Calling a Game Due to Darkness

[DG]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

Had an interesting situation last night during a junior legion game. Home team leading going into the top of the 7th 7 - 6. Visitors score 6 runs in a twenty minute top of the 7th. During warm ups, the visiting catcher had a ball get past him and he said, "It's getting tough to see." I immediately called both managers together and suspended the game.

When we reviewed the Legion Constitution, a game is considered official after 4 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead and after 5 innings if the visitors are ahead. Once beyond 5 innings, a game is considered "official" if the game is called due to the elements (darkness in this case). No provision is made for the home team batting in such a case. Immediately the home team manager pointed to the fact that his catcher just caught for 20 minutes without and issue.

This very confusing. Visitors just scored 6 runs in a 20 min inning and visiting catcher is out during warmups. I assume you meant home catcher and the reason he is mentioning light is he hopes the game will revert back to end of last inning and home team wins.

I don't know about the league constitution, but normally this game would be suspended and finished another date, since the visitors took the lead, game was called and home team did not get to bat.

I worked a HS suspended game this year where this happened, except it was rain that stopped the original game. I worked only 4 outs to complete the game. Game meant nothing to home team, playoff implications to the visitors (I still don't think they made it in with the win).

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by DG

This very confusing. Visitors just scored 6 runs in a 20 min inning and visiting catcher is out during warmups. I assume you meant home catcher and the reason he is mentioning light is he hopes the game will revert back to end of last inning and home team wins.

No, the visitors just scored 6 runs to take the lead, made their 3rd out, and now the visitors are in the field, and the moronic visitor's catcher can't see well enough to get 3 more outs so his team can get a come-from-behind win.

[DG]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

No, the visitors just scored 6 runs to take the lead, made their 3rd out, and now the visitors are in the field, and the moronic visitor's catcher can't see well enough to get 3 more outs so his team can get a come-from-behind win.

Oh, I got it now, visiting catcher is now catching and he thinks game will be called without home team batting and they win...

[njdevs00cup]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

No, the visitors just scored 6 runs to take the lead, made their 3rd out, and now the visitors are in the field, and the moronic visitor's catcher can't see well enough to get 3 more outs so his team can get a come-from-behind win.

Steve,

You got it regarding the visitor's catcher stating he couldn't see. Here is the exact wording from the Constitution (note it does not mention reverting):

“Official” games that do not reach the standard seven innings due to the elements are considered complete and will brecorded in the division standings as a win, loss or tie."

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

Steve,

You got it regarding the visitor's catcher stating he couldn't see. Here is the exact wording from the Constitution (note it does not mention reverting):

“Official” games that do not reach the standard seven innings due to the elements are considered complete and will brecorded in the division standings as a win, loss or tie."

It says that unless stated in the American Legion Rules, Major League rules are used. Since it doesn't say anything about the score reverting in the Legion Rules, then you go by OBR. You record it in the standings as a win for the HOME team, as by rule, the score reverts to the previous inning. If it were tied, then it's a tie, but otherwise it's a win if the home team was ahead the previous inning.

I would take that to the highest authority. No way would I let the visitors win, as they did not earn it.

2009 AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL RULES

American Legion Baseball (both Senior and Junior Legion Teams) shall be played in accordance with rules adopted by the National Americanism Commission of The American Legion. With only a few exceptions, all department (state) and national tournaments will follow the Official Baseball Rules as authorized by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

Changes to the Official Baseball Rules may be made by the National Americanism Commission and are noted in Rule 1 of the American Legion Baseball rules. These rules generally pertain to matters of safety, equipment and insurance and are made with the welfare of the players in mind. These rules may be further modified by the departments (states) for regular season play only and cannot conflict with national rules.

All national tournaments will follow rules established by The American Legion’s National Americanism Commission.

Both Senior and Junior teams shall follow these rules with a few exceptions for Junior Legion Baseball, which shall be marked in Green.

Senior American Legion Baseball shall be a 19 and under program.

Junior American Legion Baseball shall be a 17 and under program.

[Ump29]

There is NO provision under OBR for the score to revert to anything.

[Paul L]

OBR 4.12: "(a) A game shall become a suspended game that must be completed at a future date if the game is terminated for . . . (4) Darkness, when a law prevents the lights from being turned on."

I thought the score of a regulation game would revert to the end of the last completed inning too, but I cannot find any rule support under OBR. But that is the rule for Fed baseball (4-2-3) and softball. See BRD 440.

[dash_riprock]

I don't announce "last inning" or anything like that. I don't care what the score is, who's ahead, or how much time the inning (or half-inning) might take. When there is not enough light to play safely (in MY judgment), I call it. Let someone else figure out who won. I don't care about that either.

[Ump29]

Originally Posted by Paul L

OBR 4.12: "(a) A game shall become a suspended game that must be completed at a future date if the game is terminated for . . . (4) Darkness, when a law prevents the lights from being turned on."

I thought the score of a regulation game would revert to the end of the last completed inning too, but I cannot find any rule support under OBR. But that is the rule for Fed baseball (4-2-3) and softball. See BRD 440.

You will not find a reference to this in OBR as it was removed many years ago. It is now one of those "rule myths".