Whereas the Clemson game featured an improperly ruled out call during a dead ball, with the umpire who called Ole Miss' runner out also having clearly previously signaled "Time", the WBC play didn't involve a dead ball whatsoever.
Related Post: Clemson's Hidden Ball Trick vs Ole Miss Was Illegal (2/18/24).
Related Post: Clemson's Hidden Ball Trick & Rule Requirements (6/3/24).
With one out and a runner on second base in the bottom of the 7th inning, Nicaragua's baserunner R2 tagged up and advanced to third on a fly ball to right field. After South Africa threw the ball to third base, the third baseman faked handing the ball back to the pitcher, keeping it for himself in his glove, while the pitcher slowly meandered back toward the mound.
While the pitcher stood on the back dirt on the pitcher's mound, Nicaragua's runner at third base took his lead, upon which South Africa's third baseman tagged the runner while off his base. Instead of calling the runner out, however, umpires called a balk on the South Africa pitcher, ruling that he illegally stood on the mound during a hidden ball trick attempt, which is illegal...just not under the ruleset that applied for this game.
Pursuant to NCAA Rule 9-3-f, the pitcher is not allowed to be on any part of the mound (dirt) while a hidden ball trick attempt is in progress, the penalty for which is a balk and base award for the runner(s).
But the World Baseball Classic doesn't play under college (NCAA) rules, it plays under professional (OBR)'s rulebook, which states that the pitcher's only restriction is that they may not stand "on or astride" the rubber without possession of the ball.
In other words, this play would have been illegal (and thus a balk) in college, but in pro, it is a legal play and the runner is therefore out on the tag. After conference, the umpires ultimately did arrive at the correct conclusion, reversing their earlier erroneous balk call and declaring the runner out on the tag.
Refer to this summary of the different pitcher restrictions by ruleset (college/high school/pro):
NCAA 9-3-f is the most restrictive, prohibiting pitchers from being on the dirt of the mound at all.
NFHS 6-2-5 takes a moderate approach, stating pitchers may not stand within five feet of the rubber.
OBR 6.02(a)(9) is the most lenient, only prohibiting pitchers from standing "on or astride" the rubber.
Video as follows:
Alternate Link: Umps initially make mistake on balk call before reversal to correct out call
