[JEL]

Easiest is to cut and paste the e-mail----This is how it went;

>>>At the top of the 5th inning, the visiting team substituted for the catcher and she reached base. A courtesy runner took her place on base. At the bottom of the inning, the home coach pointed out that she didn’t think this was allowed since the player was not the catcher. I mistakenly told her that since she had been entered as a substitute in the catcher’s position the courtesy runner could run for her. Since the point was not raised while the courtesy runner was still on base it was a moot point and hopefully I would have checked with my partner, but I was wrong on this one. Rule 8-9 Articles 1 and 2 state that “The team at bat may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and/or catcher at any time…In the top of the first inning only, the pitcher and catcher are identified as those players listed on the lineup as the pitcher and catcher…thereafter, the pitcher and catcher are identified as the last players who physically played that position on defense.”<<<


Of course preventive umpiring would (should) have caught this, but what if any recourse or penalty could be applied when the home questioned this?

Would there be an un-reported sub somewhere? Did the (improper) CR become a sub once she took first base? If the new catcher comes in on defense is she now an unreported sub? (if CR becomes sub).

OR, Do you just tell the home coach it is to late to fix, you should have told me sooner?