Newmarket Minor Softball Association
Providing over 35 years of continuous softball enjoyment in Newmarket
8. Lead-off (Pitcher’s Circle) - Fast Pitch only.
The Pitcher’s Circle is the area within an 8’ radius of the pitcher’s plate - the lines are considered within the circle.
The common misconception is that if the ball is thrown back to the pitcher and he/she has it in his/her position in the pitcher’s circle before the batter-runner reaches first base that the batter-runner must stop at first base.
Even though the ball may be in the pitcher’s possession in the pitcher’s circle, the batter-runner may:
- continue past first base.
- is entitled to run toward second base, as long as he/she does not stop at first base.
- once the runner makes a stop, he/she must immediately proceed to the next base or return to his/her base UNLESS the pitcher makes a play (including a fake throw) on the runner or another runner.
If the runner stops and simply stands there off the base while the pitcher has possession of the ball in the pitcher’s circle and no play is made - “DEAD BALL - RUNNER IS OUT - LEAD-OFF” If the runner stops and then makes a move in more than one direction immediately after the stop while the pitcher has possession of the ball in the pitcher’s circle and no play is made “DEAD BALL - RUNNER IS OUT - LEAD-OFF”
Points of Emphasis:
- The pitcher cannot force the first stop by a runner merely by having possession of the ball in the pitcher’s circle. Put another way - the runner is allowed one stop - as soon as he/she stops he/she must make a decision immediately to either advance or return.
- A play on the runner (including a fake throw) nullifies any penalty - put another way, every fake throw allows the runner one more stop.
