East Williamson Athletics Baseball League – 2017 Spring Season Rules
East Williamson Athletics Baseball League is governed by the Little League Baseball Official Rules as modified by the below local league rules. In the event a situation is not covered by either set of rules, the rules of Major League Baseball will be applied.
All KID-PITCH Divisions
1. First Games will start after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays for 9/10 division and 6:00pm for 11/12 divisions. Games will begin at different times on Saturday and continue until all scheduled games are completed that day. The Board will schedule make up games as necessary on the next open dates.
2. Each Manager must sign the umpire’s scorecard after each game. The completed card becomes the official record of the game score as well as the innings pitched for each player. Game cards must be signed when a game is interrupted as well even if the game is going to be replayed.
3. Umpires shall designate the official start time and record that time on the scorecard.
4. There will be a ten (10) minute grace period for late players. This will be for the first game of the day/night ONLY. (NOTE: If the grace period is needed, the game clock nor the game itself will NOT start. The Manager needing the grace period shall inform the umpires immediately of the need.)
5. All games will have an official time limit of one hour and thirty minutes (1:30) for both AAA Ball(9-10 yr olds) and Majors(11-12 yr olds). Games are played until the time has expired or the maximum innings has been reached, whichever occurs first. All kid‐pitch divisions will play six (6) innings. No normal inning shall start after five (5) minutes before the time limit is reached. The next inning starts at the time the third out is called in the prior inning.
6. Interrupted Games – During the regular season and tournament, games that have not become official games shall be suspended and resumed from the point of interruption. A game shall be deemed official if either more than half of the innings have been played or fifty (50) minutes for both AAA Ball(9-10 yr olds) and Majors(11-12 yr olds) of the game time has elapsed, whichever occurs first. For all kid‐pitch divisions more than half will be after four innings (or 3 ½ if the home team is ahead).
7. Suspended Game Resumption – when a suspended game is resumed each team shall keep their lineup the same. If the situation exists that a regular member of the team was not on the lineup for the original game but is available for the resumed date that player (s) shall be used first to replace missing players.
8. Each team has the following choices for their batting lineup: Teams can elect to bat their entire roster, bat only the nine (9) players in the field or bat ten (10) players with an extra hitter (EH). The choice will need to be made before the game and communicated to the opposing coach, the umpire and the official scorekeeper. All players on the roster must bat at least one (1) time during the game, only if choosing an option other than batting all players. If the game is shortened due to rain or run rule and becomes an official game because of time limit or innings, all players must have met the batting and fielding requirements. If the requirements are not met and that team is winning when the game is called, they will end up losing by rules enforcement.
9. Nine (9) players will play defense each inning- meaning only three (3) outfielders. All players must play at least one (1) defensive inning or three (3) defensive outs before the end of the game. See # eight (8) above for the rule on a game shortened by rain or run rule.
10. Each team will be allowed no more than four (4) adults in the dugout to coach the team and/or manage the dugout. Players allowed to stand on deck inside the fences to swing the bat and get loose. Players on deck or next up at bat must stand just outside of the fence.
a. While on offense, two coaches shall be allowed outside of the dugout in order to man
the 1st and 3rd base coaches boxes.
b. While on defense, one (1) coach is allowed to be outside of the dugout, but must
remain in close proximity to the dugout itself. Coaches on defense must ensure that
they are not interfering in any way with the offensive coaches or batters in the on‐deck
area. Excessive coaching from the sidelines, especially to the pitcher, may result in a
charged defensive conference (even if the coach does not go on to the field of play).
11. Ejection / Player & Coach Suspensions: Any time a player, coach or spectator is ejected from a game that person must immediately leave the park. If a player or coach, that person will not be allowed to have any further involvement in the game either via signals from outside the park or other electronic forms of communication. Any time an ejected person refuses to vacate the park in a timely manner the umpire has the discretion to end the game in a forfeit against the team of the ejected person. Additionally the person ejected is NOT allowed back in the park or on the field at the conclusion of the game in which the ejection occurred.
a. If an umpire removes a coach from a game, that coach shall not be allowed to
participate in his/her next played game. The coach must appear in a meeting with the
EWA Board to review the circumstances of the ejection. A second ejection of a coach
shall result in the coach banned from coaching for the remainder of the season.
