RI FALL BASEBALL
Rhode Island Fall Baseball
2011 Tournament Rules for 12-13 Divisions: A, B1, and B2
Revised
The Tournaments
There will be three tournaments: an “A” Division, a “B1” Division, and a “B2” Division tournament.
The winning manager of each game should contact Bob Blackburn with both the score and the number of innings pitched by each pitcher for the winning team. Please email this information to rblackburn@rwu.edu
Games
Games are scheduled for 7 innings with no time limit. A legal game is 5 innings or 41/2 innings if the home team is ahead.
A coin flip determines the home team.
The 10-run rule is in effect once the game becomes a legal game (either 5 or 4½ innings as described above). In all cases the losing team must bat for 5 full innings for this rule to take effect. If the home team falls behind by 10 or more runs after the 5th inning, they must complete the bottom of that inning.
Legal games called due to curfew, darkness, rain, etc. are considered complete games. They will not be resumed.
All games will be played on the day and at the time scheduled, weather permitting. Any team unable to field nine players for that day and time will forfeit the game.
Lineups
Lineups must be exchanged before the start of each game.
All changes should be given to the opposing team when they are made.
Any player (starter or non-starter) may reenter a game only once. Players reentering the game must return to the same spot in the batting order.
Managers have the option to use as many extra hitters (EH) as they wish. An EH does not bat in place of any defensive player but is simply an extra batter in the lineup. At any time an EH may go into the field to play a defensive position or a defensive player may become an EH.
A team may not start a game with fewer than nine (9) players. Players may not be “borrowed” from the opposing team.
Failure to field a team within a 15-minute grace period after the official starting time will result in a forfeit. The forfeiting team will pay each umpire a half fee.
If a team elects to start a game with a nine-player lineup, it must continue the game and finish the game with a nine-player lineup.
If a team elects to start a game with one or more EH’s, it must continue and finish the game with the same number. Exception: If injury, ejection, etc. leaves a team with no substitutes whatsoever, it may continue the game without the lost player. Any spot vacated in the batting order by the removal of a player is passed over with no penalty. Once an EH spot is removed from the batting order, it may not be reinstated.
If (due to injury, ejection, etc.) a team has no legal substitutes left for any lineup (with or without EH’s), the opposing manager will choose the player from the bench to enter the vacated spot.
If a team cannot field nine players at any time, the game is forfeited.
The “special pinch runner” rule will be in effect. Any player not in the batting order at the time may become a special pinch runner for another player on base. This may be done only once in an inning, and no individual player may be removed for a special pinch runner more than once in a game. An EH is in the batting order and, therefore, may not be a special pinch runner. So you may use a special pinch runner once every inning (you may even use the same player each time), but you can only special pinch run for a given player once in a game.
Note: A player is considered still in the batting order until another player pinch hits or pinch runs for him/her or physically replaces him/her at a defensive position.
Any player, manager, or coach ejected from a tournament game will be suspended for the next tournament game.
Umpires
Two umpires will be assigned to each game by the tournament committee. Each team will be responsible for paying one umpire before the start of the game when the ground rules are discussed.
If a team has to cancel a game, please call Bob Blackburn (401-573-6615) at least two (2) hours before the scheduled game time so the umpires can be notified. The team which cancels will forfeit the game. If the umpires show up and no game is played, the forfeiting team is responsible for paying each umpire a half fee.
Rosters
Only players who are on their team’s official roster are eligible to play on that team in the tournament. A player may only play on one team in the tournament.
All players must be either 12 or 13 years old (baseball age as of April 30, 2011).
No player born before May 1, 1997 is eligible to play in the 2011 tournaments.
Pitching Rules
No player may pitch more than seven (7) innings in any two consecutive days. A player who pitches three innings in a game must observe one day of rest before pitching again. A player who pitches four or more innings in a game must observe three days of rest before pitching again. Pitching one or two innings in a game requires no rest to be eligible to pitch the next day as long as no more than 25 pitches were thrown. Throwing a single pitch in an inning constitutes a full inning of pitching under this rule.
No pitcher may throw more than ninety (90) pitches in a game. A pitcher who throws more than 25 pitches in one game must observe at least one day of rest before pitching again.
A pitcher must be removed from that position on the manager’s second trip to the mound in the same inning. No pitcher (once removed from that position) may return to pitch in the same game.
Baseballs
Each team will supply baseballs which must be at least Senior Little League or Babe Ruth League quality. Little League baseballs are not acceptable. Each team should bring at least three baseballs to each game.
Rhode Island Challenger Children
While it is not required for tournament play, RI Fall Baseball is asking each tournament team to consider making a $50 donation to the Rhode Island Challenger Division. This is a baseball program for mentally and physically challenged children in Rhode Island. Your generosity is greatly appreciated, especially by the youngsters it benefits. Let these beautiful children and their families know that we care.
Please make your check payable to “Elmhurst Challengers” and mail to:
Bob Blackburn
11 Betsey Williams Dr.
Cranston, RI 02905