Pitching/ catching Little League question.

[Guest MH75]

The other team threw their pitcher 4 innings & 66 pitches, then put him behind the plate in the 5th. My coaching crew & I became aware of this in the bottom of the 6th & I filed a protest with the head umpire & league president who was the field umpire for this game. Nothing happened as far as the other team substituting the catcher out & the game resumed. We ultimately lost 4-3 in the 6th. Where does the game & protest stand at this point?  

[Guest Matt]

I don't fully understand the question. Assuming you are protesting that he thew too many innings or pitches, I would say the protest is denied. 

I am unfamiliar with little league rules, but here is the USSSA rule. 

7.05.C.8 a protest may be filed at any point after the pitcher in violation records any out beyond his legal limit and while the pitcher in violation is in the game as the pitcher of record. 

[Larry in TN]

The rule is VI - PITCHERS.

The number of innings pitched don't matter.  Inning count is only for catchers moving to the pitcher position.

Once the pitcher delivered his 41st pitch he was ineligible to play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.

-----
VI - PITCHER
(c)
NOTE: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
-----

LL 4.19 covers protests.

4.19(c) explains how to made a protest.

4.19(e) explains that you must then file the protest in writing to the local league president within 24 hours.

4.19(f) details that a committee will hear and resolve protests.  If the protest is allowed, the game will be resumed from the exact point where the infraction occurred.  

 

[Jimurray]

The other team threw their pitcher 4 innings & 66 pitches, then put him behind the plate in the 5th. My coaching crew & I became aware of this in the bottom of the 6th & I filed a protest with the head umpire & league president who was the field umpire for this game. Nothing happened as far as the other team substituting the catcher out & the game resumed. We ultimately lost 4-3 in the 6th. Where does the game & protest stand at this point?  

​One thing the protest comittee will want to know is why the umps and you were not aware of the sub. If you were aware and were waiting to sandbag with the protest they it might affect their ruling.

[Dbellyflop]

Once the pitcher threw 41 pitches he was ineligible to play catcher. The umpires should have caught it. And if you actually protested the game, the game should be played again from the point he went to catcher. And as soon as you notified them he should have been removed from catcher. 

Regulation 6c note

regulation 6h

Edited May 24, 2015 by Dbellyflop
add regs.

[Mudisfun]

For your protest did you put the P in the book before the officials left the field? 4.19(d) allows the protest to be made on ineligible players all the way until the umpires leave the field but once discovered should be addressed ASAP. The umpires erred in not requiring the catcher to be removed immediately as this is a straight rules violation and not a judgement issue.

Did you follow all of the steps required in 4.19 including sending a letter to the league president detailing your protest and what rule was violated within 24 hours of protesting to the umpires? 4.19(f) details out how the protest should proceed once submitted.

I agree the umpires should have caught this and not allowed it to proceed however I do not track pitch counts during the game. I note who my pitcher/catcher is ever inning and if I see my former catcher or pitcher coming to F1 or F2 I will check accordingly. If pitching and I note that player was the catcher for any part of a 4th inning I will not allow him/her to pitch. If a catcher I will inquire of the scorekeeper for pitch counts... if 41 or more then no catching today.