WESTERN MAINE CONFERENCE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL GUIDELINES Class B Cape Freeport Gray-NG Fryeburg Greely Lake Region Poland Yarmouth York Wells

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1 W MC WESTERN MAINE CONFERENCE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL GUIDELINES 2017 Class A Falmouth Kennebunk Class B Cape Freeport Gray-NG Fryeburg Greely Lake Region Poland Yarmouth York Wells Class C & D Independents Sacopee Saint Dominic (2017) Richmond Traip Academy Old Orchard Buckfield North Yarmouth Acad(BB only) Waynflete (BB only) LEAGUE CHAMPION The Western Maine Conference has member schools in each class of play: A, B, C, & D. There will be an A/B WMC Champion, and a C/D WMC Champion recognized for baseball and softball based on regular season competition. The league champion for each division will be determined by number of wins within their conference/class divided by the number of games within the conference/class. Essentially the teams with the higher winning percentages in each division will be named the WMC Champions. GUIDELINES ALL-STARS The WMC Athletic Directors have voted to let the coaches of all sports determine the All-Star selection process. Coaches will select 1 representative for each: Class AB Baseball Player of the Year Class CD Baseball Player of the Year Class AB Softball Player of the Year Class CD Softball Player of the Year In addition, coaches will collect statistics to be brought to the postseason meeting held at Falmouth High School June 6 at 7 pm. 1. All MPA and National Federation rules will apply. -baseball bats must have the BBCOR certification. Grades In baseball, coaches must wear a helmet to be on the field beginning in Protective Screen for Pitchers must be available at the home site. (Softball & Baseball- L screen)

2 3. Throughout the season, helmets must be worn during warm-up (batting practice) prior to all contests. 4. Double First Base for softball is mandatory (Instituted 2000). 5. Softball pitching distance is moved to 43' (Instituted 2010). 6. Weekday games will begin at 4:00pm and weekend games will begin at 1:00pm unless a change is mutually agreed upon. On game days, the visiting team will have use of the field for batting practice and infield practice 45 minutes prior to the start of the game for a 30-minute period. The home team will then have the field for a 10-minute infield followed by the umpires conference which begins 5 minutes prior to game time. For a 4:00 game: 3:15 Visitors Batting Practice and Infield Practice 3:45 Home Infield Practice 3:55 Umpires Conference 7. Varsity games that are postponed will be played the next playable date between the schools. JV games may be bumped to the end of the season so that they will not interfere with the Varsity schedule. 8. For safety purposes, during pre-game infield, the opposing team will vacate the playing field so that the team that is taking infield may have full use of the playing field. SUB-VARSITY RULE MODIFICATIONS -If a coach chooses, he/she may elect to use the traditional batting order, may use one extra hitter in their batting line-up or may choose to use a continuous batting order. Teams may not bat out of order and must declare during the umpires conference how they intend to play the game. Once the game begins, the team will follow the same method. Substitutes must be reported to the umpire. *Coaches still have the option of using nine batters in their line-up. -Defensively, teams may choose to freely substitute players in and out from the bench to the field. For defensive changes, players do not report to the umpire, and the re-entry rule will not apply. -teams must follow the mandated MPA pitching limitations rule. -These modifications allow coaches to maximize playing time.

3 WMC Baseball Assignors Assignor: Duke Madsen Phone: WMC Softball Assignor Assignor: Richard Goan Phone: DATES OF INTEREST (updated 2/23/16) March 20, 2017 March 27, 2017 April 13, 2017 May 31, 2017 June 1 June 7 June 6, 2017 June 8, 2017 June 10, 2017 June 13-14, 2017 June 17, 2017 Pitcher / Catcher Conditioning (no limit on number) First Practice First Countable Game (after 3:00pm) Last Countable Scheduled Game On-line Sportsmanship Voting Regional Prelim Games Regional Quarter-Final Games Regional Semi-Final Games Regional Final Games (MPA site and responsibility) State Championship Games

4 Baseball/Softball Arm Conditioning Proposal The following proposal was recently adopted by the membership at the Interscholastic Business Meeting held at the MPA Fall Conference. These changes will begin with the 2016 season. The purpose of the additional week of arm conditioning for pitchers and catchers in both baseball and softball is to allow those athletes to begin a conditioning program that will help to begin to build a base and reduce early season arm injuries. This proposal allows for a school to determine who those pitchers and catchers may be, not setting a limit of 8 pitchers and 2 catchers in baseball, and any combination of 10 in softball, while clearly identifying what may and may not occur during this week of conditioning. The week prior to the start of the preseason should be a comprehensive program that involves the following components. It is important to note that it is recommended that all athletes be involved in some type of a conditioning program prior to the start of any organized practices. Stretching: Proper stretching of the entire body, allowing for preparation of proper mechanics, is crucial. Flexibility and balance are important components of the program. Strengthening: A throwing program should be progressive and should begin to build a base that athletes will develop throughout the season. Cardio: Aerobic training designed to build full body endurance to prevent fatigue and overuse injuries is an important component. Recommendation include minutes (biking, elliptical, treadmill) three times during the week. Recovery: Pitchers should be throwing no more than 3-4 times during the week and should be provided the proper amount of rest that allows the arm to recover. This week of arm conditioning is not intended to be an additional week of preseason practice. Below is a list that includes, but may not be limited to, activities that are prohibited during the week. No bats, including fungo bats No defensive drills related to positional play No pick off drills No blocking drills No base coverage drills No footwork drills, other than proper mechanics for pitchers and catchers No live stand-in batters No simulations

5 Reference: The Maine Apprise, December 2015, Chalk Talk Varsity Pitchers Maximum pitches one day 110: 1-20 pitches 0 days rest pitches 1 day rest pitches 2 days rest pitches 3 days rest pitches 4 days rest Middle Level Pitchers Maximum pitches one day pitches 0 days rest pitches 1 day rest pitches 2 days rest pitches 3 days rest pitches 4 days rest The Pitch Count is based on the number of pitches thrown in a game. This includes balls, strikes, foul balls, and outs. A pitch thrown with a balk is called and shall not count as a pitch. If a pitcher reaches the pitch count limit at any point while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until 1) the batter reaches base; 2) the batter is put out; or 3) the third out is made to complete the inning. Each team must maintain a pitch count for their team, as well as a count for the opponent. Pitch counts will be confirmed after each half-inning. If there is a discrepancy it shall be reported to the umpire. The records of the home team shall be used as the official record. At the varsity level it is recommended that the person keeping the pitch count be an adult. At the conclusion of the game each head coach will sign the MPA Pitching Chart Form. Each school must retain a copy of the Pitch Chart Form and make it available to the MPA upon request. Violation of the Pitch Count Rule shall constitute the use of an ineligible player and will result in forfeiture of the game. It is recommended that an athlete avoid playing catcher while not pitching. Doubleheader Rule: * A pitcher must follow the pitch count rule that is in effect for that day, allowing them to throw up to 110 pitches total between the games. * Coaches must be aware that when there is significant time between pitching assignments (weather delay, multiple games in a day, etc.) that a pitcher returning to the mound must have sufficient warm-up and that they must be aware of arm fatigue. Reference: The Maine Apprise, December 2016, Chalk Talk Sub-varsity Pitchers Maximum pitches one day 90: 1-15 pitches 0 days rest 6-35 pitches 1 day rest pitches 2 days rest pitches 3 days rest pitches 4 days rest

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