NFHS question on playing shorthanded

[Tru_in_Blu]

Well, over 100 views and not a single reply. I didn't realize that folks thought this was so easy.

Playing devil's advocate for a minute...

From the previous scenario, coach sends out only 7 players to play on defense in the bottom of the 7th inning.

Umpire says he must have at least 8 players in the batting order.

Coach says he still has 8 players in the batting order (see definition of batting order).

Umpire says all defensive players except the catcher must be positioned in fair territory.

Coach says that if the exception was OK for the 9th player in his batting order (i.e. the first injured player), by extension is has to be OK for the 8th player in his batting order, the player injured in the top of the 7th.

I THINK I know that the visitors cannot continue with only 7 in the field. It's not come up for me in any HS games I've worked. ASA wording is clearer than NFHS.

What is the definitive rule or passage that prohibits the team from playing 7 on defense?