What would you do?

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First off I want to say the following situation did not effect the outcome of the game. I'm just wondering two things... 1) what is the correct way to handle this situation and 2) what would you do

A 14U tournament we were playing in was a straight double elimination with no pool games. The opposing team won the toss and elected to be home team and took the field. Our 1st 3 batters struck out BAD. I mean, this pitcher was bringing some heat. Our swings were no where close to even touching a ball. 3 outs, girls in the dug out say holly s**t she throws hard.

Our girls take the field and our pitcher and catcher takes position and looks at me and says, " this isn't right". I walk to the mound and we discover it is set up at 35 feet.

The umpires call for the TD to measure it off and it is at 35'. The grounds crew come and move it back to 40'.

We ask the TD, what are we going to do about the 1st half of the inning. It only took their pitcher less than 6 minutes to strike out our first 3. Game time were 1 hour 40 minutes so time was not an issue. The TD says, ASA rules don't allow him to start over so therefore you lose that half and play ball.

We proceeded to play the game and the very next inning, the same pitcher came out and we put 4 runs on the board that time. I guess she wasn't as fast as we originally thought. Our team did end up winning 12-0.

I have never been in this situation before but I just don't see how the decision to keep playing and not start over was right. Can someone shed some light as to what rule would pertain to this.

What would you do?
 
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Can't speak for ASA, but NFHS and NSA specifically state this is NOT a protestable issue. Correct the problem immediately when discovered and play on. I'm sure bretman or others can chime in with the ASA rule, but I suspect it is the same and the TD did it right.

NFHS rule 1-1 Art 9
NSA rule 2 section 5

In the future, eyeball the pitcher plate from 1st or 3rd. If it's 35, you will definitely be able to tell at a glance because it will be significantly closer to home plate from that angle. 40 is just ahead of the direct line between bases, 43 is a hair behind, and 35 is well ahead of either.
 
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ASA is the same: Correct the improper dimension when discovered and play on, without penalty.

Coaches have the right to question any dimension on the field at any time. If they do it before the game, fix it then. Allowing the game to begin means that the coaches have "accepted" the field conditions presented.
 
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I believe that the ethical and fair thing to do. Is finish the inning than change. This way it is fair and equal for both teams, no team gets a hugh advantage. Same with if the game is started with one umpire, and then the second umpire shows up in the middle of the inning, the second umpire should wait until the inning is complete to take the field.
 
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Our head coach paces off the pitching distance before every game.

Got a better one though.....Last year, first game off the elimination round. We are up first and our first hitter strikes out without contacting the ball. Second batter walks on four pitches. Third batter drives the ball almost straight down and it bounces up and OVER the third baseman before landing in the outfield.

Apparently the pitcher never noticed that she had grabbed an "Incrediball" instead of the game ball!!!
 
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I can't believe that neither your hitters, nor your coaches, nor the parents, nor the umpires could tell that the rubber was five feet closer than it should have been. That should be your main concern.
 
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It happened to our 12U in the HOH tourney only we played an inning & half at 43 feet instead of 40. Same decision though. Play on.
 
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That was my thought also... 35' should have stuck out like a sore thumb. Playing 16U this year...40' sticks out like a sore thumb. I have been in the coaches box long enough to immediately tell if the pitching rubber is where it is suppose to be.
 
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Our head coach paces off the pitching distance before every game.

Got a better one though.....Last year, first game off the elimination round. We are up first and our first hitter strikes out without contacting the ball. Second batter walks on four pitches. Third batter drives the ball almost straight down and it bounces up and OVER the third baseman before landing in the outfield.

Apparently the pitcher never noticed that she had grabbed an "Incrediball" instead of the game ball!!!

Thats hilarious
 
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We were getting thrown out by a step on excellent bunts and slaps at first base; it just didn't make sense. In the 3rd I stepped off home to first and thought it was long, I got out my tape and it measured 65'. No wonder we were out by a step. They moved it to 60' at the top of the next inning. The entire tournament had been played at 65' until the 4th inning of the first game in elimination.
 
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Had a same but opposite experience at 10U. My dd was pitching and seemed a bit slow. Then I realized she seemed sort of far away.

It was a friendly and fortunately I had my spare pitcher's plate. I waited till both sides pitched from 40' and then we fixed it. Funny thing was the other coach had no clue till I mentioned it.
 
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