Offending coach does have the right to appeal before the EWA Board for reinstatement.
b. If a player is removed from a game that player will not be allowed to participate in
his/her next played game. If the same player is ejected a second time during the same
season, the player shall sit out his/her next played game or games until the player
appears before the next meeting of the EWA Board to show cause why the player should
be permitted to finish the season. Final decision will be at the discretion of the EWA
Board.
c. If an action is deemed excessively malicious then the EWA League President can impose player or coach suspensions in addition to the ejection penalties listed above.
d. If an ejection occurs after the game has concluded then the penalty shall include the
next two played games. (Reason is that an ejection during the game involves loss of
time in two games where an ejection after a game is over would not.)
e. If a player is removed from a game for using profanity OR is caught using profanity
anywhere within the jurisdiction of the East Williamson Athletics Baseball League (practice fields, playing fields, or anywhere else in the baseball parks) that player shall be subject to an
additional suspension of one game. This same rule applies to the use of tobacco
products by any player (regardless of age) while participating in league events. (Note:
This penalty can be applied by umpires as well as any league board member that
witnesses the incident.)
12. No pitcher shall pitch more than the allowed number of pitches per game as shown in the chart below. There are NO BALKS to be called. The week starts on Monday and ends on Sunday. Each pitcher must follow the days rest chart as well, based on the number of pitches thrown. See both charts below. A pitcher that has thrown 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the catcher position for the remainder of the day. Any catcher that has played four (4) or more innings in a game is not eligible to pitch for the remainder of the day.
NOTE: The pitcher is allowed to continue pitching to the current batter if the total amount of pitches per day is met during that players at bat. The pitcher must be removed as soon as the at bat is complete.
o Maximum Innings Maximum Innings/Game rest two days
9/10 75 pitches a day
11/12 85 pitches a day
The following is the rest requirement rules each pitcher must follow:
· If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
· If a player pitches 51-65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
· If a player pitches 36-50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
· If a player pitches 21-35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
NOTE: The pitcher is allowed to continue pitching to the current batter if the total amount of pitches is met during that players at bat that would require a day or additional days of rest. If a player is removed before another pitch is thrown once the at bat is complete, the player would not have to observe the day or additional days of rest.
13. There is a free defensive substitution for all player positions except pitcher. The starting pitcher may not return to pitch in the same game.
14. One pitch, a pitch to a batter, shall constitute an inning pitched. (Exception: If an inning is interrupted and the game is suspended and resumed at a later date, the continuation of an in‐progress inning shall NOT constitute an additional inning pitched for the pitcher.)
15. 11/12 Age Group ONLY: If the catcher misses the third strike “the ball is live” unless there are less than two (2) outs and there is a runner on 1st base. If there are less than two (2) outs, a runner is on 1st, and the catcher misses the third strike, then the batter cannot advance.
16. A coach may issue a walk to a batter by informing the home plate umpire. No pitches have to be thrown for an intentional walk.
17. When a pitcher is in contact with the pitcher’s plate and in possession of the ball and the catcher is in the catcher’s box ready to receive delivery of the ball, base runners shall not leave their bases until the ball has been delivered and has reached home plate. Once the catcher has secured the ball and the runner has stopped his forward progress, the runner must immediately return to the base.
The violation by one runner shall affect all other runners.
a. When a base runner leaves the base before the pitched ball has reached home plate and the batter does not hit the ball, the runner is permitted to continue. If a play is made on the runner and the runner is out, the out stands. If said runner reaches safely at the base to which he is advancing, all runners must be returned to the base occupied before the pitch was made, and no out results.
b. When a base runner leaves the base before the pitched ball has reached home plate and the batter hits the ball, the base runner or runners are permitted to continue. If a play is made and the runner or runners are put out, the out or outs will stand. If not put out, the runner or runners must return to the original base or bases or to the unoccupied base nearest the one left. In no event shall the batter advance beyond first base on a single or error, second base on a double or third base on a triple. The umpire-in-chief shall determine the base value of the hit ball.
c. When any base runner leaves the base before the pitched ball has reached home plate and the batter bunts or hits a ball within the infield, no run shall be allowed to score. If three runners were on bases and the batter reaches first base safely, each runner shall advance to the base beyond the one they occupied at the start of the play except the runner who occupied third base, which runner shall be removed from the base without a run being scored. NOTE: See exception following this rule.
