Sticky towel?

Question
Hello Dr. Ambrose,

My name is Derek Volk and I am the U10 Manager for a girl抯 fastpitch team in Maine called the Southern Maine Flame.  We competed in a Championship Game of an ASA Tournament yesterday in the rain.  In the 5th inning one of the parents on my team noticed that the other pitcher kept reaching under her shirt and then rubbing her finger just before throwing her pitches.  As it turns out, she had some kind of sticky towel or gel or something under her shirt.  We asked if that was legal and the Umpire didn抰 know.  The Tournament Director came to us and said it was legal.  Then an inning later he came back and said it wasn抰 and she would remove it.  Then after the game, which the other team won by 1 run, they are claiming again that it is legal.  How can it be legal to reach under your shirt while on the rubber and putting a sticking substance on your fingers just before throwing a pitch?  I thought you couldn抰 even lick your fingers.  Please understand, I am not asking because of sour grapes (although it is very upsetting to lose that way) and I have no intention of making a big stink or protest.  I don抰 want the 1st place trophies taken out of the other girl抯 bedrooms.  But my goodness, these are 10 year old girls.  Who wants to win like that?  I just want to know if that is legal, if I lost fairly and, if it is legal, where I can get some that stuff for all of my pitchers.

Thank you for your time.

Derek Volk
Southern Maine Flame


Answer
Hi Derek,

"How can it be legal to reach under your shirt while on the rubber and putting a sticking substance on your fingers just before throwing a pitch?"  It's not, The UIC should have of least known better.

Rule 6 Section 6 A Fast Pitch: ? an Approved manufactured drying agent that is included on the list published by the ASA, may be used by the pitcher. The Resin must be left on the ground and the approved drying agent in the pitcher抯 pocket. Effect: ?If any other substance is found in the pitcher抯 pocket the pitcher shall be ejected.

Currently only Gorilla Gold is approved.


EFFECT: An illegal pitch shall be called on the first offense. If any defensive player continues to place a foreign substance on the ball, the player should be ejected from the ball game.


"I thought you couldn抰 even lick your fingers."  you can but you have to wipe them off.  


Mark