NCAA DH ruling

[Jim Mills]

Originally posted by JJ

Correct ruling?

Yes. 7-2-c-(10) Penalty.

It sounds like they tried to make a legal substitution, but it was ill-timed. The DH can enter as the catcher, which terminates the DH and places the pitcher in the batting order in the former catcher's spot, but that change can be made only while on defense. 7-2-c-(1) AR 2.

They can't do that (even though your partner illegally allowed it, as you noted) while on offense. When the illegal substitute is noticed, he is always disqualified.

Now, a question of my own: would batting out of turn have been an issue had it been raised when the pitcher batted in the 7th? It seems to me that if the offense announced P batting for DH it could've been, but if that had been the intent the DH would have been disqualified, not sent out as the new catcher in the next half inning.

If the pitcher was announced as a PH for the catcher (as it appears to me in your post), or if no announcement was made, it seems that it would be a straight-up illegal substitution matter. Any thoughts?