Hi guys. I'm back on the boards after the off season. I learn so much from reading these threads. Got the new NFHS rulebooks for this year with the new revised rules. I see this year that even the non-starters will have return eligibility this year. So here is the first question arising from this new rule.

Situation: The visiting team starts the game with 9 players (FP) and only 1 sub on the bench (hey its ACT testing). The coach brings the sub in the game in the 3rd inning (batting 9th) and back out the game in the 5th inning. The visitors are handily beating the home team, when in the bottom of the 6thm, a high fly to center-left results in a vicious collision between F7 and F8. Both have to leave the game due to injuries. But F7 and F8 bat 4th and 5th. Is this a must forfeit situation? Or is the coach allowed to bring the sub in a different batting position only to avoid a forfeit?

Good Question
 

From what I read under ASA rules there are no exceptions for injuries so my guess is the sub would not be able to come into a different batting position which would make them illegal even for injuries. My guess you would still have a forfeit just as before


Have a good one


Don

A player who is withdrawn may only reenter in the same position in the batting order. 3-1-3.

The shorthanded rule is 3-1-7 and the new player must be an "eligible player". IOW she must be able to legally enter as a sub for the missing player.

Pony has a rule that in the situation you describe places the last player removed from the line-up in the vacated spot.
Roger Greene

kchamp,
IMHO, the team experiencing the double injury has no
subs left. They have a player on the bench, whom by
the new NFHS rule can now only re-enter for the person
s/he was origianlly in the game for.

I, therefore agree with Don & Roger, I see a forfeit.
[darn ACT Testing anyway....]

glen

KC,
Dunno 'bout other states, but in Pa - you know (that place where you only eer have to pass the test once) - umpires do not pronounce a game to be a forfeit. We announce that the game is suspended - and let the administrators decide what to do.

Steve,

Could't you use Rule 4 Sec 3 ART 1f. As long as R4 S3 A 1g
did not hamper your cause?

Glen,
Yup, that rule does cover the situation. But, PIAA emphatically tells us that any game ended early is suspended.

In FED softball, if there are no available subs, the team may continue with eight players. An out is recorded each time that spot in the batter order comes up. No forfeit.

Bob

That is true Bob.......but in this situation........the injuries bring the team down to 7 eligible players.......

ASA also has this rule.......

I notice a difference in FED and ASA on playing short........

ASA does not allow a team to go short due to a player who is ejected........Doesn't FED have a provision for this?

Joel

My Bad, Gulf:

I overlooked that BOTH players had to be removed.

Bob

I don't think Fed cares how you became shorthanded. The same rule applies in all cases.
Roger Greene