Suspended game or Revert to last completed inning???

[Umpire in Chief]

Had a game tonight where they moved up the time trying to squeeze the game in ahead of the pending rain. 

 

All the scoring happened in the 1st inning after that we had a lot of quick 3 up 3 down half innings. Things are looking pretty good.

 

In the 5th inning we started getting some light rain, bottom of 5 we had a pretty heavy down pour so we delayed the game and they covered the mound and home plate area with tarps. 10-15 minutes later we're playing again. 6th inning light/moderate rain comes again. 

 

Now we've completed 6 home team up 3-1.

 

As we start the 7th. Hit batter, fielders choice and a single later we have 1 out R1 & R2 and the batter clobbers one over the fence as the rain picks up. Now we have 4-3 visitors. Next batter hits a single. Coach comes to the mound to change pitchers. I hustle over to my partner to ask how the area around the plate is doing, he says it's fine. He jogs out to the coach trying to hurry things along. I take a closer look at the mound and the mound is doing surprisingly well. HT hustles through the warm up pitches and just as my partner says play the bottom drops out.and we are getting it by the bucket.

 

He calls time and  the tarps come back out. This time the downpour lasts 10ish minutes and were starting to have standing water on the infield. My partner and I think it is now going to be time to bang it, but we wanted to consult with the home coach about what he thought about his fields ability to soak this up before we made a final decision. We take one step towards the home dugout an BOOM we now have lightning. My partner and I both look at each other and say this one is done. 

 

No arguments from either team on calling it. 

 

But here's where it gets interesting...

 

The district tourney starts next Wednesday both teams are booked solid all the way through. These are the number 4 & 5 teams in the district. the top 4 get in the tourney. Number one has already locked in the #1 spot, the number 2 team is definitely in the tournament, but where they will be is unknown. Then you have teams 3-7 all knotted up any have a shot to make it. Then teams 8-12 there season was over in February. 

 

So the coaches are talking about a time to continue and can't come up with anything. They ask us what happens. My partner tells them if they can not complete the game the score reverts back to what it was after 6. 

 

What a shame if they can't fit this in somewhere. I don't find myself playing the fanboy role hardly ever especially at the HS level, but what a shame if that kid's clutch 3 run homer goes for nothing,

[umpcoachfather]

Game called after visiting team takes lead or ties the score in top half of inning, score reverts back to last completed inning.

ART. 3 . . . If weather or darkness interferes with play so that the game is called (ended) by the umpire, it is a

regulation game:

a. if five full innings have been played, or if the home team has scored an equal or greater number of runs in

four or four and a fraction turns at bat than the visiting team has scored in five turns at bat; or

b. if play has gone beyond five full innings.

If the game is called when the teams have not had an equal number of completed turns at bat, the score shall be the

same as it was at the end of the last completed inning; except that if the home team in its half of the incomplete

inning, scores a run (or runs) which equals or exceeds the opponent's score, the final score shall be as recorded

when the game is called.

ART. 4 . . . A state association may adopt game-ending procedures that determine how games are ended, including

suspended games. However, if a state does not adopt game ending procedures, by mutual agreement of the

opposing coaches and the umpire-in-chief, any remaining play may be shortened or the game terminated. If a state

association has adopted game-ending procedures, only those game-ending procedures may be used, should the

opposing coaches wish to terminate a game.

SECTION 3 CALLED GAME

If a game is called before completion of the number of innings and conditions as specified in 4-2-3, the umpire shall

declare the contest "no game," unless play is terminated by 4-2-4. By state association adoption, a regulation called

game where

[noumpere]

Some states or areas or conferences have rules for this where it must be continued but others don't.  I don't know if all the games they have scheduled will count for district play and seeding or not but maybe one of those could be dropped to finish this game.

[jkumpire]

In Ohio it's a suspended game.

[Umpire in Chief]

I just got word. They reverted back to the end of the 6th. Home team won 3-1. 

 

That's the way the cookie crumbles. 

[CentralOhioUmp30]

In these types of situations I generally can't feel bad for the losing team.  They had six at-bats to make some noise (as did the home team) and they didn't do much of anything with them.  Then all of a sudden they break out in their last at-bat.  Who knows what the home team may have done during their final at-bat? 

 

Personally, I'd like to see games like this completed, but I can absolutely live with the final result (especially after six at-bats).

[coachump4]

I agree bad deal for the visiting team who seemed like they were on the verge of a W.  My question is did you all go over suspended game rules before the game?

[Umpire in Chief]

Here we don't. But that's an administrative thing above our grade. Like eligibility, innings, etc...

[coachump4]

Ok

[mstaylor]

My answer is always," we were suspending, ask the BOD what happens."

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[Minnz]

I know in some states they let the conference or district decide their own rules.  So many ways it is done out there in the three states I have worked in. I saw forget it and end it there.  If it is good enough for MLB...