What occurs if a player performs an illegal pitch?

• A. The pitch is counted as a ball
• B. The pitch is considered a strike
• C. A warning is issued but no penalty
• D. The pitcher is replaced immediately

Answer: (A)

When an illegal pitch occurs in softball, it is counted as a ball. The NCAA rules dictate that if a pitcher commits an illegal action during their delivery—such as failing to come to a complete stop in the pitching motion or delivering the pitch to an illegal position—the pitch will not be considered a legal delivery. As a result, the umpire will call it a ball, which impacts the batter's count and the overall play. This rule helps maintain fairness and proper pitching technique within the game.

Other potential outcomes mentioned, such as the pitch being a strike or the issuance of a warning, generally do not apply to the immediate context of an illegal pitch. The concept of replacing the pitcher immediately does not align with what occurs when an illegal pitch is thrown; typically, such a pitch results in just the ball being added to the count rather than other immediate penalties.