We discussed a lot about this among us (here in Italy)
and the best we were able to have is this...
(not pretending this is the SOLUTION and keeping clear in mind that ON the field and during a game you have not the possibility to have an 'academic debate'....).
Assume this is the line-up:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 - DP
8
9
10 - DEFO
Let's say we will ignore all the mess happened before defensive coach go to the umpire to appeal.
No.9 ended the previous inning so that No.1 is the right batter now - but No.10-Defo goes at bat.
This is an UNREPORTED SUB. + ILLEGAL RE-ENTRY
(according to ISF Rule 1, Sec.37-e = Defo batting in a position different from the DP's one).
The right batter now is No.2 - but No.1 goes at bat.
This is (again) an UNREPORTED SUB. + ILLEGAL RE-ENTRY
(because No.1 was - illegally - substituted and
he/she is re-entring the game in an inappropriate position of the line-up).
Here comes the appeal from the coach!
Even if the coach is appealing only for BOO, the umpire should punish the unsportsmanlike conduct of the
offensive team (using ten batters all the game long, instead of nine...).
First: Ejection of the coach, Defo and No.1 (Illegal re-entry violation)
Second: because of the unreported sub. (we've got TWO but can apply the rule only on ONE) every action made by No.1
must be nullified and No.1 is also declared OUT - appeal made before the next pitch.
In the end we will have:
coach ejected
Defo ejected
No.1 ejected
No.1 out
Runner on 2nd must return on 1st... but WHO will be this runner???
Must be a member of the offensive team in the first spot of the line-up,
so the player who will enter the game must be a legal sub. for No.1.
Of course the offensive team now needs also a sub. for Defo (ejected), unless they wanna go on with 9 players...
Our season will start next April, 9th.
If you like you can take a look to italian softball here:
http://www.fastpitch.it or
http://www.baseball-softball.it
A.