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Slaughter (Mercy) Rule

Effective for the 2011 season, all VHSL (public) Varsity and JV games will use the 10 runs ahead rule after at least 4-1/2 or five innings. For example, if the Home team scores in the bottom of the 5^th inning to make the score 14-4, the game is called at that point. If the visiting team goes up by 10 or more runs in the top half of the 6^th or 7^th inning, then the home team will be allowed to bat in the bottom have to try to pull within 9 runs to stay alive.

For all Private Schools, both JV and Varsity, the rule continues to be 10 runs ahead after at least 4-1/2 or five innings.

For all Middle School games, the rule is 10 runs ahead after at least 4-1/2 or five innings.

So for 2011, all games are played with a 10-run slaughter rule.

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