Baseball Rules

VARSITY BASEBALL:	Grades 5, 6, 7 & 8
	Divisions 1 & 2 offered (skill-based)
JUNIOR VARSITY BASEBALL:	Grades 5 & 6 only
	Separate 5th / 6th grade leagues 6th graders may play in 5th grade league, but are not permitted to pitch.
BASE DISTANCES:	82-90 Feet Varsity* 65-75 Feet Junior Varsity* *Base Distance must be within the prescribed limits at discretion of home field
PITCHING DISTANCES:	55-60’6” Feet Varsity 46-51 Feet Junior Varsity **See pitching section of rules for interpretation
GAMES:	JV / Varsity D2: 7 Innings OR 1 hour & 30 minutes (90 minutes) Varsity D1: 7 Innings OR 1 hour & 45 minutes (105 minutes) In good weather, all games are official once a full inning has completed and the time limit has expired. If the time limit has expired, the inning in progress will be announced as the last unless the game ends in a tie. In case of a bad weather cancellation, the game will be ruled official after the bottom half of the 4th inning or after 3 1/2 innings if the home team is winning. A maximum of 5 runs is allowed (regardless of the inning) per inning for all divisions except Varsity D1. There is no limit on runs per inning for Varsity D1. This rule is removed in the play-offs for all other divisions. Drop Dead Game Limit: If a game is tied after the original time limit has expired, ONE extra inning will be played. If the game is still tied after the completed extra inning, the game will end in a tie. *For the playoffs, regular baseball rules will apply for extra inning situations. A team must have 8 players at game time to legally start the game. If a team has less than 8 players at game time, the non-offending team will receive a forfeit win AND play a practice game. Should a team only have 8 players, they will be assessed an automatic out each time the vacancy occurs in the batting order. These vacancies are to be placed at the end of the line-up and announced by the umpire as such. Any time a team can field only seven players or less, due to absentee, departure, or injury…a forfeit will result.
MERCY RULE:	15 run lead after 4 innings or 10 run lead after 5 innings. (3 ½ & 4 ½ innings respectively if home team is leading)
DUGOUTS:	Teams will be listed as home and visitor on the schedules, with 50% allocation of each regardless of site. The home team will have its’ choice of dugouts, except in cases where the field is owned or rented by their opponent’s school.
INFIELD FLY RULE:	The Infield Fly Rule is in effect in all leagues.
EQUIPMENT:	Batting Helmets must be worn at all times by batters, base runners, & on-deck batters. Metal cleats are not allowed. Refusal to remove them will result in ejection of the player. Catchers MUST wear (1) Mask with helmet, (2) Throat Guard, (3) Shin Guards, (4) Chest Protector, & (5) Protective Cup All uniforms must have a number on them. Bats must be deemed official baseball bats by the umpires. Varsity: Differential of no greater than 8.5 between length & weight. JV: Differential of no greater than 11 between length & weight. Maximum diameter is 2 ¾”. Each team is responsible for providing 2 league-approved Wilson baseballs for each game (4 for a doubleheader).
BATTING:	Junior Varsity: Continuous batting order. All players bat regardless of who is fielding. The nine starters in the field do not have to occupy the first nine positions in the batting order. However, if a player has to leave the game pre-maturely for any other reason other than injury, then that spot in the order will be considered an automatic out for the remainder of the game. Varsity: Traditional batting order of nine players, consisting of those that are playing the field at the time. Starters may re-enter the game once, in their same position in the batting order. The use of a Designated Hitter is allowed to begin the game. Should the DH enter the game in the field, the team loses its’ DH for the remainder of the game. There is no Extra Hitter (EH).
DROPPED 3rd STRIKE:	Varsity: The batter may advance on a “dropped 3rd strike” if there are two outs or 1st base is unoccupied. Junior Varsity: The batter may not advance on any 3rd strike.
FIELDING:	(Junior Varsity only) All players must play at least one full inning in the field. At the Varsity level, regulation rules will apply. (Junior Varsity only) Outfielders must start on the grass while playing their positions.
BASE STEALING:	At the Junior Varsity Level, players may not leave the base until a pitched ball has crossed home plate. At that point they may advance at their own risk. Violators will be called out. a.k.a. “Tight Bases” At the Varsity level, regulation rules will apply.
COURTESY RUNNERS:	Courtesy Runners are encouraged to speed up play at the Varsity level. A courtesy runner must be a player that is currently a substitute, thus not in the batting order at the time. The courtesy runner’s appearance does not count as their entrance into the lineup. A courtesy runner may only be used at the Varsity level to run for the pitcher or catcher.
SLIDING:	Sliding is required by runners in any situation involving a tag play at a base or plate. Umpires will be instructed to ignore a failure to slide should no advantage be gained or collision occur. Should there be any questionable contact on a non-sliding play, the benefit of the doubt will be given to the fielder.
PITCHING:	REMOVAL / RE-ENTRY (Varsity) A pitcher must be removed from the mound, as a pitcher, after the coach’s 2nd visit in the same inning. This pitcher cannot return as a pitcher in the same inning. Should a “removed pitcher” be left in the game at another position, they will be eligible to pitch again in a subsequent inning. A pitcher, once removed entirely from the game, is ineligible to pitch again in that game. (Junior Varsity) A pitcher may be removed from pitching and later return to pitch again in that game. In this situation, the removed pitcher may not return in the same inning removed. This may only be executed once per player. Once a player has been removed as pitcher a second time, they may not pitch any more in that game.
LIMITS	(All leagues) Pitchers may throw a maximum of seven (7) innings per week with a week defined as Sunday through Saturday. Pitchers must have at least two days rest before their next appearance if they have pitched 3 innings or more in a game and three days rest before their next appearance if four innings or more in a game. All coaches are required to submit proper documentation via e-mail or fax which includes all pitchers’ name, jersey number, and innings pitched. A pitcher will be considered to have pitched an inning once a pitcher has thrown 1 pitch to a batter.
DISTANCES	(Varsity) Distance of the rubber to home plate is to be no less than 55 feet and no more than 60 feet 6 inches, and (JV) 46-51 feet. This will strictly depend on the location and coaches discretion. Should the coaches disagree on distance, then the following will prevail: Varsity D1 = 60 ft 6 in. Varsity D2 = 55 ft 6th Grade = 48 ft 5th Grade = 46 ft
DISCIPLINE:	Any coach, player, or spectator that is ejected from a game will be suspended for a minimum of the next game, and possibly longer pending review.
RAINOUT INFORMATION:	It is the responsibility of the Athletic directors & head coaches to provide rainout information. Please call 972-404-0375 regarding possible cancellations due to inclement conditions.
PRE-GAME RESPONSIBILITIES:	Each team must submit a roster & line-up to the home plate umpire 10 minutes before game time. GAME TIME IS FORFEIT TIME. PRE-GAME PRAYER: to be led by the home team OFFICIAL SCOREKEEPER: to be provided by the home team. WINNING team calls or e-mails results by 9:00 a.m. the next day. Call: 972-404-0375 E-Mail dplsport@sbcglobal.net PITCHING summaries to be sent weekly by each team.