Youth Baseball & Softball 14U / 13U Baseball Tournament Rules 2018 All umpire judgment will follow the National High School Federation Rules with the following exception and notations. Age The player s age on April 30 th determines his age for the season and this tournament. Birth certificates do not need to be turned in, but must be available upon request by Shelby tournament officials. Mound/Base Dimensions 14U Upper 60 6 Pitching Rubber, 90 bases 14U Lower, 13U Upper, 13U Lower 55 Pitching Rubber, 80 bases Baseballs Each team is expected to supply 1 new high school grade game ball to the umpire at the start of each game. Determining Home Team For all Pool Play games, the home team is determined by a coin flip. For all Bracket Play games, the home team will be determined by the highest seed. Tournament Headquarters The official tournament headquarters with schedules and scores will be Shelby Hillview Fields at 2950 33 rd Street, La Crosse. However, the 14U Upper division will also have schedules and scores posted at La Crosse Central High School located at 1801 Losey Boulevard South, La Crosse. Scorebook/Game Score Reporting The home team s scorebook is the official book. Please alert umpires to any score discrepancies on the scoreboard immediately. The home team scorekeeper is responsible for turning in scoresheet to a Shelby coach or site supervisor at respective field game was played at. The home team scorekeeper must also TEXT finalscore of game to Scott Engebretson (608) 769-5899 AND Barry Fried at (608)-498-2245. Innings/Time Limit 14U Upper A regulation game will consist of 7 innings. No new inning will begin after 1 hour 40 minutes. The time begins with the first pitch of the game. For games other than the championship games, if the home team is ahead when the 1 hour 40 minute time limit is reached, the game is over immediately after the top half of the inning or at the moment the 1 hour 40 minute is reached and the home team is ahead in the bottom half of the inning. A new inning officially begins when the final out is made in the previous inning. 14U Lower, 13U Upper and 13U Lower - A regulation game will consist of 6 innings. No new inning may begin after 1 hour 30 minutes. The time limit begins with the first pitch of the game. For games other than the championship games, if the home team is ahead when the 1 hour 30 minute time limit is reached, the game is over either immediately after the top half of the inning or at the moment the time limit is reached and the Page 1 of 5
home team is ahead in the bottom half of the inning. A new inning officially begins when the final out is made in the previous inning. Note: For all age groups, once the time limit expires and the home team is ahead per the terms described above, they are NOT ALLOWED to continue batting and scoring more runs. The home plate umpire shall monitor the official time and is expected to announce the official start time to both head coaches at the start of the game. The exception to the time limit rules will be the final games in both the championship and consolation bracket which there will be no time limit and a full 7 innings for 14U Upper and a full 6 innings for (14U Lower, 13U Upper and 13U Lower. Note: Games may start ahead of the scheduled time if both teams are ready and agree to play. We encourage this as it will help us keep the tournament on track throughout the day. Mercy Rule If team is ahead by fifteen (15) runs after 3 innings or ten (10) runs after 4 innings, the Mercy rule shall be in effect for all games including championship. Extra Innings and Tie Games Pool Play - If a game is tied after regulation number of innings or after the time limit has expired, the game will be considered a tie. Bracket Play - If a game is tied following regulation number of innings or the time limit has expired additional innings will be played with a modified format. Teams will begin with a man on second base and 1 out. The base runner will be the last batter out from the previous inning. The game ends when one team is ahead after a completed inning. Weather, Field Conditions, Darkness Any game that is interrupted by inclement weather for 30 minutes or more will be considered complete if at least 4 innings are completed (3 ½ if home team is ahead) for 14U Upper or 3 innings are completed (2 ½ if home team is ahead) for 14U Lower, 13U Upper, 13U Lower division.) If during the course of game, a full inning cannot be completed due to weather or darkness, the game score will revert back to the score at the end of the last completed inning. If the game cannot be played or resumed long enough to reach the number of innings required to be considered completed, the game will not count toward the standings. For a championship game, the winning team will be determined by the score at the end of the last fully completed inning. If the score was tied at the end of the last completed inning or if the first inning of the game is not or cannot be completed, the higher seed shall be named Champion. *As noted below under the tournament modification header, Shelby officials reserve the right to modify tournament rules, format or time limits due to inclement weather, scheduling issues, or other unforeseen problems when necessary. Pitching Inning Limits for All 14U and 13U Pitchers for all divisions may pitch a maximum of (4) innings per game, (6) innings per day, and (10) innings for the tournament. One pitch constitutes an inning pitched. Each team is responsible for having a coach track pitcher s innings. Violation of this rule may result in forfeiture of the game and removal from the tournament. Coaches are responsible for tracking all pitcher s inning on GAME SUMMARY sheet provided, but will not need to submit to tournament officials unless an opposing team officially questions or challenges innings pitched. Page 2 of 5
