pitchout

[ pich-out ]

noun

1. Baseball. a strategy in which a pitcher purposely throws the ball too far outside the plate for the batter to hit, but enabling the catcher to more easily handle the ball in anticipation of an attempted steal, squeeze play, or hit-and-run play:

   On a botched pitchout by the Oakland battery, Santana stole his first base since last September.

2. Football. a lateral pass thrown behind the line of scrimmage by one back, especially a T-formation quarterback, to another:

   Freeman took a pitchout and went 42 yards around left end for the score.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pitchout¹

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15; noun use of verb phrase pitch out

Example Sentences

Meyers signed for a pitchout, and Byrne was caught ten feet from second.

From Project Gutenberg

He thought I was attempting to cross him and did not order a pitchout.

From Project Gutenberg

If a catcher can get a pitchout on a hit and run sign he upsets the other team greatly.

From Project Gutenberg