What was the reason for awarding UT runner second base in the 9th?

Copied from the other thread...

Excerpt from Lafayette Daily Advertiser article:

quote:
Tre Morgan, who had the ball in his hand at first base, faked his throw back to Cooper in an attempt to trick Burke into believing he didn't have the ball. If Burke had taken the bait — he didn't — and stepped off the bag, Morgan could have tagged him out.

That's right. Morgan attempted to pull off the old hidden ball trick. "Kinda wanted to see if they'd get a little lax," Morgan said.

But that was not the sole reason why Cooper was called for the balk. When Morgan attempted the hidden ball trick, Cooper was on the mound, triggering the call against him.

"As soon as they called the balk and I turned around and saw Riley on the mound, I knew we messed it up," Morgan said. "We've got to work on that one a little bit."

quote:

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I feel like this happens all the time and is never called, especially at the high school level.

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Pitcher usually comes off into the grass after a pick off throw

Coopers desire to throw the next pitch within 3 seconds of the previous one is why this got called. He rushes back on the dirt so eager the throw the next pitch that he's already there when the infield is throwing the ball to him when the previous play is over. Every other pitcher takes a few seconds, which is why a balk is almost never called when this trick is attempted.