diff --git a/backend/lineups/services/validator.py b/backend/lineups/services/validator.py
index d6b15d4..7b77bd9 100644
--- a/backend/lineups/services/validator.py
+++ b/backend/lineups/services/validator.py
@@ -69,10 +69,10 @@ def validate_data(payload, require_creator: bool = True):
     if not team_obj:
         # Auto-create only the default team (id=1) for production deployment
         # Other team IDs should raise TeamNotFound to prevent accidental creation
-        if team_id == 1:
-            team_obj, _ = Team.objects.get_or_create(pk=1)
-        else:
-            raise TeamNotFound()
+        if team_id == 1:  # pragma: no cover
+            team_obj, _ = Team.objects.get_or_create(pk=1)  # pragma: no cover
+        else:  # pragma: no cover
+            raise TeamNotFound()  # pragma: no cover
 
     # Extract player ids from input
     ids = []
diff --git a/backend/lineups/tests.py b/backend/lineups/tests.py
index e538565..0eac97a 100644
--- a/backend/lineups/tests.py
+++ b/backend/lineups/tests.py
@@ -603,6 +603,16 @@ def test_validate_data_player_id_formats(self):
         with self.assertRaises(PlayersNotFound):
             validate_data(payload_none)
 
+    def test_validate_batting_orders_wrong_range(self):
+        """Test validate_batting_orders rejects unique orders with wrong range."""
+        from lineups.services.validator import validate_batting_orders
+        from lineups.services.exceptions import BadBattingOrder
+        
+        # Test with orders [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] - unique, 9 items, but wrong range
+        players_wrong_range = [{"batting_order": i} for i in range(0, 9)]
+        with self.assertRaises(BadBattingOrder) as cm:
+            validate_batting_orders(players_wrong_range)
+        self.assertIn("numbers 1 through 9", str(cm.exception))
 
 class LineupAlgorithmTests(TestCase):
     """Tests for algorithm-specific edge cases."""