2015 C.A.G.E. Summer Softball League Rules

Transcription

1 2015 C.A.G.E. Summer Softball League Rules Respect the umpires call, you will not win every close call Everyone gets upset, control yourself and don t delay the game. Game Duration 1. Number of Innings = 7, unlimited extra innings if necessary. 2. Eight run absolute maximum, after exactly 8 runs the inning is over. No continuation of play after 8 th run scores. This rule does not apply for the final inning and any extra innings thereafter. 3. After 5 complete innings, if a team is losing by 15 or more runs the game is over. 4. All batters will start with a 1-1 count (1-ball, 1-strike) 5. Four walk maximum per inning, after four walks the batter can only hit the ball or strikeout. 6. No forfeiting innings, and allowing losing team to bat twice. 7. Team with the most runs after 7 complete innings is declared the winner. 8. If a team is not ready to take the field within 15 minutes of start time, they must forfeit. Both teams will then have 40 minutes to start Game #2 if applicable. Equipment 1. The HOME team must show up early to set up their field, and clean up their field following the conclusion of their series. Line chalk will be available each week, for the Home team to use. 2. The Home Team provides 1 game ball per game. If a new ball needs to be introduced into a game due to a lost ball you are to use your best conditioned used ball, NOT a brand new ball. 3. Teams are welcome to bring their own bats. All bats must be ASA Slowpitch Softball approved and not on the current ASA Stamped list of Banned Bats. Teams that wish not to allow the opposite team to use their own personal purchased bat must keep such bats well behind the playing fence at the conclusion of the batting inning. Any bat left in the playing area is fair game for the opposite team to use. 4. No altered bates. ie. Shaved, rolled, any alteration that changes the physical and dynamic structure of the bat excluding the grip. a. If batter is guilty of using an illegal bat he will be called out and all base runners must return to the base they were at before the ball was hit. 5. No metal spikes allowed, player will be called out immediately, and suspended from game play until rubber cleats are worn. If you re found wearing metal spikes at any period in the game, your guilty it s an out, go sit down. 6. The double 1 st Base: Runner runs on orange base, fielder tags white base. When base is unoccupied by fielder the runner is allowed to use the entire base. In a squeeze play the runner must run through the orange base and the fielder must touch the white base. This is to help eliminate collisions at the base. The umpire is to make the official ruling if fielder interferes with runner or vice versa. 7. Bases are set at 65 ft. Pitcher s mound is set at 50 ft. from the bottom point of home plate.

2 Batting Lineup 1. Each team is responsible for submitting a batting lineup to the Umpire, Opponent, and League Official at the conclusion of the game spots in the batting lineup, 10 is the minimal order when fielding a full team. Any extra player can be used as substitute. 3. Any substitute used must be listed on the teams official roster located on League Website. 4. Any substitute listed will act as a swapping batter only for the position they are listed at, and may share every other at bat with the primary spot player. 5. Teams are limited to 1 Designated Hitter to bat in place in place of a fielder, both name should be listed on the lineup, with DH written by the name of batter. The player being batted for will still receive a game point. 6. No new batter can occupy a single spot (10,11,12,13,14) after the lineup has made 1 full cycle player minimal requirement to take the field. 8. Teams are to swap roles as HOME and AWAY team for game #2 if playing a double header series. Batting Rules 1. A strike is called when the ball lands on home plate or the mat behind home plate. 2. Three strikes is an out and four balls is a walk. 3. A foul ball with two strikes is an out. 4. If a batter is hit by a pitch, it is called a ball. The batter does not automatically go to first. 5. No intentional bunting, it will be called a strike. 6. If the batter releases the bat in the air and it strikes either the catcher or umpire an out will be called automatically, no runners advance. The umpire may warn the batter for close calls. 7. Foul tip Fly caught by catcher: The ball must be hit at least 6ft. in the air without touching anything that causes interference and caught by the catcher to be considered an out. 8. A fly ball caught beyond the out of play line is not an out, runners do not advance, the hit will be counted as a strike. 9. If an umpire determines a pitch illegal and the batter chooses to swing the play is considered live. Runners Rules: 1. No leading or stealing bases. If a runner leaves base before the ball is hit, the runner will be called out. 2. A run or runs may be scored, or runner advance, only as a result of a hit ball or play resulting from a hit ball. Runs may not be scored as a result of a wild pitch or passed ball. 3. Sliding is allowed, but a runner will be called out if they intentionally run into a fielder. 4. If the base runner at anytime makes contact with a batted ball he will be called out. Ex. The ball is hit by the batter and the ball strikes the base runner as he is advancing to the next base, the base runner will be called out.

