This is to all umpires and players from Mark Fitch, the assignor for CDMSBL/SBUO/ENYUA ... This is for information, not for debate ... This is the MLB, NCAA and federal high school rule:
Pitcher goes to his mouth (8.02a 1)
Starting with the 2010 season, a pitcher is allowed to go to his mouth while on the mound, as long as he is not in contact with the pitcher's plate when doing so and as long as he clearly wipes the fingers of his pitching hand dry before touching the pitcher's plate. Previously, a pitcher had to be completely off the dirt in order to avoid the penalty of a ball being added to the count. The rule was changed to eliminate unnecessary delays in the game. This now matches NFHS and NCAA rules.
It is a ball if he goes to the mouth when he contacts the pitchers plate whether there are runners on or not. Keep in mind most of summer ball goes by major league rules so this would apply to basically all summer baseball from 12u to 55+.
