How is batting out of order handled in NFHS baseball?

• A. The batter is automatically removed from the lineup.
• B. The team is declared out for the inning.
• C. The batter is out for the entire game.
• D. Batting out of order is an appeal play; the correct batter must be placed in the proper spot.

Answer: (D)

When a batter bats out of order, the situation is resolved as an appeal by the defense. The umpire upholds the appeal and declares the batter who batted out of order out. The remedy is to place the batter who should have batted in the correct spot in the lineup. The ball is dead at the moment of the appeal, and play is adjusted so the correct batter assumes that spot in the batting order, with the sequence continuing from there. This keeps the lineup intact without punishing the entire inning or team beyond the misordered batter.