March 2016 RE: Hammond Invitational Tournament (H.I.T.) 2016 Dear League President/Team Manager: On behalf of the City of Hammond, I am excited to announce and invite your baseball and/or softball team(s) to what has become one of the premier summer invitational tournament in the region. From June 10th 12th, the fourth annual Hammond Invitational Tournament (HIT) will take place throughout Hammond. Over the last several years, my administration has invested millions of dollars on upgrading the youth sports facilities around the city. We are excited to host this tournament and have you and your team(s) visit and compete at our fields and sports complexes. The tournament will be comprised of three divisions in each age group (10/12 boys baseball and 10/12 girls softball) of four teams each. These twelve teams will compete in pool play with a guaranteed three games. The finals bracket seeding will be determined by pool play results. There will be an engraved HIT championship bat for the championship team and bats for each player on the championship squad. Medals will be awarded for the second place team. Hammond is proud to be able to have the first class facilities to host this tournament this year and in the years to come as we hope to grow it from a regional to a Midwest tournament. The amenities in and around the ballparks will ensure that there are fun things to do both at the games as well as before and after for your players entire family. Here are some of the details: When: Friday June 10th to 12th, 2016 o Pool Play games will begin Friday morning and conclude on Saturday morning o Bracket Play Single Elimination starts Saturday afternoon and concludes Sunday afternoon Where: Hammond Hermits, Hessville Little League, Hammond Optimist Park, Robertsdale Little League (Pictures of these complexes are enclosed). 10 and 12 year old boys baseball and 10 and 12 year old girls softball with a maximum of 12 teams for each age group (3 divisions of 4 teams each). The championship games for the girls softball divisions will be played at the brand new Dowling Park Complex on the turf softball field.
Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. Mayor Cost is $350 per team. City will provide an engraved HIT championship bat and trophy bats for each player on the championship squad. Enclosed with this letter are a team registration form, preliminary roster form, tournament rules, maps to the facilities, and photographs of the facilities. Based on the feedback we have received already we anticipate this tournament filling up very quickly and therefore look forward to hearing back from you in the near future. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our HIT coordinator Sharon Daniels at 853-6501. I look forward to seeing you at HIT on opening day June 10th! Very Truly Yours, Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. Mayor 5925 Calumet Avenue Hammond, Indiana 46320 219.853.6301 fax: 219.931.0831 www.gohammond.com e-mail: mayor@gohammond.com 640-L
Sponsored by the City of Hammond Parks Department 4th ANNUAL HIT TOURNAMENT TEAM REGISTRATION June 10, 11, 12 2016 Tournament fee: $350.00 per team (No gate fee for fans) 2 POOL PLAY GAME GUARANTEE 1 finals Bracket game guarantee Open to all baseball and softball teams, city/town, all star, or travel team 12 team maximum per division Registration deadline: May 31, 2016 payment due at time of registration to secure spot in tournament. Registration may close prior to deadline if 12 team maximum in division is reached Check to be made payable to: Hammond Parks Department Mail registration form and preliminary roster to: sharon Daniels HIT Tournament Hammond City Hall 5925 Calumet Avenue Room 115 Hammond IN 46320 Team Name: Divisions: Boys Baseball 10 12 Girls Softball 10 12 Manager: Manager phone number: Manager e-mail address: Manager home address: Yes, I have read and understand the tournament rules that have been enclosed with the registration information, and I promise to abide by the rules of the 4th Annual HIT Tournament. Manager signature Games to be played at the four baseball/softball complexes located in the city of Hammond, map has been enclosed. Please find additional information at www.gohammond.com or contact Sharon Daniels at 219-853-6501 or danielss@gohammond.com. Don t forget to like us at Hammond Invitational Tournament for news and updates on Facebook!!!
