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 Hi I work for FSU intramurtals and a player asked us to look up if fast pitch bats were illegal for slow pitch softball. I mean it seems like a simple no, but we go by ASA rules and we could not find anything stating no fastpitch bats, just that it needs the ASA logo and the Weight has to be under 34inches, and no more than 38ounces(ASA Rule 3,section 1, B). So there are many bats that say Fastpitch but meet those requirements. So, Are Fastpitch bats illegal in slowpitch softball. And if so where can i go to find verification, for future referance.
Answer Hi Paul,
I know bat manufacturers are now making what they call "slow pitch" or "fast pitch" bats.
A bat marked "official softball" is softball bat, is a softball bat, legal for any softball game (I don't want to leave out my modified friends here).
For verification just go back to the rules you quoted me. They don't say "official fast pitch" or "official slow pitch". Any bat that meets 3-1-a-k is a legal bat for any ASA softball game.
Mark
ps: I'm waiting for the manufacturers to come out with a "modified" bat.
