Batting out of order question (USSSA)

[GoHeels]

Scenario occurred over the weekend and I was curious if the call was correct.

Start of new inning, batter #8 in opposing team’s lineup is due for an at-bat. Batter #9 heads to box and opposing team is unaware at this juncture that batter is out of order. Batter completes at-bat with 4-3 groundout. After at-bat, our team calls time and informs official of situation. Opposing team agrees with error. Umps indicates that batter #9 (whom just batted out of turn and grounded out) hits again since she follows batter #8, whom did not bat.

I realize rules vary by association (this was USSSA), but my assumption was batter #8 would have been called out for batting out of order, batter #9 grounded out and the next batter would be the batter that followed batter #9 (in this instance batter #1).

Thanks in advance for guidance on the ruling.

 

[Comp]

Sec 10. Batting Out Of Order
A batter shall be called out on appeal when he fails to bat in his proper turn and
another batter completes a time at bat in his place.
NOTE: Only the defensive team may appeal out of order after the batter has
completed his time at bat.
A. When an improper batter becomes a runner or is put out and the defensive
team appeals to the Umpire before the next pitch (legal or illegal), or
before the infielders leave the diamond if a half inning is ending, batting
out of order is declared and results in the following:
1. The proper batter is declared out.
2. The improper batter is taken off base. If the batter is out on the play,
the out does not stand because the out for batting out of order
supersedes an out by the improper batter on a play.
3. Any outs made on the play on other runners stand. Any runner not put
out must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch.
4. No runs may score on the play.
5. The next batter is the player who follows in the batting order the
player who was declared out for not batting in the proper order.
NOTE: If a runner advances because of a stolen base, wild pitch or
passed ball while the improper batter is at bat, such advance is legal.

 

[CoogansBluff]

Followup -

What if a player bats out of order and reaches base and the defensive team fails to appeal before the next pitch?

 

[eddieq]

The action is legalized at that point and you've managed to "skip" a batter that time through the order. That number 8 batter would resume her proper spot the next time through.

 

[CoogansBluff]

The action is legalized at that point and you've managed to "skip" a batter that time through the order. That number 8 batter would resume her proper spot the next time through.

Thanks. ...

So let's say a team skips #7 and starts the inning with #8. If #8 is out (and there is no appeal) but #9 reaches, the defense has lost its right to appeal at that point? I assume that is correct, or else the defense would wait until the offense hits a 2-run HR three innings later to appeal.

 

[eddieq]

Right, the batter who would have been out for BOO was #7 in your immediate example here. Once 8 completes her turn at bat and batter 9 has received a pitch (legal or illegal), the new order is legalized. What are they going to appeal? That 9 shouldn't be batting after 8?

 

[CoogansBluff]

What are they going to appeal? That 9 shouldn't be batting after 8?

The argument would be that #9 batted 8th (and that #1 is about to bat 9th and so on). But allowing that would lead to a lot of manipulation and nonsense.

I'd love to see some umpires (or just folks who know the rules very well) come up with a list of ''the 10 rules that coaches/fans are most likely to be wrong about.'' BOO would be in there somewhere.

 

[CoogansBluff]

Another thought:

If you have only 9 batters and one of them can't bat - she's hurt, or maybe just had to go to the bathroom - should you just skip her and see if the other team appeals it? If you report her absence, she's out, right?

 

[eddieq]

Well, that's a whole separate issue. If she leaves the game and you take an out for her, she cannot return to the lineup (unless she's out on the blood rule). But yes, if you say, "number 15 is not available to bat this time" you either need a legal sub or you take the out and she cannot return.

If she just has to go to the bathroom, she either needs to hold it or you play short from then on. If you want to risk the batting out of order thing, you need to be ready to supply the correct batter in case it's discovered while your incorrect batter is up. If they call you out on it while the improper batter is in the box, there is no penalty, they just replace her with the correct batter. If she's not there, then you may have to explain that one. Of course, if the umpire thinks you're trying to pull something, you may end up with an ejection on the head coach.

 

[Comp]

If you drop to 8 batters, by rule the missing batter is out no need for the defense to appeal. Had that argument froma coach at nationals last year. He showed up with only 8 players for pool play and insisted the other team had to appeal the missing batter each and every time. Explained to him the rule clearly states, when only batting 8 players, the missing batter is out.