How should the coach and team respond if a player suffers a serious injury and cannot continue?

In the event of a serious injury to a player where they can no longer continue, the appropriate response is to substitute the player properly, following the established rules. The last batter who made a legal out is allowed to run for the injured player. This ensures that the team maintains its competitive integrity without punishing them for an unfortunate incident.

Substitution is crucial in maintaining the flow of the game. The rules allow for this specific scenario to provide an immediate replacement without the need for the coach to engage with the team's other players or the umpire, which could lead to unnecessary delays and disrupt the game rhythm. Therefore, having the last batter run for the injured player serves both to comply with the rules and to keep the game progressing efficiently while addressing the player’s injury appropriately.