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PURITAS BASEBALL IN-HOUSE RULES - 2011

* Scroll down for appropriate division

Please note: For all divisions and due to several close calls and a lot complaints from spectators, hitting sticks (swing sticks,etc.) will not be permitted at Maplewood.

Major Hardball

Pre-Game

 

  • Managers should exchange lineups at least 10 minutes prior to game time.

 

  • The visiting team will have the field for pre-game warm-ups between 5:50 – 6:00.  The home team will have the field between 6:00 – 6:10. On weekends, there will not be time for pre-game warm-ups.  Pitchers are not permitted to warm up on the mound until their team takes the field.  During pre-game, the pitcher must warm up on the side.

 

  • Players must be in required uniform to play.  That is, uniform shirt, cap, sox and gray pants.  A player not in full uniform, is not permitted to play.

 

  • There is a 10 minute grace period from the scheduled start of the game if a team is short of players.

 

  • The home team is the official scorer.  Scorekeepers from each team should communicate with each other after each half inning to avoid any discrepancies.  If there is a discrepancy, ask the home plate umpire to stop the game until it is solved.  If the discrepancy cannot be solved, the home team score sheet is official.

 

  • Teams can play with eight players.  If a team has only eight players at game time, game will start.

 

  • Umpires will use their discretion in pre-game conference regarding ground rules.

 

  • Base distance – 70’.  Pitching distance – 50’.

 Game Play

 

  • Teams will play with a continuous batting order.  A player arriving after lineups have been exchanged must go to the bottom of the batting order.  Each player must play at least two innings in the field.

 

  • Teams will play with nine players defensively.

 

  • No player can pitch more than four innings in one game.  One pitch constitutes and inning.  Penalty:  Violation of this rule will constitute a forfeit.

 

  • Once a player is removed from the pitching position, he may not return as a pitcher.

 

  • A regulation game is seven innings.

 

  • An official game is a game that has been called due to weather or darkness and has gone four innings (3 1/2 if the home team is ahead).  An official game that has been called in the middle of the inning must revert back to the last completed inning for the official result.  Both teams must have batted the same number of innings.

 

  • The Mercy Rule is 10 runs after five innings.  Both teams must have batted the same number of innings.

 

  • No new inning may begin two hours from the starting time of the game.  It is recommended that the official scorer communicate with the home plate umpire as to the official starting time of the game.

 

  • If a regulation or official game ends up tied, a tie game will be the official result.

 

      *No player can pitch more than four innings in one game.  One pitch constitutes an inning.  Penalty:  Violation of this rule will constitute a forfeit.

 

      *Runners cannot lead off.  Runners cannot leave base until the ball crosses the plate.      Penalty:  Immediate dead ball and the runner is out.

 

      * The Infield Fly Rule is in effect.

 

  • The dropped third strike rule is in effect.

 

  • Bats are limited to a barrel width of 2 Ό”.  There is no limit on bat differential.

 

  • There is no “slide or give up” rule.  However, if, in the judgment of the umpire, there is malicious contact by the runner, the runner is out.  If the umpire feels the contact was flagrant, the runner will be ejected.

 Miscellaneous

Standings will be kept on the following point system:

            Win…………………………5 points

            Tie…………………………..2 points

            Loss…………………………1 point

            Forfeit……………………….- 3 points

The winning team is responsible for entering the score on the clipboard in front of the league office. In the event of a tie, the home team is required to post the score. Scores must be registered immediately after the game.  Failure to do so will result in the winning team losing two points off its total 5 points for the win, or, in the event of a tie, the home team losing one point off its total of two points.

Protests:  If a manager wants to place a protest due to an umpire not properly applying Puritas Rules, the manager must do so prior to the next pitch.  He must immediately notify the home plate umpire and a league official must be contacted before the game resumes.  Protests of an umpire’s judgment regarding balls and strikes, safe or out, fair or foul, will not be permitted.

 

Minor Hardball

Pre-Game

  • Managers should exchange lineups at least 10 minutes prior to game time.

 

  • The visiting team will have the field for pre-game warm-ups between 5:50 – 6:00.  The home team will have the field between 6:00 – 6:10. On weekends, there will not be time for pre-game warm-ups.  Pitchers are not permitted to warm up on the mound until their team takes the field.  During pre-game, the pitcher must warm up on the side.

 

  • Players must be in required uniform to play.  That is, uniform shirt, cap, sox and gray pants.  A player not in full uniform, is not permitted to play.

 

  • There is a 10 minute grace period from the scheduled start of the game if a team is short of players.

