Which term describes a pitch that deceives runners and results in no-pitch or base award?

• A. Balk
• B. Foul ball
• C. Foul tip
• D. Ground rule double

Answer: (A)

A balk is the illegal act by a pitcher intended to deceive baserunners. When the pitcher makes an illegal motion or feigns delivering a pitch to trick runners, the play is dead, no pitch is counted, and runners advance one base. If there are no runners on base, it simply becomes a ball against the batter with no pitch delivered. This directly matches the idea of a pitch that deceives runners and results in no-pitch or a base award.

Foul ball and foul tip involve contact with the bat and keep the ball in play, so they’re not about deception by the pitcher or a no-pitch situation. A ground rule double results from the ball touching the ground and leaving the field under a boundary rule, awarding bases to runners, but it’s not about deceiving runners with a pitcher’s illegal motion.