Recently read something about when you're getting close to time limit and you have 2 outs and want to finish an inning prior to the game clock expiring you can ask the ump to take your 3rd out without having to run someone out to the batters box.
This would be if you can see a team intentionally stalling on the field trying to run out the clock and you're down several runs and nobody on with 2 outs.

It's been said you can ask the ump to take an intentional 3rd out just like you would ask for an intentional walk, is there any truth to this? I've never seen this done and can't remember ever seeing it in a rule book.

JohnO28 ... There's nothing in the SSUSA Rulebook that allows this technique ... If something is not covered in the SSUSA book, we default to the ASA/USA Rulebook ... I was not able to find anything there, either ... Hopefully this was just a theory discussion and wasn't a tournament official or umpire "making it up on the fly" ...

I saw this as well.

What is everyone's go to for getting the last out in this situation?

I have recently noticed players just running off their bag towards their dugout and the umpire calls them out right when they vacate the bag. No messing around with the batter swinging and stepping on the plate.

My favorite "go-to" as a Director when I see this game-time manipulation unfolding, either a stall OR a hurry-up scheme, is to go to the fence, have a short private conference with the umpire, then announce, "Gentlemen, we're here to play as many innings as we can, so let's just play seven! ... Turn off the clock and Play Ball!" ... It works every time! ...

Dave,

That might be my favorite answer of yours of all time(aside from when I had offered input on something and you acknowledge that I was right LOL). I honestly believe with the amount of time and money we all spend playing softball(all associations as well as league) that all games should be 7 innings regardless. However, I also know that isn't really sustainable, as it is virtually every single tourney I've ever played the games run late even when some only last 5 innings.

Thanks, John (I think!) ... It's actually a pretty low-risk move as a Director because it generally happens late, like in the 5th or 6th inning ... I wouldn't announce that in the 1st inning and cause glacier-speed-pace-of-play from the start ... Having to "eat" an extra inning late is preferable to allowing unsportsmanlike conduct to dictate a game result ...

Dave great answer. As an umpire I have done the same thing several times without consulting the director. Works like a charm. Hope you are well.

Benji

JohnO28, in all of the years that I have officiated, I have never had a request for a 3rd out. I have in maybe a half dozen times and only once in a tournament called a ball or strike for misuse of time by a team and almost always at the end of a game. My league teams know that will and fortunately act accordingly. What I notice players doing most is trying to step on the plate and hit the ball for the out. What I find amusing is how many of the young guys do not understand the concept. I had 2 in 1 year that did not know that have to make contact with the ball when doing it. Both caused the clock to expire. Good for me and the other team but bad for them. I know an umpire that won’t call it unless the ball is fair which is completely wrong, but he insists no matter how much he is told. Now his brother wins the award for that. He had a player do that perfectly and didn’t call it. “My foot was on the plate.” “No it wasn’t.” It clearly was but game over. Umpires seem to know rules less than they used to. I see less clinics than ever. I always suggest that new umpires do coed leagues first because the odd things come up there more. I tell them to call what they think but to look it up later to be sure or learn. Too many don’t reference rule books unfortunately. Best place for crazy infield fly situations is definitely league coed play.

With time limit fast approaching, Team A, down 3 runs, is batting. There are 2 outs. Player B gets a base hit. Before the first pitch to the next batter, Player E goes in to be a courtesy run but had already ran for someone earlier in the inning. Automatic out, 3 outs.
If done right, that might be a way to get acteam another inning.