Folks..
All too often typed posts on a forum without the effect of delivering the same message in person loses a lot of translation. An amazing amount of our verbal communication is non verbal!
Nsc.. I believe you should give Mike another chance... he has the knowledge and desire to help as do many others on here who do sometimes come off as sarcastic.
In ASA slowpitch, starting with an EP means you have an 11 player batting lineup the entire game. Any 10 play defense. But you have to have 11 in the batting order at all times you can't go to 10. If you lose a player and have no eligible subs then you go shorthanded.. you still have 10 playing defense but when that vacated spot in the 11-player batting order comes around you have an out.
In ASA coed you can either bat 10 or use the EPs (one male and one female) but you have to use both and have a 12-player batting order the entire game.