I batted 9 players but I had 13 players playing. I subbed in the other 4 players.
We were the away team.
Player A batted in the 1st and 3rd inning (played defense in innings 1 and 2).
In the bottom of the 3rd, I subbed in player B for player A.
Player B batted in the 5th inning (played defense in innings 3, 4, and 5).
In the top of the 6th, (without reporting) player A stepped in to bat for Player B.
There was one pitch. The other coach claimed it was an illegal substation and the umpire called him out.
Question 1) Does the substitution have to be reported?
According to Rule 2-36 Article 2
An unreported substitute is a player who, by rule, can be in the game but has entered without reporting.
According to Rule 2-26 Article 3
An illegal substitute is:
a. a player who enters or re-enters the game without eligibility to do so, or
b. a player who re-enters the game in the wrong position in the batting order, or
c. a player who enters the game on defense while the player for whom he is batting is on defense, or
d. when the player for whom the DH is batting enters the game as a batter or runner in a different position in the batting order, or
e. a player who violates the courtesy runner rule.
For courtesy reasons, I should have reported it but I don’t think I was against the rules by not reporting it.
Question 2) Was this an illegal substitution?
I don’t believe it was an illegal substitution because he re-entered the game in same position in the batting order.
Question 3) If this was an illegal substation, would player A be classified as an ‘improper batter’.
And if so, shouldn’t have this fallen under
Rule 7-1, Art 1 ….. When the improper batter’s infraction is first discovered by either team, time may be requested and the improper batter replaced by the proper batter with the improper batter’s ball and strike count still in effect, provided the infraction is detected before the improper batter is put out or becomes a base runner. …..
I just want to see if my interpretations of the rules are correct.
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