3 5. When playing on a field that provides a Home Run fence a maximum of 3 home runs are allowed per team per game, any ball hit over the fence after 3 will count as an out. Any runners on base must remain where they were. 6. Any interference (ie. waving hands in the air, screaming at fielder, stepping into the line of play) caused by a base runner while the fielder is attempting to make a double play will be an out for the base runner and the batted ball runner. If the performs an easy out on the baserunner, the base runner is to concede to the out and cautiously exit the playing field without interfering in the game. 7. Courtesy runners are only allowed due to injury. The courtesy runner must be the last person to make an out. Pitching Rules: 1. If the ball slips from the pitcher s hand during the wind-up or during the back swing, and travels less than 15ft from the mound it will not be a considered a pitch. 2. The pitch height will be 6 to 12ft. Pitches lower than 6ft or over 12ft in height will be called a ball. The umpire will generally gauge the pitch height to be higher than the batter s head, but lower than the back stop. 3. If you choose to intentionally walk a batter, notify the umpire that you are choosing this option, and he will instruct the batter to advance to 1 st base. This counts towards the 4 walk per inning rule. Game Etiquette: 1. Win with Class, Lose with Class 2. Respect the umpires call, you will not win every close call 3. Zero- Tolerance for fighting and aggressive behavior, any player or team that breaks this rule will be expelled from all League play, currant and/or future games will end in disqualification/forfeit if rule is broken. 4. After each game both teams are to line up and shake opponent s hand. 5. Absolutely NO Smoking or drinking Alcohol on the playing field 6. Respect all players personal equipment, and field equipment. No throwing/slamming softball bats on the ground, they are expensive and easy to damage. 7. Any regular season rescheduled game not played before playoff date will result in a loss/loss double forfeit. Each Team loses 2 games, no one wins a game. Playoffs: 7/26/15 (Rain Date 8/2/15) 1. Top 6 teams advance to playoffs. 2. Division winners clinch a playoff berth and will receive a first round bye. 3. Next 4 best teams from either division clinch 3,4,5,and 6 seed in playoffs. 4. All games are one 9-inning game Run mercy rule enacted after 7 complete innings. 6. Playoffs/Picnic: All one day 1 st rd, 2 nd rd., and Finals. 7. Yearly Awards will be presented following Championship Game

4 Umpires: 1. Each team is to provide 1 umpire per game for a total of 2 umpires. If team elects to hire a certified official umpire, it will come at the cost of that team. 2. All selected umpires are to show professionalism on the field. a. Do not show favoritism. b. Do not distract the players. c. Pay attention to the game, and not the fans. d. Be prompt and vocal with all your calls, do not wait to hear each team s argument, they will always argue in their own favor. 3. Be quick to call illegal pitches: i. Ball is pitched no lower than 6ft. height ii. Ball is pitched no higher than 12ft. iii. Use the height of the batter and backstop as a reference when judging the height of the ball. 4. The Home Plate umpire is the only person to make the final call on foul/fair balls. He has the best view; you do not, so don t complain and finish your bat. Infield Fly Rule - The batter will be out if he/she hits a fair, infield fly ball, other than a line drive, with runners on first and second or first, second, and third. The fielder need not catch the fly ball when it is determined by the umpire s judgment that the ball can be caught with ordinary effort Sec. 56. INFIELD FLY. An Infield Fly is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive or an attempted bunt) that can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort when first and second, or first, second, and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher, and any outfielder that positions himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule. NOTE: 1. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpire shall immediately declare, "INFIELD FLY, IF FAIR-THE BATTER IS OUT," for the benefit of the runners. 2. The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If a declared infield fly becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul. 3. If a declared infield fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. 4. If a declared infield fly falls untouched to the ground outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an infield fly.

