skipping your time at bat

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

I don't have much of answer other than telling them they can't do that, refusing to participate in their sham, and reporting it to the state association; and let the administrators decide how to treat the score, game and schools.

I challenge how you could declare a forfeit for failing to bat when there is no team on the field preparing to play defense. Here is a case where you must have an egg to make an egg sandwich (there has to be a pitch to bat, and there has to be a pitcher to make a pitch, as well as the rules requiring 9 defensive players, 8 of whom must be present in fair territory to have a legal pitch).

Great line Steve!
OK...I think we're all in agreement with what you said in your first paragraph if this sitch occurred in a HS (V/JV/Fr) game. We're not going to let the team do that, game is over at that point, higher authorities make the decision as to the official result of the game. They can call it whatever they want, we really don't care....not our worry.

So let's say we're working a non HS, or a non tournament game like a house league or rec league game. Same sitch as the OP. Team A is on defense, they're getting crushed by Team B. Team A records the 3rd out to end the half inning, and HC of A tells his team to stay out in their defensive positions as the HC tells you "we want to forgo our time at bat, and let Team B bat again, and we'll continue to play defense."

PU: "Coach you can't do that."
HC/A: But we want to...and the HC of B is OK with us doing it."

At this point what do we have? Many good arguments have been made as to why you cannot declare the game a forfeit. and I can see where the points made are certainly valid...but then what is this bizzaro sitch considered by rule?

I'm ready to be swayed to the other side of the debate.