Question
Had a situation this past weekend where a team could not finish the game because of lack of players. It was an official game at the time this took place and score was 2-0. We originally put down 7-0 for the forfeit but was brought to our attention that the game would actually go down as what it was at the current score according to the rulebook. Can you please explain this and why the rule is stated this way.
Response
The philosophy is if the teams have played enough for a regulation game, the game and all stats should stand.
7-0 is an arbitrary score based on one run per inning.
Our scoring of a forfeit game is consistent with most associations.
Rule 4 Sec 7. FORFEITED GAME
B. Score of a forfeited game is 7 to 0 unless the game is forfeited after the number of innings required for a regulation game and the offending team is behind, then the score remains as recorded. If the offending team is leading, the score shall be 7 to 0. All individual and team averages shall be included in the official records, except that no pitcher shall be credited with a victory or charged with a loss in such a game if it is not a regulation game.
