Injured player
A player was injured in a L.L. game in the bottom of the 5th while trying to make a defensive play. The team had no other players to sub into his position. The team elected to play with 8 players. If the hurt players comes to bat in the top of the 6th and is not able to bat is he out? I told the coach yes, but he said there was a special rule in little league that allowed the team to skip his spot in the batting order.
The league was probably using a continuous batting order and was confused as to the actual rule of 4.17 - If they were batting 11 kids and there is an injury, when the injured kid was up to bat, they would just skip over him without an out being charged.
However in this case Adam is correct; If a team is unable to place nine players on the field due to injury or ejection the game is liable for forfeiture... I say liable because it goes to the board of directors for that league and THEY make the decision... not the umpire.
Hope that helps...
Curt Parker
Unless there's been a recent rule change, there's no provision in Little League allowing a team to play with 8 players. A team that drops below nine players forfeits the game. The local league might have a rule that allows this however. That rule should also cover what happens when the player's spot comes up in the order.