Invoking the "Run Rule" after getting one extra at-bat

Yappi

Yappi

Go Buckeyes
Let's say the score is 12-4 after the top of the 5th. Run-rule is 15 after 3, 10 after 4, and 8 after 5.

Should the home team invoke the run rule after the top of the 5th or do you think it is acceptable to take their turn at bat and then at the end of the 5th inning notify the umpires that the run rule is in effect?

We've been involved in dozens of run-rule games on both ends. This Summer was the first time I've seen a run-rule achieved but the winning team held back until they got their final at-bat in.
 
 
Just for clarity, the home team knew it was a run-rule but wanted one last shot for their girls to hit a home run.
 
1. The umpire should have a general idea of the score and should have asked the official scorekeeper the score heading into the bottom on the 5th.
2. What kind of coach let's a game go on when the run-rule is in effect so his/her team can score MORE runs? Low class and probably shouldn't be coaching young athletes, IMO.

I have probably been to close to a 1000 softball games in the last 11 or 12 years and I have never seen the home team bat in the bottom of the inning if they have already achieved a run-rule.
 
Yappi said:
Let's say the score is 12-4 after the top of the 5th. Run-rule is 15 after 3, 10 after 4, and 8 after 5.

Should the home team invoke the run rule after the top of the 5th or do you think it is acceptable to take their turn at bat and then at the end of the 5th inning notify the umpires that the run rule is in effect?

We've been involved in dozens of run-rule games on both ends. This Summer was the first time I've seen a run-rule achieved but the winning team held back until they got their final at-bat in.
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Most Coaches want the Game to end when it’s supposed to by Innings,Time Limit or Run Rule. Any Coach who wants their kids to be out in the heat and humidity longer than they really have to be clearly doesn’t have much in between their ears!
 
We had a game this HS season where the visiting team scored 5 runs in the top of the 5th to achieved a run rule 16-6..
After our 3rd out and no runs in the 5th the opposing team rushed their players to the plate where they went down 1,2,3 then back out onto the field to get a new pitcher some mound time and put in some subs. The umpires had no time to ask about the score as they were busy entering the substitutions.

I want to play 7 whenever I can so, I was not going to say anything... We still lost but scored 8 runs over the next two innings and held them to 2 runs to lose 18-14 but played 7 innings...I don't think the umpires ever connected the game should have ended in the 5th or maybe just did not care.
 
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HSFB Fan said:
We had a game this HS season where the visiting team scored 5 runs in the top of the 5th to achieved a run rule 16-6..
After our 3rd out and no runs in the 5th the opposing team rushed their players to the plate where they went down 1,2,3 then back out onto the field to get a new pitcher some mound time and put in some subs. The umpires had no time to ask about the score as they were busy entering the substitutions.

I want to play 7 whenever I can so, I was not going to say anything... We still lost but scored 8 runs over the next two innings and held them to 2 runs to lose 18-14 but played 7 innings...I don't think the umpires ever connected the game should have ended in the 5th.
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Why don’t you feel that you should follow the Rules like everyone is supposed too? Winning by Run Rule and not telling anyone as Home Team is pretty bush league?
 
Smarty2022 said:
Why don’t you feel that you should follow the Rules like everyone is supposed too? Winning by Run Rule and not telling anyone as Home Team is pretty bush league?
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Bush league lol... The other team was also obviously wanting to play 7 as well, as they could have just taken the W and lined up to shake hands after the third out... and, unlike the thread scenario, the team was not looking to get just another AB as they wanted to get more ladies in the contest as they had a bunch of parents in attendance.
Judging from your comment I would guess you may not know it, but there are times when school games gets stopped much earlier than the 5 inning point by the coaches and as in this case, times where the game may go 7innings or, 3 to 4 hours. There are also times when teams decide to flip late innings especially in long travel distance uneven match ups to get the 5 innings or 7 innings in.

Its not always about wins and loses especially, at the Middle school, Freshman and JV levels. Its more about letting the ladies have fun and grow. This game turned out to be a good contest to watch for the parents that came out to support both schools and their student athletes.
Players from both teams were able to get in the game and contribute and in the end that is what counts.