4th ANNUAL HIT TOURNAMENT ROSTER Team Name Division Boys Baseball 10 12 Girls Softball 10 12 Manager Name Manager e-mail address Manager phone number (Please type or print all information) Uniform # Player Name Age Date of Birth Parent e-mail address 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. With my signature below, I certify that all the players on this roster are valid players according to the tournament rules included with this roster submission sheet. Signature of Manager
Sponsored by the City of Hammond Parks Department General Rules HIT Tournament 10 & 12 Boys Baseball and 10 & 12 Girls Softball 1. One hour prior to first game each team must provide: a. Proof of league/team insurance (accident and liability policies) b. Final team roster including uniform numbers and date of birth (10 player minimum/14 player maximum) preliminary roster is to be sent in with registration form. If a player is listed on two preliminary rosters the first roster verified as the FINAL team roster will be the team that the player plays. c. Birth certificates of each player (photocopies are accepted) 2. Play will be governed by Cal Ripken and Little League baseball (46 /60 field) and NSA softball rules, with the exceptions to those rules listed in these general rules. 3. Age restrictions follows age guidelines as adopted by Little League International, Cal Ripkin Baseball and NSA a. Baseball i. 12 - No player shall turn or have turned thirteen (13) years old before May 1, 2016 ii. 10 - No player shall turn or have turned eleven (11) years old before May 1, 2016 b. Softball i. 12 No player shall turn or have turned thirteen (13) years old before January 1, 2016 ii. 10 No player shall turn or have turned eleven (11) years old before January 1, 2016 If a player is found to be in violation of the age requirement the player will be removed from the roster for the rest of the game in question and the rest of the tournament. If a player plays in a game after being removed from the roster, the team will forfeit the second game and the team may be removed for the rest of the tournament. 4. Pitching a. Baseball during pool play no pitcher shall pitch more than 12 innings total; during bracket play innings reset and no pitcher may pitch more than 6 innings total. One pitch constitutes an inning pitched. Once removed from pitching a player cannot pitch again that game. b. Softball no limit on innings pitched. Once removed from pitching a player cannot pitch again that game. c. 10U pitching rubber 35 from home plate; 12U pitching rubber 40 from home plate 5. A time limit will be imposed during pool play games. No inning will start after 1 hour 45 minutes has passed from time of game s first pitch. Once an inning has started that inning will be completed (top and bottom). A new inning officially starts once the third out is recorded
from the previous inning. Exception I If game is tied in pool play, play will continue past the one hour and 45 minute time, Baseball: however no inning in pool play will start after 2 hours and will be officially recorded as a tie game. Softball: International Tie- Break rule applies. However, if after two hour time limit (in pool play only) no inning will start and game will be recorded as a tie. Exception II If the lead umpire determines a team is taking unusually long between innings or during stopped play, or if an injury timeout causes a lengthy delay, the umpire can decide to put extra time onto the one hour and 45 minute or two-hour time limit to compensate for the delay. 6. There will be no time limit in bracket play. Home team in pool play will be determined by a flip of coin 30 minutes before each game. The coin flip winner will choose home or visitor. In all instances the home team will occupy the third-base dugout and the visitor the first base dugout. If a team s manager or coach is not present 30 minutes prior to game time, the opposing team will be given the choice of home or visitor. Home team in bracket play higher seed will be the home team. 8. Bats Only Cal Ripken, Little League, or NSA approved bats are allowed for baseball and softball. Baseball bats must be stamped 1.15 BPF. There is no weight drop restriction. BBCOR or wood bats may be used. NO big barrel bats will be allowed. Any player caught using an illegal bat upon completion if that player s plate appearance/atbat shall be declared out by strikeout and the bat removed from the game provided the violation is confirmed before the next pitch is delivered. If a player is caught with an illegal bat during or before his/her at-bat is completed, the player will be allowed to continue his/her at-bat with a legal bat. 9. Bats and helmets will be checked prior to game. Any bat or helmet deemed illegal or unsafe/defective will be removed from the dugout. 10. No beer, liquor, or tobacco products are allowed on park property at any time. Park property includes: ball fields and bleacher areas around fields, play ground areas, green spaces in the park, and parking lots. The Tournament Director or Site Director may award a forfeit of any games involved if this rule is violated by spectators from a given team. 11. Teams should arrive at field 45 minutes prior to game start time. A team must have 9 players to start when game is ready to begin. No grace time will be given once the umpire has declared fields ready for play. The team without enough players will forfeit and the opposing team will win by a score of 6-0. Teams will have been deemed to have played 6 defensive half innings and 6 offensive half innings (if needed to break ties for pool play purposes). 12. A team must have nine rostered players present to start a game. If a team loses a player during a game, it may play with as few as eight players, but positions left open in the batting order will become an automatic out. Teams down to seven players will forfeit the game at the point when only seven players are available for play.
13. Lineups shall be submitted to the official scorekeeper at least 20 minutes before the scheduled start of each game. Copies of same lineup should be provided to the opposing team as a courtesy. All substitutions must be given to the official scorekeeper and the opposing team should be notified of the change. 14. Pre-game infield practice will be limited to seven minutes per team. No batting practice will be allowed on the fields. Start time to be determined by Site Director. 15. No soft toss is allowed on fields or into fences. 16. Ground rules shall be finalized before the start of each game. 17. Managers shall have control of his/her players at all times. Communication with the umpires should be done through the manager alone. Managers are responsible for fan behavior. In the event that a manager or coach is ejected from game, that manager/ coach s player is also removed from the current game and both will miss the next scheduled game and will leave the premises. 18. Only those in uniform shall be allowed on the bench in the dugout. Those adults in the dugout will be in comparable attire to the uniform of the players. 19. Batting/fielding Baseball and softball will field 9 defensive players (no tenth defensive player in the field). a. Baseball There will be three options for batting. Each team will decide which option they are using in the tournament. Once a decision has been made by the manager that will be the only option for that team during the game. Both teams do not need to use the same option. Option #1 - bat 9, normal substitution. Starter may re-enter once in same batting position. Each player will play 6 defensive outs (do not have to be consecutive) and have one at bat during game. Option #2 bat 10 the 10th batter will be an extra hitter normal substitution except for extra hitter. Extra hitter may bat anywhere in the lineup and may substitute defensively at any time for player in the field. The replaced defensive player now becomes the extra hitter, batting order remains the same. The nonstarters substitute in the regular manner each player will play 6 defensive outs (do not have to be consecutive) and one at bat during game. Starter may reenter once in same batting position. Option #3 bat entire roster free substitution at any time in the field. Batting order remains the same for the entire game. b. Softball continuous batting order may be used (all players present for game are in line-up for batting purposes). Once line-up has been submitted that decision remains for the duration of that game. The batters in the line-up can be freely substituted for players in field. Batting order remains unchanged for the duration of game. If a player is removed from the game, without a substation, the player s spot in the batting order becomes an automatic out. Exception: if a player sustains an obvious, observed injury and removal of the player is warranted, that player s spot in the order will be skipped without penalty, as long as at least nine players remain in the batting order.
