STARTING / CONTINUING GAME
QUESTION: In high school, baseball and softball, who is responsible for making the decision to start a game? Home coach, both visiting and home coaches or umpires only?
ANSWER: Home coach has the authority to decide if grounds are playable for starting game. Once game begins, umpires are lone judges whether to continue to play game. ( BB – Rule 4, Sec. 1, Art.1; SB- Rule 4, Sec. 1, Art. 1 & 5).
QUESTION: How many players are needed to start the game? (9, 8 or 7).
ANSWER: Nine (9) players, present on field, are required to begin the game. A game may continue and finish with eight(8) players. An out will be recorded each time the vacant spot comes to bat in an inning. A game may not continue with less than eight players but if playing with fewer than nine, team may return to playing with nine. ( BB- Rule 4, Sec.4, Art. 1(f), note2; SB- Rule 4, Sec. 3, Art. 1(f & g).