Now that the high school season is upon us I thought it we be good to have a discussion about the Courtesy Runner. Its something almost every team uses.

 

1. Can a courtesy runner who enters the game in the 3rd inning also be a pinch-hitter in the same inning?

 

2. If A1 was the first courtesy runner for the catcher and then later in the game the coach brings in A2 to be the courtesy runner for the catcher is the catcher now out of the game due to him using his re-entry right?

 

3. A25 pinch hits for the pitcher and singles. Coach re-enters the pitcher and has him go to first base to run for A25. Can he now bring a CR in to run for the pitcher?

 

4. In the first inning, A25 is the pitcher and is in the 2 hole in the line up. He singles and A10 enters as a CR. In the 6th inning A1 is now the pitcher in the 4 hole and he singles. Can A10 come in to be the CR?

Now that the high school season is upon us I thought it we be good to have a discussion about the Courtesy Runner. Its something almost every team uses.

 

1. Can a courtesy runner who enters the game in the 3rd inning also be a pinch-hitter in the same inning?

 

2. If A1 was the first courtesy runner for the catcher and then later in the game the coach brings in A2 to be the courtesy runner for the catcher is the catcher now out of the game due to him using his re-entry right?

 

3. A25 pinch hits for the pitcher and singles. Coach re-enters the pitcher and has him go to first base to run for A25. Can he now bring a CR in to run for the pitcher?

 

4. In the first inning, A25 is the pitcher and is in the 2 hole in the line up. He singles and A10 enters as a CR. In the 6th inning A1 is now the pitcher in the 4 hole and he singles. Can A10 come in to be the CR?

 

Not positive, but think these answers are correct:

 

1) No.

 

2) No, catcher is not automatically out of the game. Just a different CR is all.

 

3) Yes. (I think). I'd love to hear an NFHS ump's take on this, as I could see the point being made that the re-entry cannot be made until the team takes the field (otherwise it is a "projected" reentry, which is not allowed) and therefore the CR would be running for the PH, which isn't allowed. But I'm still going with "yes" for now.

 

4) Yes, as long as A10 had not legally entered the game at some point in between (i.e., pinch-hit, pinch-run, played defensively).

I think the courtesy runner is a dumb rule. Almost as dumb as the international tie-breaker rule used in softball.

I think the courtesy runner is a dumb rule. Almost as dumb as the international tie-breaker rule used in softball.

 

I agree, if the game is played at a field that has lights so that time isn't as much of a factor.

It takes more time for a courtesy runner to enter the game than it does for a catcher to suit up

It takes more time for a courtesy runner to enter the game than it does for a catcher to suit up

 

:thumb:

A courtesy runner is just that. They are not entered into the game and can be used at any time. The Courtesy Runner can be different as well.

I would agree that it's not a big time-saving feature, but I do like the fact that it provides another opportunity to get a high school kid playing time - just like the DH. And as would an AH.

A courtesy runner is just that. They are not entered into the game and can be used at any time. The Courtesy Runner can be different as well.

 

Not entirely true. There are definitely some restrictions to its use.

The main rule governing the courtesy runner is that the same player cannot run for both the pitcher and the catcher. When they come onto the field for the pitcher or catcher, the first time, the umpire is to make a note who that number is running for. If they then enter the game to run for the other the courtesy runner is ejected.

The main rule governing the courtesy runner is that the same player cannot run for both the pitcher and the catcher. When they come onto the field for the pitcher or catcher, the first time, the umpire is to make a note who that number is running for. If they then enter the game to run for the other the courtesy runner is ejected.

 

As well as the fact that it must be a player who has not participated in the game (hitting, defensively, or pinch running) to that point. In addition, while a CR can later enter the game, he cannot do so in the same half inning in which he ran (i.e., he cannot pinch hit in same inning he was CR).

Not positive, but think these answers are correct:

 

1) No.

 

2) No, catcher is not automatically out of the game. Just a different CR is all.

 

3) Yes. (I think). I'd love to hear an NFHS ump's take on this, as I could see the point being made that the re-entry cannot be made until the team takes the field (otherwise it is a "projected" reentry, which is not allowed) and therefore the CR would be running for the PH, which isn't allowed. But I'm still going with "yes" for now.

 

4) Yes, as long as A10 had not legally entered the game at some point in between (i.e., pinch-hit, pinch-run, played defensively).

 

Correct on all including #3. I believe I read that there was in INTERP that came out in 2005 regarding this.

Now that the high school season is upon us I thought it we be good to have a discussion about the Courtesy Runner. Its something almost every team uses.

 

1. Can a courtesy runner who enters the game in the 3rd inning also be a pinch-hitter in the same inning?

2. If A1 was the first courtesy runner for the catcher and then later in the game the coach brings in A2 to be the courtesy runner for the catcher is the catcher now out of the game due to him using his re-entry right?

 

3. A25 pinch hits for the pitcher and singles. Coach re-enters the pitcher and has him go to first base to run for A25. Can he now bring a CR in to run for the pitcher?

 

4. In the first inning, A25 is the pitcher and is in the 2 hole in the line up. He singles and A10 enters as a CR. In the 6th inning A1 is now the pitcher in the 4 hole and he singles. Can A10 come in to be the CR?

 

As for this scenario I have seen where in a district finals game 3 umpires allowed a player to courtesy run for the pitcher (who had just tripled), score the tying run on a passed ball and then re-enter to pinch run for the shortstop (who was at to bat when the runner scored the tying run). The runner went on to score the winning run in that same inning. Only time I've heard of the same player scoring the tying and winning run in the same inning.

As for this scenario I have seen where in a district finals game 3 umpires allowed a player to courtesy run for the pitcher (who had just tripled), score the tying run on a passed ball and then re-enter to pinch run for the shortstop (who was at to bat when the runner scored the tying run). The runner went on to score the winning run in that same inning. Only time I've heard of the same player scoring the tying and winning run in the same inning.

 

They were wrong to allow him to PR if they were using FED rules.

They were wrong to allow him to PR if they were using FED rules.

 

They were wrong indeed. But Coach Maxwell asked all three umpires and they said I was allowed to do so. It is one of the moments that stands out in my mind from my high school career even though its not by the book.