OKLAHOMA CITY - Arizona Wildcats pitcher Ashley Ralston-Alvarez sat on the ground in a makeshift bullpen beyond the outfield wall of a practice field Friday.
In the shadow of ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, she stared at ace Kenzie Fowler's feet, looking for illegal pitches.
Fowler dragged her right foot, kicking up dirt.
"She's trying right now to over-exaggerate it," catcher Stacie Chambers said, "and know that it's down."
Thursday night, Fowler was flagged eight times for an illegal pitch, costing the Wildcats in a 9-0 loss to Tennessee in the UA's first game of the Women's College World Series.
The umpiring crew - namely, third base umpire John Kurnat - said Fowler was "leaping," or lifting her right foot, when she pitched.
The resulting illegal pitch gave the batter a called ball and the runners, if any, a free base.
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Fowler told her coach Thursday night she wanted to look at film the next morning.
"I think one or two could have been illegal," she said. "Even if they were, I think it would have been hard to tell with the naked eye."
It was hardly a mea culpa.
"I've been pitching that way for 10 years and I've been preparing for this moment my whole life," Fowler said. "To come out and have that be part of my game was kinda heartbreaking for me."
NCAA softball rules editor Dee Abrahamson told a pool reporter at the WCWS that there was "more emphasis" placed on illegal pitching this season. Through a website, the NCAA showed umpires videos and diagrams of illegal pitches.
After coaches throughout the country complained that umpires called many illegal pitches in February and March, the NCAA sent umpires a clarification sheet. In Thursday's first two games of the WCWS, 14 illegal pitches were called. None were called in the final two games of the day.
"If she's attempting to be legal and she is fractionally off the ground and you almost have to slow it down to see it, she's legal," she said. "Only call an illegal pitch if she's clearly not legal."
UA coach Mike Candrea said Friday he "didn't hear any uproar" after criticizing Kurnat on Thursday.
"My biggest thing wasn't the call as much as the consistency of the call," he said.
Arizona pitching coach Teresa Wilson said Fowler's illegal pitches during the season were a result of scooting less than an inch behind the rubber while rocking back. She has size-12 feet, and they slip back off the rubber.
"To see something completely the opposite called this time of year was a shock," Wilson said. "To say the least."
All eyes will be on Fowler's feet today against Washington.
"I don't want that to be something that's going to cost us a game," she said. "I think it shouldn't happen again."
Illegal motions
A quick primer on illegal pitches:
What is it? According to NCAA Softball Rules, it is "a pitch that is thrown by the pitcher that is in violation of the pitching rules, or is an effect for a rule violation. When an illegal pitch occurs, it shall be called immediately by the base or home umpire."
Then what? If the batter reaches safely and any runners advance on a struck ball, the illegal pitch is canceled. If the batter does not, the illegal pitch call mandates that she be assessed a called ball and any runners advance. If that ball is ball four, the batter takes first base.
What was Fowler called for? Illegal pitches were called eight times on UA pitcher Kenzie Fowler on Thursday. She was ruled to be "leaping." After pushing off the rubber, Fowler's right foot didn't drag along the dirt, but lifted up in the air, umpires said.
What is leaping? One of many varieties of an illegal pitch. According to Rule 10.4.4. "the pitcher may not become airborne on the initial drive from the pitcher's plate. The pivot foot must slide or drag on the ground."
How to fix it? In practice Friday, Fowler focused on dragging her right foot along the ground. If Fowler bends her front leg a little more, her back foot will drag behind her better, UA pitching coach Teresa Wilson said.
"Then you make the obvious a little more obvious," Wilson said.
TODAY
• What: Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City
• Who: Arizona vs. Washington
• When: 11:30 a.m.
• TV: ESPN2
• If UA wins: A second game would be played at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN vs. Hawaii
Patrick Finley
