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[sparq]

The bottom line is that the field was illegal @ the start of the game. Southampton is responsible for having a legal field by VHSL rules. What penalty did they have to serve as a restult of the illegal field. Did VHSL wuss out when asked to respond? Probably.

[VHSL-helper]

WAS the VHSL asked to respond? Or was this taken care of by the umps?

[g-8]

At the conclusion of the 1st inning, with SHS leading 2 - 0, the distance from the plate to pitching rubber was measured and found to be too far. There was much on-field discussion including both coaches, the three umpires and the SHS AD. Eventually one umpire and the SHS AD went into the school, and presumably made a call to the VHSL. After a while, the umpire returned to the field, called the coaches together and informed them that play would resume as things stood at the conclusion of the 1st. The rubber was moved to the proper spot and the game was played out.

[jb1edlover]

I keep a measuring tape in my equipment bag at all times.... I bet you will find most distances are slightly off. I've seen umpires start walking heel to toe/heel to toe but they start at the front of the plate instead of the back of the plate! Not that walking it off is an official measuring tool but if it's that far off you can tell.
Having said that it's a shame that this happened and if noone else noticed this during the year then maybe folks need to pay more attention. Four feet is a BIG difference in fast-pitch softball. The advantage is to the batters no matter what the pitcher throws because it gives them more distance/time to adjust and pick up the pitch. If the pitcher throws breaking and off speed stuff the batter has plenty of time to see it and make adjustments. If the pitcher throws fastballs the batter had more time to pick it up and "see it".