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I can see this escalating to a forfeit. Take the OP. No need for the umpire to know or care about the reason WHY the batter does not enter the batter's box.
Umpire: "Batter up"
(nothing)
Umpire: "Coach, I need a batter"
(no batter - whats left of the 10 sec expires)
Umpire: "Strike 1"
(no batter - 10 sec expires)
Umpire: "Strike 2"
(no batter - 10 sec expires)
Umpire: "Strike 3. Batter up"
Now, in the OP, I'd guess the next batter appears. If not, ...
Umpire: "Coach, I need a batter. If your team is not going to play, I will be forced to declare a forfeit."
Then whatever happens, happens. This has taken a minute or less longer than declaring the forfeit right away, and allows for the possiblity of one player having issues of some kind rather than the whole team.
I do agree with Mike that each situation is different. The delay rule called strike and the forfeit rules are tools to be used when the situation requires it.
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Tom
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