Pitcher Warm Up Pitches Pitchers are allowed maximum of 8 warm up pitches when starting or entering the game and 5 pitches between innings thereafter. Once a pitcher is removed, he may not return as a pitcher again in that game. Each team is allowed one conference with each pitcher. Upon second conference, the pitcher must be replaced. Bat Rules All bats must have either 1.15 USSSA certified stamp, USA certified stamp or be qualified BBCOR bat. No bat restrictions for size or length/weight differential. Base Running LIVE baseball for all divisions. Infield Fly Rule The infield fly rule will be in effect for all age divisions. Intentional Walks No pitches are required. Notify home plate umpire of intentional walk. Balks Balks will be enforced at the 14U Upper level with no warning. The 14U Lower and 13U Upper and Lower levels shall be given one warning per pitcher. Courtesy Runners Courtesy runners for the catcher and pitcher positions are allowed at any time, but MUST be used for catcher with two outs. Courtesy runners may enter the game at any point during the inning, not just with two outs. The runner must be the player who made the last out. Bunting Bunting and fake bunting is allowed. However, no fake bunting and then swinging or slashing or the batter will be called out. This is a rule to help ensure safety of players. Umpires Please treat umpires with respect at all times. No appeals or for decisions involving umpires judgment. However, if there is a rules interpretation question or reasonable doubt regarding a decision that may be in conflict with the rules, the head coach may call time and respectfully ask for rule correction or clarification. At that time, both coaches and umpires shall be invited to discussion of appeal. Once final decision is reached, both coaches must accept the decision and make no further protests. Substitution Teams may choose to have all players in batting order or bat 9 players. If all players are in batting order, free substitution is allowed in the field. If a team is batting 9 players, then a starter may re-enter the game once and in the same batting order. Injured or sick players can be skipped in the batting order without penalty. Any player skipped in the batting order is no longer eligible to play. Page 3 of 5
Sliding All runners must slide when a play is being attempted on them. The umpire shall call a runner out if the runner fails to slide or veer out of the base path. This is the umpire s judgment and discretion. For player s safety, runners are not allowed to dive head-first unless they are diving back to a base already touched. The penalty for head first diving is the runner is called out. Malicious contact may result in injury and/or ejection from the game. Any perceived intentional attempt to dislodge a ball from a defensive player will result in the base runner being declared out. Spikes/Safety Metal Spikes are allowed. Catchers are to always use a facemask when warming up pitchers. Weather/Lightning Lightening will suspend games immediately. Must wait 30 minutes without lighting before resuming play. Heat indices of 104 or higher may also suspend games or require game structure or time modifications. Tiebreaker System The following criteria is used to determine pool play winners and rankings. Two way ties in record are determined by head to head game, whereas three-way ties in record are determined by fewest total runs allowed against the three teams. 1. Overall win-loss Record 2. Head-to-head game 3. Fewest runs allowed 4. Run differential (Max of +/-10 runs per game) 5. Most runs scored 6. Coin flip To seed the four-team championship bracket in each division, the 1st place team from Pool A will play the 2nd place team in Pool B and the 1 st place team in pool B will play the 2 nd place team in Pool A. To seed the four-team consolation bracket in each division, the 3 rd place team from Pool A will play the 4th place team in Pool B and the 3 rd place team in Pool B will play the 4 th place team in Pool A. Dugouts If coaches cannot mutually agree on bench/dugout selections, then the team listed first on the schedule will occupy the third base dugout. Teams playing back-to-back games at the same field shall remain in the same dugout. Teams should clean up dugout at the conclusion of each game. Team waiting to occupy the dugout next shall wait until all players and coaches vacate the dugout before entering. Concessions While team members are welcome to bring beverages and snacks for the game, we ask you to remind your team parents and fans to not bring carry ins to our Shelby Hillview Complex. Concession sales are a primary source of funding for youth programs as we will have a fully staffed concessions stand during games at that site. That said, we will not be able to offer concessions products at the other individual fields, so team families and fans may carry in products to those sites. Page 4 of 5
Awards Trophies will be given to the 1 st and 2 nd place teams in the championship bracket of each 8 team division. No awards will be given out to the consolation bracket teams or participants. Tournament Modifications - Shelby officials reserve the right to modify tournament rules, format or time limits due to inclement weather, scheduling issues, or other unforeseen problems when necessary. Tournament Contacts 14U Tourney Scott Engebretson (608) 769-5899 Ryan Denzer (608) 790-3366 13U Tourney Barry Fried (608) 498-2245 Gregg Erickson (608) 780-9365 Enjoy the tournament! Updated 6/15/18 Page 5 of 5