This was High School Varsity Softball.
In the first inning Team (B) pinch runs for DH with S4 in the 4th position.Then at end of inning reenters original DH.
Then in the 7th S4 suddenly appears in batter's box after first pitch.
Team (A)head coach declares "they are batting out of order.
Team (B)head coach now says she forget to tell me S4 was reentering.
At this point I think I have an unreported reentery. I give coach (B) warning and say let's continue.
Now team (A) shows me that team (B) is in the third position of their batting order and not the fourth where S4 originally substituted. They demand that S4 is illegal substitute. They want an out declared for penalty.
I say no because I think we have an unreported substitute batting out of order. Just bring the correct batter in to start with (ball one).
Team (A) coach asked me to confer with base umpire. Base umpire agrees with head coach that we have an illegal substitute. I then penalise Team (B) with an out and continue on. This did not have anything to do with changing the game because Team (B) won 6-0.
After coming home and going thru case studies I think I was right that S4 was not an illegal sub but just an unreported reentry batting out of order.

From what you are saying it sounds as if you are right.

collinb

First move no problem S4 sub'ing for DH 4th position

Second move...S4 apparently <b>unreported</b> batting in the
third position....Team A calls to your attention that Team
B batting OFO. Team B tells you that she forgot to report
that S4 was reentering. May be true, however, she [S4} has
enter the line-up in the 3rd position..not original 4th. By
NFHS Rule 2 Sec 57 Art 2b. This makes S4 an <font color = red> illegal substitute.</font>

Rule 3 Sec 1 Art 4a.1. now applies.

Illegal offensive or defensive players may be discovered by the
umpire or either team anytime after the ball becomes alive and
an ilegal substitute has taken a position as;
1. a runner she has replaced or as <i>a batter in the batter's box</i>.

JMO, but I believe you had an illegal substitute.

glen

I concur with Glenn.

Plus, this is a better education for the coach. Next time he will report the sub, the umpire will tell him he can't reenter her in the 3rd spot, and since the ball never became live, we have a nothing.

Beside that, we get paid by the out!!! Don't lose them. (just kidding for all you coaches lurking out there.)

Roger Greene