Situation 1: Team A is batting and B5, who hit a home run in her first at bat, comes up to bat instead of B4. Team B’s coach seeing B5 coming to bat tells the umpire they wish to intentionally walk B5. The plate umpire calls time and awards B5 first base. As B5 reaches first base, Team B’s scorekeeper tells the coach that B4 should have been up to bat. Team B’s coach now appeals that B5 batted out of order. The umpire rules B4 out for failing to bat in their proper position and B5 is removed from first base and becomes the proper batter with one out.
RULING: Correct ruling by the umpire. Once the intentional walk is awarded to B5 they have completed their turn at bat. If a proper appeal for batting out of order is made prior to a pitch to the next batter it should be honored. (2-65-2, 7-1-2)
Situation 2: Team A utilizes a local college field when they have a rainy day as it is turf and is often playable when their dirt field is not. When Team B arrives they notice the field is marked with lines that extend from the edges of the pitching plate to the end of the pitchers 16-foot circle. They do not want to play on the field as these lines are not allowed per NFHS field markings. The umpire states at the plate conference as part of the ground rules that these lines will be ignored during play and the umpire will judge if the pitcher remains within or partially within the 24” width of the pitchers plate without the use of these lines.
RULING: Correct ruling by the umpire. Based on weather and facility availability schools around the country are often forced to utilize various fields to be able to hold their games. Not only are these lines not approved for NFHS play, they are most likely installed to other organizations rules in regards to the pitchers requirements. For this reason they most likely would not provide the umpire with the correct reference to judge the pitcher legality by NFHS rules. For these reasons as the umpire stated the game will be played but umpire judgement will be used to determine if the pitcher is legal or illegal without the use of the lines. (1-1, 6-1-1, 6-1-2c)
