In recent tournament, in pool play we played under "modified drop dead" rules where after 1.30 hours if we didn't complete the last inning within regulation, the score would revert back to the previous inning.
Situation: in previous inning, we are the visiting team down 7-3. In the top half of the last inning we tie the score 7-7. Because of tie-breaker rules, a tie by us (or even a loss by 3 runs or less) means #1 seed for us going into Sunday elimination round and a much easier road to get to the championship game.
With about 8 mins left in the game, I ask my baserunner on 1st to purposely leave early, for the second out of the inning. With the count 2 - 2 on my batter, I ask her to swing early to get out and she swings before the ball is even half way to homeplate. Strike 3, and 3 outs.
Bottom half of the inning, my pitcher quickly strikes out the first two batters and the third batter pops up to third base. Inning over. I ask umpire how much time left in the game and he says 2 mins! Inning is complete and official. Before we get our next at-bats, game is called and the score is tied. Even though we tied, we "won" the #1 seed. By the way, we ended up winning the tournament and having the top seed was important for the win. Needless to say, opposing coach was not happy.
Is this good clock management or did I do a disservice to the game? By the way, I apologized to my two players that I made them purposely make outs but they (and their parents) understood our strategy once they realized the implications of the time expiring.
Curious your thoughts on this and if you have every used the clock to your advantage?
Situation: in previous inning, we are the visiting team down 7-3. In the top half of the last inning we tie the score 7-7. Because of tie-breaker rules, a tie by us (or even a loss by 3 runs or less) means #1 seed for us going into Sunday elimination round and a much easier road to get to the championship game.
With about 8 mins left in the game, I ask my baserunner on 1st to purposely leave early, for the second out of the inning. With the count 2 - 2 on my batter, I ask her to swing early to get out and she swings before the ball is even half way to homeplate. Strike 3, and 3 outs.
Bottom half of the inning, my pitcher quickly strikes out the first two batters and the third batter pops up to third base. Inning over. I ask umpire how much time left in the game and he says 2 mins! Inning is complete and official. Before we get our next at-bats, game is called and the score is tied. Even though we tied, we "won" the #1 seed. By the way, we ended up winning the tournament and having the top seed was important for the win. Needless to say, opposing coach was not happy.
Is this good clock management or did I do a disservice to the game? By the way, I apologized to my two players that I made them purposely make outs but they (and their parents) understood our strategy once they realized the implications of the time expiring.
Curious your thoughts on this and if you have every used the clock to your advantage?