid I can't. 12' is nothing we see in everyday life. Here in our clinics we use 2 lines at 6 and 12 between the pp and hp and train umpires from the front, back and sides. Go to all the clinics and umpire schools you can.
12' is lower than most umpires and players think. The key is a consistent top height. It should be 12 but if you're a little higher consistently, most teams aren't going to bitch.
If you call the 14' pitch illegal (as you should) call it every time, 10 in a row if you have too. You'll see pitcher's challenge you with the same pitch after you call the 1st 1 illegal. Don't let the 2nd or 3rd one go. Don't call a pitch illegal early on and then let it go in the later innings.
You will find with a consistent height, that pitchers will soon accommodate that.