5 Sec. 59. INTENTIONALLY DROPPED FLY BALL. An intentionally dropped fly ball is a fair fly ball, including a line drive or a bunt, with less than two outs and a runner on first base, which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, and the infielder intentionally drops, after it is controlled with a hand or a glove. A trapped ball or a fly ball allowed to bounce shall not be considered as having been intentionally dropped. League Rules- Overthrow Rule- a. When a ball is thrown to the baseman that misses the catch and allows the ball to exit the playing field into the Out of Play zone. i. 1 extra Base= if ball is thrown from the infield. ii. 2 extra Bases= if the ball is thrown from the outfield. Dues and Roster must be submitted in full no later than Opening Day (May 10 th 2015). Roster cap is set at 20 total players maximum. All weekday games will be pre-assigned a rain make-up date. 6/10 after the first 5 games, 7/9 after the last 5 games. Games can only be rescheduled due to inclement weather. The League Commissioner will assign a final say rain make-up date if games require further rescheduling. After the start of the 9 th game played no new player can be added to the team roster. For a player to be eligible for Playoffs, he/she must have actively played in no less than Two/Thirds (2/3) of regular season games, which equates to 14/22 games. Player must take at least 1 at bat in a game to receive a point, or have a designated hitter bat in his place. (Excludes All-Star Game) o Following each game the umpires batting lineup card must be submitted to Joe Attieh. All participating players listed on the lineup card will be entered into a league wide database to record # of games played. Player will receive 1 point for game participation. Player needs 14 points to be eligible for playoffs. If lineup card is not submitted to League Official following each game, all players listed on the roster will receive a Zero. If a team is found to have written a players name on the lineup card that did not participate in the game, All players on the roster will receive a Zero. If Game is forfeited, all players listed on the roster will receive a Zero. If player is ejected from play at any point of the game due to misconduct/unsportsmanlike behavior, he/she will receive a Zero. (Game play begins with opening pitch to conclusion of team/team handshakes) Home Plate Umpire is to record final score and sign each lineup card following game conclusion.

6 Disciplinary Action- Any player who physically or verbally assaulting an official, volunteer, spectator, or participant will be subject to disciplinary action, which will be decided in accordance with the severity of the offense. Physical assault is defined as offensively touching, shoving, or striking another person without that person s consent. Verbal assault is defined as threatening bodily harm or directing excessive profanity toward another without that person s consent. The minimum penalty for the offense shall result in a 2- Game suspension with a maximum penalty of indefinite suspension from the entire CAGE League and all its events. A Player who has been ejected from any game shall not be eligible to play in the remainder of the current game being played plus the next scheduled game that is played. In the event a team has a player ejected and has no additional players to replace him in the lineup, then that particular spot will be an out. In the event a team has a player ejected and has no additional players to replace him in the field, the team must forfeit. Teams are responsible for their fans. The game will be suspended and may end in disqualification if the Coach cannot control his fans behavior. ***Remember that this League is important to all of us and our community. We all want to see it live on for generations to come, so our own kids can someday enjoy what we ve grown to love. So please respect All Park Rules &Regulations, watch your language and actions in front of woman and children, don t do anything to jeopardize the League s reputation. Just simply come play a game with your friends and family and enjoy watching other games with your friends and family by your side. **Some specific rules may not be mentioned above as there are over a thousand rules that follow the game of slowpitch softball. Some situations that have never happened in a previous game may arise in your game, let s not argue with something that were not sure about. Don t be afraid to seek more clarification from well experienced players.