Fair play.
The offense has violated a rule. The rule book is very specific on this violation, how it is appealed and the ramifications for breaking it. How can you call that a shady tactic?
I'm going to enforce this rule as written. If we let it slide, what is to prevent the offense from sticking their best hitter at the plate when she is not due up, then saying "oops, we made a mistake". Now that is a shady tactic and exactly what the rule is supposed to prevent.
On some other questions raised:
How do you keep rule changes straight from tourney-to-tourney? Ask the folks running the tournament for a explanation of any special rules when you sign-up, or anytime well-before your team ever sets foot on the field. You should be able to clear things up before it becomes an issue during the game.
You can keep the line-ups straight by: both teams giving an official line-up to the plate umpire before the game and exchanging line-ups with the opposing team before the game. That's the way it's supposed to work, by-the-book. Then your own team's scorekeeper can track it as the game progresses.
On the umpire refusing to enforce a rule, then saying "we play by MY rules, not the official ones", I'm filing a protest on the spot. Get the tournament director involved to, hopefully, correct the problem and, at the same time, inform the umpire that he is an idiot!
