High school baseball games typically consist of seven innings. This is the standard game length set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and is shorter than the nine innings played in college and professional baseball
. Each inning is divided into two halves: the visiting team bats in the top half, and the home team bats in the bottom half. An inning ends when three outs are recorded against the batting team
. There are some variations in certain leagues, where games might be shortened to five or six innings due to scheduling, weather, or other factors. Additionally, a mercy rule may end the game early if one team leads by a large margin after a specified number of innings
. In summary:
- Standard length: 7 innings
- Each inning has two halves (top and bottom)
- Game can end early due to mercy rule or time limits
- Extra innings are played if the game is tied after seven innings, depending on league rules
The seven-inning format balances competitive play with the physical and academic demands on high school athletes