Most of your HS SB in Ohio is played at this level (maybe a little stronger) as seen in the varsity level video below. I would say in our area for every strong team there are 7-10 teams like in this game (maybe a little stronger). In this game the players played hard and had FUN.
 
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the only reason you have a run rule in place to begin with was to save pitchers arms in baseball. I've never agreed with the run rule in theory. My feelings are that component of high school sports is participation. Anytime you shorten the game, you take away opportunities for many players who don't play much, to get to play. I disagree with the running clock in football for the same reason.

That said in this case the game is over in the top of the inning if the home team has a lead of 10 or more. There is no discretion from a rules standpoint.
 
14Red said:
the only reason you have a run rule in place to begin with was to save pitchers arms in baseball. I've never agreed with the run rule in theory. My feelings are that component of high school sports is participation. Anytime you shorten the game, you take away opportunities for many players who don't play much, to get to play. I disagree with the running clock in football for the same reason.

That said in this case the game is over in the top of the inning if the home team has a lead of 10 or more. There is no discretion from a rules standpoint.
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Of all the Mercy rules in sports, the run rule is really the only one that actually does something to conserve a finite resource.
 
CedarBuck92 said:
Of all the Mercy rules in sports, the run rule is really the only one that actually does something to conserve a finite resource.
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In baseball I'd agree with pitching. I'm not a fan of mercy rules in general. I feel a component of high school sports is participation. You shorten games and it just lessens playing time for some kids.
 
14Red said:
In baseball I'd agree with pitching. I'm not a fan of mercy rules in general. I feel a component of high school sports is participation. You shorten games and it just lessens playing time for some kids.
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Problem is a lot of HS softball coaches still play their starters through the end of a run rule. They are looking to get their starters stats for conference and other awards. This in turn makes their own profile look better. Its why you see top seeded teams play first round games instead of taking byes.
 
zski71 said:
Problem is a lot of HS softball coaches still play their starters through the end of a run rule. They are looking to get their starters stats for conference and other awards. This in turn makes their own profile look better. Its why you see top seeded teams play first round games instead of taking byes.
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But can you blame them? I mean you have some high school coaches who look soley at stats for conference/ state awards and may not be able to take into account a kid who has 30 less at bats because their team is way ahead all the time and gets pulled. I don't know that punishing kids on a team that's good is the answer. My feelings are the run rule hurts the bad team and keeps them down. To me, we get to a point where we worry way too much about the score of games. When it's a blowout and the contest winner isn't an issue, let's focus more on development of players.
 
14Red said:
But can you blame them?
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Yes I blame them. I blame them for sending their 123 hitters back for a 4th or 5th at bat in a game they are up 15 to 0. This to the detriment and experience of the bench players who have been there all year. I blame them for padding starters stats against 30 whatever seeded teams. Take your bye and let 2 30 seed teams have a chance at winning a game and making a memory before you run rule them.
I agree there are lots of coaches who are clueless about voting for state teams and seeding. Often times its just the big conferences like the GMC in Cincinnati voting for each other. Not saying their players aren't worthy, but some smaller conference players miss out because of that. The other issue is stat keeping. I looked at one GMC school and compared how they recorded hits compared to their opponents. The difference was nearly 100 points in team batting average.
14Red said:
When it's a blowout and the contest winner isn't an issue, let's focus more on development of players.
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I agree, but my argument was there are coaches that don't do that like they should.
 
zski71 said:
Yes I blame them. I blame them for sending their 123 hitters back for a 4th or 5th at bat in a game they are up 15 to 0. This to the detriment and experience of the bench players who have been there all year. I blame them for padding starters stats against 30 whatever seeded teams. Take your bye and let 2 30 seed teams have a chance at winning a game and making a memory before you run rule them.
I agree there are lots of coaches who are clueless about voting for state teams and seeding. Often times its just the big conferences like the GMC in Cincinnati voting for each other. Not saying their players aren't worthy, but some smaller conference players miss out because of that. The other issue is stat keeping. I looked at one GMC school and compared how they recorded hits compared to their opponents. The difference was nearly 100 points in team batting average.

I agree, but my argument was there are coaches that don't do that like they should.
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I don't disagree, I think some coaches have the thought of developing the bench and looking for opportunites to get other kids in. Doesn't always happen but there are some that do.
 
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