Fastpitch Softball: Understanding Illegal Pitches and Penalties

Question
My question is are their balks in girls fastpitch softball.

Answer
Gilbert,

They don't call them balks in fastpitch.  If a pitcher fails to follow the pitching rules, the umpire will call an illegal pitch, which is a delayed dead ball.  If the offense puts the ball in play they have the choice of the result of the play or the illegal pitch penalty.  The penalty is a ball on the batter and all runners advance a base.

Tom