I was watching on TV the Iowa v. Purdue softball game this weekend and was shocked about how early the baserunners leave the base before the release of the pitched ball. For example, in the 3rd inning, the Purdue baserunner (#15) on 2B, was getting a full step or step and a half off the bag before the pitcher released the ball. She did it over and over again since the batter kept fouling the pitches off. It was so obvious from the naked eye that she was leaving early and neither the plate ump, field ump, or commentators for that matter made any mention of it all game. I rewinded the lead-offs with DVR and on every pitch the baserunner was illegally leaving early. It wasn't even close.
Curious if D1 umps are instructed not to call the runner out to make the game more offensive driven? I know in 10U, that baserunner would have been called out everytime with two Blues working the game.
Curious if D1 umps are instructed not to call the runner out to make the game more offensive driven? I know in 10U, that baserunner would have been called out everytime with two Blues working the game.