Expert: Dennis Girardi - 6/21/2008

Question
During a recent little league game with the score 26 to 12 in the bottom of the 6th the away team substituted a catcher who previously pitched in the same game. The home team pointed this out after sending three batters to the plate. Once this violation was realized the away team took the ineligible player off the field and replaced him with catcher who did not pitch in this game and the game resumed for the final 3 outs.

The home team manager insisted that the game be forfeited and is protesting because an ineligible player was used.

My question is how do you proceed once a rules violation has been discovered?

Answer
Hey Michael,

Each league is set up differently. Contact the commissioner and explain what happened. You may not have followed the exact PROTEST procedure for the league, which would nullify your protest.. This may be an "out" for the other team.. Sorry.
Dennis