Land-O-Hills Baseball League
13-14 Player Pitch Rules
2010 Season
Note: The purpose of the Land-O-Hills Baseball League is to allow the players to learn the game of baseball and have fun doing so. The league is not run for the benefit of the coaches or the parents of the players. The rules stated below are intended to help carry out this purpose. Should a situation arise not specifically covered in these rules, resolution of the situation should be made keeping this stated purpose in mind.
It is also the intention of the league to maintain a fair level of play amongst all the teams within a community. “Stacking” of teams is not permitted by anyone, including coaches, commissioners and parents. Stacking refers to placing mostly 13 year olds on one team and 14’s on another or selecting the most talented to play on one team and the less talented on another. Rosters should be balanced by age and talent. The commissioners will investigate all complaints and they alone will determine if and what disciplinary action will be taken. Your cooperation is appreciated to keep baseball fun, challenging and rewarding for all of our young players.
Awards: The League will supply 1st and 2nd place trophies after completion of all league, playoff, wild card and championship games. League games not played by July 27, 2010 that do not affect the determination of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners (in each division); do not have to be played. The team with the best won-loss record in each division will enter the championship round. Of the remaining non-division winning teams, the two teams with the best won-loss record will also enter the championship round as a wild card team (they can be from the same division). The division winner with the best won-loss record will play the wild card team with the worst won-loss record. The division winner with the worst won-loss record will play the wild card team with the best won-loss record. The winners of these games will play each other for the championship. If a tie exists after all league games are completed, a playoff game must be scheduled and played before July 30, 2010. For all games in the championship round, the team with the best won-loss record will host the playoff game and will be the home team.
Rosters: By April 30, 2010, all teams through their community commissioner must submit a team roster (via electronic media – Microsoft Word or Excel – emailed or on floppy disk) to the League Commissioner/Committee and to the Director designated by each community that contains the following player information: Name, Address, Phone # and Date of Birth. Rosters must also include the team coach and assistants with the following information: Name, Address, Phone # , Cell Phone # and email address.
Scheduling: In order to complete the schedule, all information including field availability, field locations, coaches names, phone and email address, preliminary player roster including name, DOB, address and phone number must be completed and received by the leagues commissioner by no later than April 17th, 2010 or the team may not be included in the league schedule. Individual coaches exception dates (vacations, graduations, scout camps, fieldtrips etc..) to potential game dates can be accommodated but only if exception dates are communicated to the league commissioner by the April 17th deadline.
General Rules
1. Players must not turn 15 before August 1 of the current season with the exception to allow up to 2, 15 year old players per team. The following exceptions also apply to 15 year olds only:
A. The player is in the 8th grade during the 2009-2010 school year.
B. In order to not overly influence the outcome of the game, the player may not play either the position of pitcher or catcher.
C. The player may be in the 9th grade but not a player on any of her/her high school baseball teams.
D. All 15 year old players must be identified in the lineup and submitted to the opposing teams coach
or scorekeeper prior to the start of each game.
2. Each team must submit a roster by April 30, 2010. Players may be added to the roster up to June 15 by calling the League Commissioner/Committee.
3. The home team will keep the official scorebook for both teams. If the score is disputed, the umpire will be the tiebreaker if there is a paid umpire. Otherwise, the two coaches must resolve the dispute. The home team is also responsible for emailing the final score to the designated web site. www.Monchesrecclub.org within 1 day after a completed game. Please include the team age group and game number. Every team must have an identified individual on the roster that will be responsible to report the game score. Failure to report your score (or report a cancelled, postponed or incomplete game) within 24 hours after the game is played to the website could result in a forfeit for the home team.
4. Scheduled games: Once officially scheduled, games can be cancelled or postponed only because of weather related conditions (by 4:30pm of game day) including heavy rain, wet, muddy, puddle field or lightning.
5. No protests allowed. Problems can be discussed at the coaches meeting at the end of the season.
6. Players can be called out or ejected for throwing equipment. This decision is up to the umpire, although the umpires should first give a warning unless the incident is intentional or flagrant.
7. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their team and fans. Heckling by players or fans is not allowed. Arguing umpire calls will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and after one warning, may result in ejection. Continued incidents will result in a game forfeit. It is the responsibility of each community commissioner to give a copy of these league rules to every umpire they expect to use. Umpires regardless of age are expected to read and understand these rules. Questions can be forwarded to the league commissioner if need be.
8. All players present at the game must play at least two innings in the field, with the following exceptions:
· Coaches and umpires must be notified if a team member will not participate due to disciplinary actions.
· Ejections for unsportsmanlike conduct - failure to comply will result in forfeit of the game.
9. The infield fly rule is in effect and should be called by the Home plate umpire.
10. The home team coach will decide when a game shall be suspended or discontinued due to bad weather. In no case shall a game start or continue when there is lightning in the area.
