Late mercy rule

[upnorth928]

LL Majors softball. Starting bottom 4 HT had a 6 run lead.  I confirmed with HT scorekeeper while the VT was warming up.  Bang, bang; first two players out.  I'm PU thinking 'oh geeze, their going to make me stay here for another inning'.  Next hitter gets on, error, circus music, score, repeat.  The HT keeps hitting the ball and now I'm thinking is 'score 4 and it's mercy rule time'.   R1, R2, R2 two out.  The batter gets in the box and I notice that it is a girl who had already hit in the inning, I couldn't remember when she came up, just that she had hit this inning.  I started doing the math in my head and was sure at least 4 runs had scored.  Count goes to 3-1 then the HT scorekeeper hollers "That's game Blue.  We're up by 11".   I call "ball game" and leave the field with a batter at the plate. 

 

As I was walking off I was thinking if this was the right thing to do. I told myself that if I would have allowed the game to continue after I knew it was over by way of mercy rule then if someone was injured I would have created a real mess for the league.  

 

I have two questions: 

1) Should I have asked for the score, during the inning, when I thought it may be a 10 run lead? 

2) Should I have let the batter complete the at bat before ending the game?

[JHSump]

Mercy rule is the only reason we should be interested in the score, IMHO.  (Others disagree.)

 

When there is the chance of a mercy rule coming into play during a half-inning, before the half-inning begins ask the HT scorekeeper (or whoever is the official scorekeeper) to tell you if the mercy run limit is reached, even if during the inning.  Then immediately stop the game.  Do no allow play to continue beyond that limit. Do not let the current batter's at-bat play out.  If someone gets hurt, It won't just be the league that will get into potential trouble --- you will also.

[mstaylor]

When the HT book says game, call time, ask the VT book if they agree. If both books agree, get out of there. No need to finish the AB.

[BigUmpire]

When the HT book says game, call time, ask the VT book if they agree. If both books agree, get out of there. No need to finish the AB.

Amen!

[semper_fi_72]

This is a good example of why you sometimes need to keep track of the score and runs crossing the plate.

 

As far as creating a mess for the league by allowing the batter to finish the AB.

The mess was created when the 10th run was scored.

As soon as that 10th run crossed the plate the game was over in accordance with LL Rules.

 

A team can not win or be leading by 11 runs with a 10 run mercy rule.

That 10th run is like a walk off.