Question: In high school baseball, the head coach of the visiting team hands in a lineup without any substitutions listed. Is this legal?
Answer: The plate umpire will not accept the lineup card until all available subs are listed; hence, the card is returned to the coach for adjustment. Team is not penalized. (Rule 1, Sec. 1, Art. 2)
Question: In high school girls’ softball, following the pre-game conference in which lineup cards were exchanged and prior to the first pitch being thrown, the visiting team’s coach wants to add a late arriving sub. Permitted?
Answer: Plate umpire will allow the addition to the lineup card with a team warning issued to the head coach for lineup inaccuracy. Any further lineup card violations will result in head coach being restricted to the bench. (Rule 3, Sec. 1, Art. 3)
This feature will appear regularly during the baseball/softball season from now through October. It is designed to explain the rules and procedures for girls, boys, and adults. Lynch is a member of the National Federation of State High School Officials, Hudson County Umpires Association (vice president, cadet supervisor, and softball rules/mechanics interpreter), Amateur Softball Assn. (ASA), as well as National Association Of Sports Officials (NASO). The high school season begins April 1.