11. A team will consist of nine (9) rostered players at all times. In the case of an injury, a team will be allowed to continue with eight (8) players. A team will also be allowed to play with less than 9 players upon agreement between the two coaches. A team will be allowed to bring up unrostered players from their 11-12 team roster in order to complete the game.
Field Preparation
1. The home team is responsible for having the playing field in good condition.
2. Bases and pitcher’s rubber must be staked down.
3. Bases are 80 feet. The pitcher’s rubber is 54 feet from home plate.
Game Rules
1. The Home Team will supply two new baseballs for each game.
2. The Home team will provide the home plate umpire or both umpires if both are paid. The visiting team will provide one base umpire unless home team provides paid umpires.
3. The home team coach will determine when conditions prevent the playing of a game and shall contact the visiting team’s coach by 4:30 p.m. of game date. The home coach is responsible for verbally talking with the visiting coach—no emails, no postings on webs. Rain dates must be rescheduled within 7 days and played within 14 days or by July 28 whichever comes first. The home team coach must take the initiative to communicate to the visiting coach and is responsible for notifying the Community Directors of the date and field of choice to insure availability. If the coaches cannot agree on a time, date or place, the League Commissioner/Committee will determine same and notify both teams within 3 days of game day. Both teams that fail to reschedule an unplayed game within the above time constraints will be given a forfeit.
4. Games start promptly at 6:00 pm. Teams arriving more than 15 minutes late shall forfeit the game; however, this rule may be waived by mutual consent of the coaches.
5. Visiting team gets the field from 5:45 to 6:00.
6. No new inning may start after 8:05 pm. In case of a tie, the Umpires will determine if the game can be safely completed.
7. Games shall consist of 7 innings. Four and one-half (4½) innings is considered a full game if the home team is ahead, five (5) if the visiting team is ahead. Score reverts back to the last completed inning for a game called in the middle of an inning.
8. A game can be considered over by the losing team if the winning team has a ten (10) run lead at the end of five (5) innings or anytime thereafter.
Pitching
1. A pitcher will pitch no more than four (4) consecutive innings per game or eight (8) innings in 72 hours.
2. Any pitch thrown by a pitcher in an inning constitutes a full inning.
3. No pitcher can re-enter a game as a pitcher once he is removed from that position.
4. Umpires must call balls and strikes from behind home plate.
5. All pitchers should wear warm-up jackets between innings.
6. A balk is to be called if the hidden ball trick is used.
7. A balk will also be called if the pitcher:
a. Fakes a throw to a base while his foot is on the rubber.
b. Fails to deliver the ball with his foot on the rubber after having gone through his motion.
c. Fails to step directly toward a base with his foot on the rubber before throwing to that base.
Base Running
1. Players must wear helmets at all times while in the field of play. Intentional removal of a helmet while base running when the ball is live shall result in the runner being given a warning for the first such incident or being declared “OUT” for any further incidents.
2. If the ball is out of play, the runners shall be awarded the base to which they were headed plus one base.
· Example #1 - An over throw out of bounds while a runner is going from first base to second - the runner is awarded third base.
· Example #2 - An over throw out of bounds while a runner is heading back to first base after going part way to second - the runner is awarded second base.
3. If a play is made at home plate, the runner must slide or attempt to avoid contact. It is a judgment call by the umpire if the play is close enough to require a slide. The umpire must call the runner out if the runner does not slide when the umpire decides a slide was required. The catcher cannot block home plate or make a play for the runner if he does not have the ball or will not have the ball before the runner reaches the base. The umpire shall warn the catcher for the first infraction and can eject the catcher from the game for flagrant or further infractions.
4. Runners may steal any base. A runner may begin stealing before the pitch has crossed home plate.
5. If a play is made on a runner by throwing the ball, the runner may advance to the next base, including home plate, or return to the original base.
6. There are no maximum lead-off restrictions.
7. If the catcher drops the third strike, the ball is in play and the batter may attempt to reach base safely if 1st base is unoccupied or there are 2 outs. The batter can begin running anytime before he reaches the dugout or fence line whichever applies. Once the batter reaches the dugout or fence line, he is out. The umpire is also to call the batter out if a teammate or coach touches him before he attempts to reach 1st base.
Batting
1. No designated hitter.
2. All players present at the game must bat in common numerical order.
3. Batters must wear a batting helmet (it is also recommended that helmets have a protective face guard).
4. Bat specifications: maximum length -36”, maximum diameter-recommended 2 5/8” but 2 ¾” is allowed; maximum length-weight=between -3 and -8. A BSRP sticker should also appear on all new bats. The reason for this rule is for safety and to not allow an average or above average size player to swing a light bat.
Equipment
1. Metal spikes are not allowed.
2. Catchers must wear a protective helmet, facemask, throat protector, shin guards, chest protector and cup.