BOO question- sorry if this is a repeat

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

There is nothing in the rule which gives the umpire the authority to rule the incorrect batter out at any time in any game. THE EXCEPTION for Co-ed Only states that if you do rule the incorrect batter out (which the rule does not permit), you just skip their turn at bat if they were due to bat. IOW, the old rule applies.

The exception I'm reading doesn't say that. It says if they are put out during their at bat (which gets negated when appealed)... not if you rule them out during the appeal (which the rule does not permit, as you say).

IOW - in the OP, you rule Mary out (a), you rule Mike out (b), you skip Alice (exception), and Fred is the batter (exception).

But if, in the OP, Alice does NOT get out (say she hits a single instead), then Mike is out (b), and ALICE is the correct next batter.

I hate arguing with Irish because I'm always wrong ... but the rule as printed here (and elsewhere) doesn't match what you said, and the exception DOES make sense within the context of the rule ... just the COMMENT does not.