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13-year-old ball can be so much fun, and so much frustration at the same time.

Best thing there, IMO, is to make sure they're learning to play the game on the "big field" correctly and not worry so much about the W's and L's. I hear this group has some talent. Glad to see Fish is there to nurture it. Heck, it's only in his best interests to do so through as many age groups as possible. More HS coaches should be paying as close attention!

If the game was called due to time before the 2-hour, 15-minute mark -- it was WRONG.

The rule clearly states that no inning should START after that time limit. And an inning officially starts when the LAST OUT is made in the previous inning (not when the team lolligags out on the field, and the pitcher takes his time warming up again, and the first pitch is made). The inning (or whatever part of it is necessary) must be played out even if it stretches beyond the time limit, and an umpire may not call the game "a little early" because he/she thinks the inning wouldn't be completed in time.

Two other things -- Even if you hit that time limit, you can't stop play if (a) the game is not OFFICIAL, and/or (b) the game is TIED. In (a), you play until the game is official, and then apply the rule based on the start of the next full inning. In (b), you keep playing until a winner is decided.

A couple years ago, there was a game that was called after 2 hours and 15 minutes, but it hadn't even started the FOURTH INNING (glad I wasn't there ). Yes, one team was way ahead, and it sure didn't look like the other team could catch them. But the result was negated, and was scheduled for replay. And I know MVBRL has had tie games called once the time limit was reached, even though there was plenty of daylight to complete the game.

I've been in the managers' meetings many times, and this rule gets special attention every year. And every year, it gets misapplied. It's simply amazing, but eventually it happens. Heck, in 2007, it happened in the VERY FIRST GAME OF THE BR SEASON, at the Stadium.

The official time is indeed in the hands of the umpire. It should be started with the first pitch. Most experienced BR umpires I know call the first pitch and immediately either ask for or announce the start time. The official scorekeeper would be wise to note that in the book.