Forfeit of a game

[jimmcc]

QUESTION: What is the rule on how long to wait for a ninth player to show up (I thought it was 5 minutes)? And can you not play with eight?

LEAGUE: Slow Pitch ASA Men's League in North Texas.

SITUATION: It was 7:04pm when the ninth player showed up but the ump had called "forfeit" two minutes earlier. The ump would not recall his forteiture saying that once a game is called you can't go back. The ump was also concerned about time constraints.

RULE: The Umpire is instructed and cautioned to employ his best discretions to avoid forfeiture of any game, within the scope of good reasoning.

SUGGESTION: On a 55 minute time limit, start the clock at the top of the hour, no matter what. When the clock hits "49" and the ninth player hasn't shown up - forfeit! It's either black or white - no gray areas.

Thanks.