NOTE: When there is a base running violation, the umpire should signal such infraction by indicating a delayed dead ball. EXCEPTION: If at the conclusion of the play there is an open base, paragraphs (a) and (b) apply.
18. Base runners shall be encouraged to slide at second, third, and home base only if there is a
legitimate play in process at the base. Upon the umpire’s discretion, any malicious contact by
any player shall result in the offending player being out on the play and/or being ejected from the game. (No contact rule)
19. In addition to the No contact rule, above, head first sliding is discouraged. The nature of a head first slide exposes both the offensive and defensive players to an increased likelihood of injury. While head first sliding is not illegal a needless head first slide can be judged to be malicious/intentional contact. As such the umpire can rule the runner out and/or eject him from the game for such actions.
20. If there are two (2) outs and the catcher or pitcher is on base, the manager may replace them with the player that was the last batted out. (see Speed up rule #29) Note this rule does not apply in any “Extra Inning.” This is an optional substitution at the coach’s discretion, not a mandatory one. (Note: the player to be used is the last one that has completed their at bat and is not a runner. There has been some confusion over whether it is the last batted out, last out, etc.)
21. Each team must have eight (8) players to start a game. If any team falls below eight (8) players for any reason then that team will forfeit. The team with eight (8) players will take an out each time the 9th batter is due to hit. The 9th player may be added to the lineup upon arrival, thus removing the automatic out for only having eight (8) players. A team can add one (1) player from the EWA Rec age group immediately below the division in need of a player ONLY to avoid a forfeit (less than eight (8) players). In addition, that player must play in the outfield and must occupy the last batting position.
22. If a player leaves the game due to sickness or injury, that players subsequent at bats will be
passed over and is not an out, unless the team falls below eight (8) players, which will result in a forfeit. If a player is ejected from game or leaves by his or the coaches own choice then the subsequent at bats will be recorded as an out. Once a player is removed from the game he/she may not reenter the game. (Removed from a game means he/she misses a turn at bat – our free substitution rules allows defensive changes at any time and is not considered removal from a game.)
23. Bat slinging:
a. Player – if the same player has more than one (1) incident during the same game, he/she will be called out. A warning will be given for the first incident.
24. The “Run Rule” shall apply if the score meets the requirements below in the appropriate inning. The home team must be in the lead in order to call a game before an inning is complete. Run Rule applies as follows: twelve (12) runs ahead after four (4) innings, and eight (8) runs ahead after five (5) innings.
a. In 9/10 Division there is a maximum of seven (7) runs allowed in an offensive half inning.
(Note: All runs that score after the 7th run on the same play shall NOT count.)
25. If a tie occurs, then one extra inning will be played to determine a winner. The international tie breaker rule shall be used. If no winner is determined then the game will end in a tie.
a. International Tie Breaker Rule involves the last batter of the previous inning, whose turn at bat has been completed, assuming a position on second base. This will be done at the beginning of each half inning, until, at the conclusion of a full inning a winner is
determined or a tie is declared.
26. Jewelry: Metal rings, earrings, piercings, and non‐breakaway necklaces / bracelets shall not be allowed. Any other jewelry that the umpire deems could cause injury will also not be allowed. Pitchers should never wear jewelry that can be a distraction to the batter and umpires will direct that such be removed.
27. Base / Mound Dimensions: The following table shows the distances by age division.
Base Path Pitcher’s Mound
9/10 60’ 46’
11/12 60’ 46’
13/15 90’ 60’6”
28. The speed up rule will be in effect. This rule allows for each team to have two (2) minutes to change sides, going from offense to defense or going from defense to offense, and to warm up the pitcher. Usually the pitcher is given 5 warm up pitches between innings. If the two (2) minutes expire and the pitcher has not thrown a warm up pitch yet, then the pitcher will not be granted any warm up pitches. A warning will be given each time this rule is broken and the coach/team will be reported by the umpire to the baseball board/commissioner if the rule continues to be broken by that same coach/team. Penalties will then potentially be assessed going forward for that team(s).
29. The bat may not exceed 33”in length, and the bat barrel may not exceed 2 ¼” in diameter. Only 2 ¼” barrel non-wood bats marked BPF 1.15 will be allowed