Game Ending Procedures
QUESTION: In high school, baseball and softball, can a game be terminated when a team is leading by 10 runs? Is the game ended immediately?
ANSWER: In both sports, if the visiting squad is losing by 10 runs after 4 1/2 innings or after the fifth inning, either team is behind by 10 runs and both squads have had equal at bats, game shall be terminated at that point. (BB- Rule 4, Sec. 2, Art. 2, NJSIAAA #2) (SB- Rule 4-2-3, NJSIAA #1 & 2).
QUESTION: If a team is losing (25-0) in the early innings, can the game be ended immediately?
ANSWER: In baseball only, the run rule remains in effect until after 4 1/2 (visitors bat) or fifth inning (home bats) provided both teams have equal at bats; hence game continues through the 5th inning. ( BB- Rule 4-2-2). If visiting team is losing after 5 full at bats, home team does bat in their half of inning.
In softball only, after 4 innings or 3 1/2 innings if home squad is winning by 15 / more runs, the game may be ended with consent by both head coaches and the umpire. (SB- Rule 4-2-3, NJSIAA approved).