Softball mercy rule to become mandatory

The ten-run “mercy rule” in high school softball will become mandatory for the 2008-09 season in the California Interscholastic Federation’s San Diego Section.

The CIF Board of Managers voted unanimously April 22 to implement the mercy rule for the 2009 season. Currently, a team down by at least ten runs after five innings, or after 4 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead, has the option of having the game called or continuing to play.

“That’s going to become mandatory next year,” said CIF Commissioner Dennis Ackerman. “If one team’s ahead by ten, game’s over.”

The automatic application of the mercy rule will apply for both varsity and junior varsity games. “That will really help some of the games that get behind,” Ackerman said.