Rules for 2025 Season

General

1. Maximum of 5 runs per half inning with the exception of an ‘open inning, and in the instance of a home run all runs will count and can be more than 5, the half inning will come to a close.
   • The last inning will be declared by the Home Plate Umpire at the beginning of the inning.
   • An open inning will only be declared the Umpire if it’s the 7th inning.
2. 3 outs per inning.
3. Games are up to 7 innings maximum (sunlight/weather permitting) during regular season.
   • Playoff games are 9 innings.
4. Umpires will keep an official score.
5. Each team is responsible for keeping their own stats.

Batting

1. Wood bats only
2. All players on the roster that are present are to be included in the batting order.
3. Batting order selected at the beginning of the game and kept consistent each game
4. Each Plate appearance will result in one of the following:
   • The first of either
     • 3 strikes complete an out
       1. A foul ball will count as a strike for the first two strikes
       2. A foul ball will count as a 3rd strike IF batter attempts a bunt and fouls the ball with a bunt
     • 4 called balls outside of the zone
   • A ball hit fair that lands between the left and right field foul lines and the player makes it safely to base without being thrown out.
   • A ball caught before it touches the ground by any member of the opposing team resulting in an out.
   • A ball fielded by an opposing team member and any of the following resulting in an out:
     • Thrown to the person covering (touching) the first base
     • Batter is tagged by the ball (gloved or otherwise) on route to any base
   • A ball is hit and flies beyond the boundaries of the playable field resulting in a homerun by the batter and runs by any baserunners already on base
   • A ball is hit and one bounces over the boundaries of the playable fieldl resulting in an automatic double.
     • Baserunners on base will advance by 2 bases from their occupied base before the next pitch is thrown.

Base Running

1. Stealing Bases is allowed when one of the following occurs:
   

   A) While the pitcher is throwing
   A runner can steal a base while the pitcher is throwing the ball to home plate. 

   B) During a pickoff attempt
   A runner can steal a base when the pitcher throws to a fielder to tag out another baserunner. 

   C) On a wild pitch or passed ball
   A runner can steal a base if they take an extra base on a wild pitch or a passed ball. 

   D) On an error
   A runner can steal a base if they take an extra base as the result of an error by the opposing defense. 

   E) During a delayed steal
   A runner can steal a base by waiting for the catcher to return the ball to the pitcher before making a sudden break for the next base. 

2. Advance automatically one base if ball is thrown out of play by an opposing fielder

   A) No intentional contact or interference is to be tolerated from either the runner or defender.

   B) Any spiking or intentional contact will result in immediate expulsion and possible suspension.

Fielding

1. Fielder Right of Way
   • The players, coaches or any member of a team at bat shall vacate any space (including both dugouts or bullpens) needed by a fielder who is attempting to field a batted or thrown ball.
   • If a member of the team at bat (other than a runner) hinders a fielder’s attempt to catch or field a batted ball, the ball is dead, the batter is declared out and all runners return to the bases occupied at the time of the pitch.
   • If a member of the team at bat (other than a runner) hinders a fielder’s attempt to field a thrown ball, the ball is dead, the runner on whom the play is being made shall be declared out and all runners return to the last legally occupied base at the time of the interference.
2. The fielder must provide a clear path to the base at all times.
   • Any impediment to the runner on the base path will result in interference and the base +1 will be awarded, any runners displaced by the awarded runner may advance 1 base.

Pitching

1. Pitchers can pitch a MAXIMUM of 4 innings or 12 outs (in a row or combined) per game
2. Pitchers must begin their wind up touching the rubber pitching block
3. Pitchers must be removed if they have hit 2 batters in a game
   • Any clearly intentional hit by pitch will result in immediate expulsion and possible suspension if deemed necessary.
4. When a walk occurs, the ball is still live: any runner not forced to advance may nevertheless attempt to advance at his own risk, which might occur on a passed ball, or wild pitch.

Umpire

Two Umpires will be present at all games

Any appeals will be made by the team captain to the Home Plate ump, the Home Plate ump has the final say in any play.

updated: 2025-01-26