The lights went out . . . .

[Dakota]

Originally posted by Andy
...the umpire shall not call "time" during a live ball, except in the case of severe injury to a player. ... By rule, the umpire cannot call time when the lights went out as a live ball was in play.

While I agree with your conclusion (let the play continue, live with the result), the rule you are referencing is not so strongly worded as your underlined words above would have it.

The rule is ASA 10-8, SUSPENSION OF PLAY.

10-8A says,

Umpires may suspend play when, in their judgment, conditions justify such action.

Now, since the ball was caught, I assume it was not pitch black, so while the conditions were not ideal, they were not impossible either. Therefore, let the play continue to it's natural end. Then suspend play due to darkness.

10-8E (the rule you were referencing) says,

An umpire will not call time while any play is in progress, including when a thrown ball hits an umpire...(exception for an injured player follows)

It says "will not" not "shall not" or "cannot." This gives the umpire some small bit of wiggle room (IMO) to apply 10-8A if conditions are severe enough, due to something happening suddenly.

At least that is the way I see it.