Archive for the Baseball Category

Summary of Key Sellwood National League Rules (follows JBO National rules)

The batter is out regardless of whether the third strike is caught or not.

A runner may not steal home and may only advance as a result of a hit ball, walk or penalty. A base runner will be called out if he reaches home plate except as specified above. Examples are as follows:
a) Batter hits baseball and advances all the way to home plate while the ball is still alive, even though some bases are advanced as a result of misplays by fielders. Ruling: Batter and all preceding runners may advance at their own risk as long as the hit ball is in play.
b) Runner on second base steals third base and an overthrow is made out of play. Ruling: Ball is dead and the runner advances according to the standard penalty.
c) Pitcher attempts to pick runner off third base and overthrows the baseman out of play. Ruling: Ball is dead and the runner advances according to the standard penalty.
d) Runner on third base is caught off the base in a rundown and is either (a) tagged out (b) returns to third base without being tagged or (c) advances to home plate without being tagged. Ruling: (a) Runner is out, (b) Runner is safe and (c) Runner is out.

There will be a maximum of 5 runs per inning (regardless if 7 runs scored to get the 5th run). The final inning is not limited in total runs (3 outs required). The 10 run rule provides that a game will end after 4 innings when a team is 10 or more runs behind and has completed its turn at bat. Games called as a result of 10 run rule DO NOT waive the 6 defensive out rule per player.

Games are 5 innings, except ties (extra innings to be played if within the 2 hour limit or as agreed to by coaches and umpire). No NEW inning will start after 2 hours of playing time (8:00 if game started at 6:00). 3 innings constitute a legal game. The umpire will control the length of the game and must declare, prior to the start of any inning, that this is the final inning, based on the following conditions: time restriction, field condition, darkness or the 5th inning.

A kid may not pitch more than three innings per game. A kid may not pitch more than six innings per week (seven days, consecutively, constitutes one week.). One pitch constitutes an inning. Example: If a youth pitches 3 innings on Tues, they may pitch only 3 more innings before the next Tues.

There shall be free defensive substitution, including pitchers. Each player must play a minimum of 6 defensive outs. If a player arrives late and is unable to complete his/her defensive outs, they must be inserted immediately and play until the game is completed or they have played their required 6 defensive outs, should the game go into extra innings.

For failure to touch a base or failure to tag up as the ball is touched on a caught fly ball, the runner is out. This is a delayed penalty if not played upon by the defense during the play. After all playing action has ended; the umpire will indicate time-out to call the runner(s) out. During the play the runner is out if before returning to each untouched base, the runner is touched by the ball in the hand of a fielder or the ball is held by a fielder on that missed base.

If a player is injured, is removed from the game and misses a turn at bat, she/he will be allowed to return to the lineup in that game. If a player is injured while running the bases, she/he must be replaced by the player furthest from batting that is not on base. This substitute runner returns to their place in the batting order ceasing the pinch running duties.

If a team has LESS THAN 8 players (because of injury, early departure, or all that showed up) able to take the field the game will be a forfeit. Games CAN BE played with at least 8 players and no automatic out will be charged for missing players.

Each team will bat its entire roster. A player arriving after the game has started will be inserted at the end of the batting lineup. Every eligible player must play a minimum of 6 defensive outs in all legal games, bottom half of the unplayed final inning does not count towards this requirement.

The umpire will sign both team scorebooks acknowledging the game score.