It will be the lead umpire s call whether such an injury warrants the player s removal. If such an injury/removal leaves a team with fewer than nine players in the batting order, that player s spot in the batting order will result in an automatic out. A rostered player who arrives late to a game will be permitted to join the lineup only if her team s batting order has yet to bat entirely once through. If that condition is met, she will be inserted at the bottom of the batting order. If the bottom player in the original line-up makes the third out of an inning in her first plate appearance, a late-arriving player will still be allowed to be inserted if she arrives before the team s original leadoff hitter bats to start the next inning. If a continuous line-up is not used by a team the bat 9, normal substitution rule for baseball will apply. c. Courtesy runners will be allowed. Baseball: for the catchers of record with 2 outs. The player who made the team s previous out must serve as the courtesy runner. Softball: NSA rule applies courtesy runner for pitcher and catcher. d. All rules protested shall be declared immediately and settled by the Protest Committee before play resumes. Only rules violations can be protested; discretionary calls by an umpire cannot be protested. The Protest Committee will consist of the lead umpire (home plate) and a representative designated by each team prior to the start of the game. Each team shall list their representative on the line-up sheet that is turned in prior to the start of each game. The decision of the Protest Committee is final. e. Players must avoid contact with a defensive player attempting a putout. A runner who makes physical contact with the defensive player may be called out for that reason. Sliding to avoid contact on close plays will be the umpire s judgment and is intended to avoid injuries to players. f. No head first slides into a base or home plate. Head first slide is only allowed when returning back to a base. g. Hit batters a. Baseball 2 hit batters in one inning or 3 hit batters in one game removes a pitcher from pitching. b. Softball 3 hit batters in one inning or 5 hit batters in one games removes a pitcher from pitching h. Coaches may warm-up a pitcher but need to wear a mask. i. All male players must be properly equipped. j. Uniform shirt color will not interfere with the batter s ability to see the ball on release. Pitcher may wear a different color if this is an issue. k. There is no drop third strike. Softball age 12 division drop third strike rules applies. l. There are no lead-offs a. Baseball ball must cross plate prior to a steal b. Softball player may leave base on release - automatic out for lead-off (this applies to both 10U and 12U divisions)
m. Manager/coach is allowed visits to the mound. On second visit in the same inning pitcher is removed from pitching. On third visit to same pitcher during game pitcher is removed from pitching. n. On deck batter needs to be behind the nearest base to their dugout. o. Mercy rule is in effect. Mercy rule is as follows: team is ahead by fifteen runs after 3 innings; ten runs after 4 innings; eight runs after 5 innings. e. In case of mercy rule manager does not have to meet minimum play requirement. Manager is not required to start any player the next game who did not meet the mandatory play requirement. Pool Play Tie Breaking Procedure for Setting Finals Brackets Teams will be ordered in the pool utilizing the following tie breaking procedure: 1. Win-Loss Record record in pool play. 2. Head-to-Head result of head-to-head play. 3. Overall win/loss record 4. Runs Allowed Ratio the total number of runs given up in all pool play games played by that team, divided by the number of half-innings played on defense in pool play games by that team. This provides the number of runs given up per half inning by that team: the Runs Allowed Ratio. Any part of a half inning played on defense will count as a complete half inning of defense for the purposes of computing the Runs Allowed Ratio. 5. Runs Scored Ratio calculated in the same fashion as Runs Allowed Ratio but using runs scored and half innings played on offense. 6. Coin Flip If there is still a tie, a coin flip will determine which team advances. FINALS BRACKETS Once seedings from pool play have been set and finals brackets have been distributed to the managers or their designee only one per team (this is determined by the email address submitted to the tournament director at the start of the tournament and listed on the FINAL roster), teams will have two (2) hours to question the seedings. The 2-hour time limit will be determined as the time sent by email, not the time received by the teams.
Forsythe Park 600 119th Street, Whiting Hermits Park 4100 Dearborn Ave s Caldwell youth Sports Complex 7300 Parrish Ave Dowling park Complex 2900 JF Mahoney Drive Optimist Youth Sports Complex 7900 Columbia Ave
Forsythe Park 600 119th Street, Whiting Hermits Park 4100 Dearborn Ave s Caldwell youth Sports Complex 7300 Parrish Ave Dowling park Complex 2900 JF Mahoney Drive Optimist Youth Sports Complex 7900 Columbia Ave
7900 Columbia Avenue, Hammond IN 46324
Hammond Hermits Athletic Club, 4100 Dearborn Avenue, Hammond IN 46327