Clarifying the Automatic Out
Rule
I understand there was quite a bit of confusion at the media league
spring meeting over the use of the automatic out. There are, indeed,
a lot of variables in this rule but we'll try to simplify and
clarify them for you because this rule comes into play several
times a season.
The MMSL rules on the use of the automatic
out are no different from other co-ed leagues. The difference,
of course, is that you have only a three-woman minimum on the
field instead of the standard five.
In the MMSL, a team can play with two women and seven men, but must forfeit a position in the field and take an automatic out in the order (you also cannot use an extra hitter).
However, the automatic out is waived if it would be the last out of a game. In this instance, the automatic out spot in the batting order is skipped over and the next batter in the lineup comes to the plate.
In addition, if there are two outs in any inning and the batter before the automatic out walks, then the automatic out is skipped over and the next batter in the lineup comes to bat. This is done to keep teams from intentionally pitching around a hitter to get to the automatic out.
There is one other element of the automatic out that could cause some confusion, but you're not likely to see it happen.
If the female batter leaves the game in the final inning and creates a vacancy in the order, then her team must take an automatic out in that spot even if it would be the last out of the game. This is done to prevent teams from faking injuries, avoiding the automatic out and attempting to get a male batter to the plate in her place.