Penguins coach peeved by emphasis on pitching rule

By JON MOFFETT

jmoffett@vindy.com

AKRON

It’s probably a good thing Youngstown State’s softball game against Akron was a wash.

If not, there would have been a lot of explaining to do.

Thursday’s doubleheader between the Penguins and the Zips turned ugly in a hurry. But it had little to do with the miserable weather. The game was called an hour after the first pitch was thrown, but less than two innings were completed.

But from the first pitch, YSU coach Brian Campbell and the Penguins knew both teams were in for a long day.

Akron pitcher Andrea Arney was called for an illegal pitch on her first toss. After several minutes of arguing on the part of Akron coach Julie Jones, the game continued. But Arney was called for a second illegal pitch on the third throw. Haley rocketed a double, and later came around to score.

Arney was replaced after Haley’s hit.

A total of seven illegal pitches, three on YSU and four on Akron, were called in the 1.5 innings played. Had the score stood – YSU was down 4-2 when the game was called – all of the Zips’ run would have come from an extra chance after umpires called illegal pitches on outs.

“I always say let the girls play the game; that’s always been my take,” Campbell said. “A few years ago, there was an emphasis on obstruction, and [the umpires] called a lot obstruction all year long. This year happens to be the illegal pitches.”

And while the game will not count in either team’s record — Campbell said the game should be made up, possibly April 1 — it still left the Penguins a little miffed.

“The runs that were scored, or the runners they had on base, were all ground outs that turned into illegal pitches,” Campbell said. “I think from that aspect you’re really taking the game away from the young ladies.”

The reason for the calls, Campbell said, was because of an emphasis on pitching by the NCAA because of an issue in last year’s College World Series.

Campbell said it may not be the calls, but rather the rule that should be reevaluated.

“Everyone interprets it differently, and I don’t know if that was the situation here today,” he said. “But it’s always bad when you have these young ladies working so hard, and even though the game doesn’t count, the runs were given up by illegal pitches.”

More than just a qualm with the rule, Campbell said a flurry of such calls can adversely affect the players.

If called for several illegal pitches, a pitcher then can lose focus on the game and concentrate too much on making sure her mechanics are acceptable, he said.

“Julie Jones took her starting pitcher out today, and I had to take my starting pitcher out [Wednesday] because it does get into the young lady’s head,” he said. “... Your pitcher is out there and is trying to focus on throwing strikes. But when so much is being called on them, it’s difficult for them to come back and be focused.”