ARTICLE 25 SOFTBALL 2500. LENGTH OF GAME Sections are authorized to limit junior varsity softball games to seven innings or a maximum of two hours (no new inning shall begin after two hours have expired from the start of the game), whichever occurs first. 2500.1 Sac-Joaquin Section adoption of National Federation Rule 4-2-3: A game may end anytime after five innings, when a team is behind by a specified number of runs (10) and has completed its turn at bat. 2500.2 The Sac-Joaquin Section adopted a seven-inning limit or maximum of two hours for frosh-soph or JV softball game and the 10-run mercy rule in varsity softball. In non-varsity games, no inning shall start after the two-hour limit. 2500.3 A game that is called due to rain or darkness and at least five innings have been completed will be considered a regulation game. 2500.4 A game that is called due to rain or darkness and at least five innings have been completed and the score was tied at the completion of the last full inning will be considered a suspended game. The game will continue from the point of interruption at a time, date and place to be determined by the schools involved. 2500.5 A game that is called due to unnatural circumstances (i.e., sprinklers, power outages, etc.) shall be considered a suspended game and continued from the point of interruption at a time, date and place to be determined by the schools involved. 2500.6 A game that is called due to rain or darkness prior to five complete innings will be considered a no game. The entire game would be played from the beginning at a time, date and place to be determined by the schools involved. 2500.7 Sac-Joaquin Section adoption of National Federation Rule 4-2-6. The National Federation tie-breaker procedure will be used in a game that reaches the 10th inning. While using the tie-breaker, each halfinning begins by placing a runner on second base. That runner is the player in the batting order who precedes the leadoff batter in that inning. Then the game proceeds a full inning or until a winner is determined in that inning. 2501. OFFICIAL NATIONAL FEDERATION AUTHENTICATION MARK Only balls with the National Federation authentication mark shall be used in the sports of baseball, basketball, field hockey, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, volleyball and water polo. Sac-Joaquin Section Regulations: 2501.1 Rules All softball competition in the Sac-Joaquin Section will be conducted under the National Federation rules unless otherwise provided herein. a. See bylaws 2500.1 and 2500.2 for length of game instructions. Sac-Joaquin Section Board of Managers adopted a seven-inning limit or maximum of two hours for frosh-soph or JV on 1-12-78. b. See Rule 4, Section 2, Article 2 of the National Federation Rules Book in softball for the 10-run rule. The Sac-Joaquin Section has adopted a game ends when, after five innings of a seven-inning game, a team is behind by 10 or more runs and has completed its turn at bat. 2501.2 Starting date for practice is February 10 (Bylaw 511.1). Pitchers and catchers may practice (no bats and no fielders) from February 3 to February 8 (Bylaw 511.6). 2501.3 Starting date for scrimmage is February 22 (Bylaw 511.2). 2501.4 Starting date for interscholastic contest is February 28 (Bylaw 511.3). 2501.5 Number of allowable contests is 27 (Bylaw 519.1). 2501.6 All competition must end by May 7 (Bylaw 511.4. Also, see 2013-14 Calendar on Page XV). 2501.7 Playoffs a. Sac-Joaquin Section competition will consist of seven divisions: Divisions I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII. Division I CCC, DRL, DVC, MEL, MMC, SFL, SJAA and TCAL Division II CVC, Metro and SCAC Division III CAL, PVL and TCC Division IV SVC, VOL and WAC Division V GEL, MLL and TVL Division VI CVCL, SDL and SL Division VII CCAA, MVL and SMAL b. Playoff formats will be published for softball. See Calendar of Events for tentative dates. c. Awards 1. The Sac-Joaquin Section will award championship pennants for 1st place teams in all divisions. 2. A 2nd place plaque for all divisions will be awarded. 3. Individual patches (20) will be awarded to the members of the championship team and to the runner-up team in each division. 77
2501.7 d. Transportation will be paid for the cost of one vehicle. It will be reimbursed by the Section for each playoff game attended at the rate of $3.00 per mile for Divisions VI and VII and $2.00 per mile for Divisions I, II, III, IV and V. 78