Courtesy runner during tie breaker inning

[UmpireErnie]

NFHS rules say that in order to be eligible for a courtesy runner F1 or F2 must "earn their way on base". In a tie game with the tie breaker rule being used by state adoption, if F1 or F2 is the player who would be the runner starting the inning at 2B, can she have a courtesy runner?

My take is that since she is being placed there by rule, she is in fact being awarded 2B. If she reaches on any other type of award i.e. walk, hit by pitch, catcher obs we would not think twice about letting her have a courtesy runners.

But there is nothing black and white. Opinions?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by UmpireErnie

NFHS rules say that in order to be eligible for a courtesy runner F1 or F2 must "earn their way on base". In a tie game with the tie breaker rule being used by state adoption, if F1 or F2 is the player who would be the runner starting the inning at 2B, can she have a courtesy runner?

My take is that since she is being placed there by rule, she is in fact being awarded 2B. If she reaches on any other type of award i.e. walk, hit by pitch, catcher obs we would not think twice about letting her have a courtesy runners.

But there is nothing black and white. Opinions?

Well, since the tie-breaker is not defined in the rule book, enforcement would have to be determined by the adminstrating organization.

I agree that a CR would be permissible since the player is gaining that position legally.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Whatever batter is scheduled 9th to bat in the tie-breaker inning "earns" their way on base by that rule. All players "earn" their way the same way, by being 9th.

There is/was a written interpretation from NFHS Rules Editor MS that if that batter is F1 or F2, that allows a courtesy runner. This was revealed after extensive discussion in the year the rule verbiage was changed, requiring that clarification.

[CecilOne]

A bit of a tangent, for the first time I remember a coach wanted to return the catcher to running so he could use the CR player for something else.