Illegal Courtesy Runner

[donnman]

In a local Pony age game a Courtesy runner was used for the pitcher. The league allows for courtesy runners for the pitcher/catcher. In the rules it stipulates that the runner must be the "Last batted out."

With two outs and runners on second & third the visiting team used a courtesy runner for the pitcher who was on 2nd. On the first pitch after the courtesy runner was put into the game, the batter hit a double, scoring both runs and putting the visiting team ahead 11-10.

The home manager came out after the play and pointed out that the courtesy runner was illegal because he was not the last batted out. After conferring with both managers it was confirmed that the courtesy runner was not the last batted out and thus ruled an illegal substitution and called out. The two runs were not counted because it was the third out of the inning. The inning was ruled over with the home team holding the lead 10-9.

A league official was contacted during the discussion and he over ruled the umps and said the home manager should have said something before the hit giving the visiting team the chance to put in the right courtesy runner. We think this is incorrect and we thought the umps on the field had the correct call. It would be very similar to batting out of order.

Thoughts?