Starting Lineup (9 Batters)
Substitutes SUBS
NFHS Substitution Rules
Starters may leave the game and re-enter once. They must return to the same batting order position.
Substitutes who enter and then leave the game may not re-enter.
DH can bat for any one defensive player. Set the DH once in the lineup, then choose which fielder he bats for each inning.
Player-DH (P/DH) is a two-way player who bats for himself. Check the box under the DH to place him on the field and in the batting order at the same time.
Courtesy Runners are allowed for the pitcher and catcher once per inning (not for P/DH).
Copy Inning
High school (NFHS) baseball lineups: the DH, re-entry, and courtesy runners
High school baseball runs on the NFHS rulebook, and its substitution rules are the strictest a coach will manage regularly. A nine-batter order, a designated hitter with specific rules, one re-entry per starter, and courtesy runners for the pitcher and catcher all have to line up correctly — and an illegal substitution can be more than an inconvenience.
The High School builder enforces those rules as you go. It tracks who has left the game and whether they are still eligible to return, handles the DH (including the two-way Player/DH), and flags moves that the NFHS rulebook does not allow before they cost you.
Starter re-entry (once, same slot)
Under NFHS Rule 3-1-3, a starter may leave the game and re-enter one time, but must return to their original spot in the batting order. A substitute who enters and is then removed may not re-enter at all. The builder tracks each player's status so you always know who still has their re-entry available and who is done for the day.
The designated hitter
Most states permit a DH, who bats for one defensive player named in the lineup. Set the DH once, then choose which fielder they bat for. If the player being hit for enters to hit for themselves, the DH role is terminated for the game — a common way to lose the DH by accident.
The two-way Player/DH
NFHS allows a player to be both the pitcher (or another fielder) and the DH at the same time — batting for themselves rather than for another player. The builder's Player-DH toggle places that athlete in the field and the batting order simultaneously, and keeps the re-entry math correct if they later move off the mound.
Courtesy runners
A courtesy runner is allowed for the pitcher and catcher, once per inning, without those players leaving the game. It keeps your battery fresh and speeds the game up. Courtesy runners are not tracked as substitutions, so they do not affect re-entry.
Coaching tips
- Before making a defensive change, check whether the player leaving is a starter with a re-entry left or a substitute who will be done — the builder shows each player's status so you do not strand an option.
- If you use a DH, decide early whether you want a traditional DH or a two-way Player/DH; switching mid-game usually ends the DH for good.
- Use courtesy runners for the pitcher and catcher to protect them, and remember it does not count against re-entry.
Frequently asked questions
How many times can a high school starter re-enter?
Once. A starter may leave and return one time, to the same batting-order position. A substitute who is removed cannot re-enter.
What is a Player/DH in high school baseball?
A two-way player who both plays the field (often pitcher) and hits for themselves, rather than having a separate DH bat for them. NFHS permits it; the builder's Player-DH toggle handles it.
Who can have a courtesy runner?
The pitcher and the catcher, once per inning each. It is not a substitution and does not affect re-entry.
This is general guidance for coaches. Playing-time and substitution rules change season to season and vary by local league — always confirm against the current official rulebook before you finalize a lineup.