A little-known rule for ambidextrous pitchers

Here's a baseball rule to tuck away in the "I didn't know that" file....

A switch-pitcher facing a switch-hitter could make a fine Abbott and Costello routine. Except that it happens in "real life," every time Pat Venditte of Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., pitches.

Against Nebraska last year, a switch-hitter came to the plate right-handed, prompting Venditte, an ambidextrous pitcher, to switch to his right arm -- which caused the batter to move to the left-hand batter’s box, with Venditte switching his arm again.

Umpires ultimately restored order, applying the rule (the same as that in the majors) that a pitcher must declare which arm he will use before throwing his first pitch and cannot change before the at-bat ends.

Huh (!)

Click here for pitching video of Pat Venditte.