Possible Balk

[Guest julio]

this question relates to Junior Little League level

Runners on 1st and 3rd with two outs

Pitcher is in the stretch and comes set

Pitcher steps toward third to pick off runner at third.  He does not step off the rubber 1st.

At the same time runner is stealing 2nd base

Without throwing the ball to 3rd baseman, pitcher quickly turns toward 2nd base and throws runner out

Was this an illegal pitch?

Did this violate Rule 8.05(c) of the 2019 little league rule book?

[Jimurray]

34 minutes ago, Guest julio said:

this question relates to Junior Little League level

Runners on 1st and 3rd with two outs

Pitcher is in the stretch and comes set

Pitcher steps toward third to pick off runner at third.  He does not step off the rubber 1st.

At the same time runner is stealing 2nd base

Without throwing the ball to 3rd baseman, pitcher quickly turns toward 2nd base and throws runner out

Was this an illegal pitch?

Did this violate Rule 8.05(c) of the 2019 little league rule book?

A step toward 3B is a legal feint to 3B which is still allowed in LL. The pitcher then became an infielder and could then throw to 2B with or without stepping towards 2B. Legal. 

[Senor Azul]

From the 2018 Little League Baseball Umpire School Rules Instruction Manual

A pitcher, while touching the plate, may fake to second or third base PROVIDED the base is occupied and the pitcher steps prior to the fake.

 

A pitcher is to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base but does not require him/her to throw (except to first base only) because he/she steps. It is possible, with runners on first and third, for the pitcher to step toward third and not throw, merely to bluff the runner back to third; then seeing the runner on first start for second, turn and step toward and throw to first base. This is legal. However, if, with runners on first and third, the pitcher, while in contact with the rubber, steps toward third and then immediately and in practically the same motion “wheels” and throws to first base, it is obviously attempt to deceive the runner at first base, and in such a move it is practically impossible to step directly toward first base before the throw to first base, and such a move shall be called a balk. Of course, if the pitcher steps off the pitcher’s plate and then makes such a move, it is not a balk.

[noumpere]

2 hours ago, Guest julio said:

Pitcher is in the stretch and comes set

Pitcher steps toward third to pick off runner at third.  He does not step off the rubber 1st.

At the same time runner is stealing 2nd base

Without throwing the ball to 3rd baseman, pitcher quickly turns toward 2nd base and throws runner out

 

With the caveat that I don't work (and rarely worked) LL:

1) Did the pitcher break contact with the rubber as part of the step toward third? Did the pivot foot touch the ground?

2) Did the pitcher then step toward second before throwing there, or did he throw "across his body"  or by spinning off his non-pivot foot without stepping toward second?

 

This move could be a balk, or it could be legal, depending on what really happened.