I know of two instances in the past two years where the hidden ball trick has caught a runner wandering off a base. In both instances, the "caught" team argued it should be a balk because the pitcher was within the dirt area on the pitcher's mound.
CDMSBL uses MLB rules. MLB Rule 8.05(i) states:
“It is a balk if a pitcher does not have the ball but assists in a try to deceive a runner by
1. being on or astride the rubber 2. feigning a pitching position or pitch 3. putting the rosin bag in his glove to make it appear he has the ball.
This is known as the ‘hidden ball trick.’ It is not necessarily a balk if a pitcher in this situation is on the dirt of the mound.”
Therefore, if a pitcher is standing/walking in the dirt area of the pitcher's mound, it is not a balk unless one of the above actions occcur.
Some confusion may arise because high school baseball rules state it IS a balk if the pitcher is within the dirt area of the mound.
