Mercy Rule

Question
Our age 28 and over Women's League Softball team has a "Mercy" Rule, it is a 15 run rule after the fifth inning (we play seven innings). Does that mean if a team is not up by 15 runs at the completion of the fifth, but is at the completion of the sixth inning that we should play the game to completion or is the game technically over?

Answer
Hi Jen,

In your league it means you must play 4 1/2 innings no matter what the score is. If the visitors bat 5 or more times and are behind by 15+ the game is over.  If the home team bats 5 or more times and are behind 15+ the game is over.  So you would not bat the bottom of 5 if the home team is ahead or the bottom of 6 either.  You would if play the complete inning if the home team was behind.

So as long as the losing team has batted at least 5 complete times when the 15 is reached the game is over.

Mark