 

  • The home team is the official scorer.  Scorekeepers from each team should communicate with each other after each half inning to avoid any discrepancies.  If there is a discrepancy, ask the home plate umpire to stop the game until it is solved.  If the discrepancy cannot be solved, the home team score sheet is official.

 

  • Teams can play with eight players.  If a team has only eight players at game time, game will start.

 

  • Umpires will use their discretion in pre-game conference regarding ground rules.

 

  • Base distance – 65’.  Pitching distance – 46’.

 

Game Play

 

  • Teams will play with a continuous batting order.  A player arriving after lineups have been exchanged must go to the bottom of the batting order.  Each player must play at least two innings in the field.

 

  • Teams will play with ten players defensively.

 

  • No player can pitch more than three innings in one game.  One pitch constitutes and inning.  Penalty:  Violation of this rule will constitute a forfeit.

 

  • Once a player is removed from the pitching position, he may not return as a pitcher.

 

  • A regulation game is six innings.

 

  • An official game is a game that has been called due to weather or darkness and has gone three innings (2 1/2 if the home team is ahead).  An official game that has been called in the middle of the inning must revert back to the last completed inning for the official result.  Both teams must have batted the same number of innings.

 

  • The Mercy Rule is 10 runs after four innings.  Both teams must have batted the same number of innings.

 

  • No new inning may begin two hours from the starting time of the game.  It is recommended that the official scorer communicate with the home plate umpire as to the official starting time of the game.

 

  • If a regulation or official game ends up tied, a tie game will be the official result.

 

      *No player can pitch more than three innings in one game.  One pitch constitutes an inning.  Penalty:  Violation of this rule will constitute a forfeit.

 

      *Runners cannot lead off.  Runners cannot leave base until the ball crosses the plate.      Penalty:  Immediate dead ball and the runner is out.

 

  • The Infield Fly rule and dropped third strike rule are not in effect.

 

  • Bats are limited to a barrel width of 2 Ό”.  There is no limit on bat differential.

 

  • There is no “slide or give up” rule.  However, if, in the judgment of the umpire, there is malicious contact by the runner, the runner is out.  If the umpire feels the contact was flagrant, the runner will be ejected.

Miscellaneous

Standings will be kept on the following point system:

            Win…………………………5 points

            Tie…………………………..2 points

            Loss…………………………1 point

            Forfeit……………………….- 3 points

The winning team is responsible for entering the score on the clipboard in front of the league office. In the event of a tie, the home team is required to post the score. Scores must be registered immediately after the game.  Failure to do so will result in the winning team losing two points off its total 5 points for the win, or, in the event of a tie, the home team losing one point off its total of two points.

Protests:  If a manager wants to place a protest due to an umpire not properly applying Puritas Rules, the manager must do so prior to the next pitch.  He must immediately notify the home plate umpire and a league official must be contacted before the game resumes.  Protests of an umpire’s judgment regarding balls and strikes, safe or out, fair or foul, will not be permitted.

 

Coaches Pitch (Boys & Girls)

Pre-Game

  • Ground Rules:  The out of play areas are as follows:  The entry ways into each dugout are out of play.  The end of the sideline fence and an imaginary line extended all the way to the home run fence (down the left and right field lines) is out of play.  If a thrown ball goes out of play, it is a dead ball and all runners are awarded two bases (from last occupied base) from the time of the throw.  If a batted ball hits fair and rolls out of play beyond the sideline fence boundary, it is a ground rule double and all runners are awarded two bases (from last occupied base) from the time of the pitch.  The same rule applies fro a batted ball that rolls beyond or under the home run fence.

 

  • Managers should exchange lineups at least 10 minutes prior to game time.

 

  • The visiting team will have pre-game warm-ups between 5:35-5:45.  The home team will have pre-game warm-ups between 5:45-5:55.  There will be no time for pre-game warm-ups for the 7:15 games, or games on weekends.

 

  • Players must be in required uniform to play.  That is, uniform shirt, cap, sox and gray pants.  A player not in full uniform, is not permitted to play.

 

  • There is a 10 minute grace period from the scheduled start of the game if a team is short of players.

 

  • The home team is the official scorer.  Scorekeepers from each team should communicate with each other after each half inning to avoid any discrepancies.  If there is a discrepancy, ask the home plate umpire to stop the game until it is solved.  If the discrepancy cannot be solved, the home team score sheet is official.

 

  • Teams can play with eight players.  If a team has only eight players at game time, the game will begin.

 

  • Base distance is 65’.  The middle of the pitching circle is marked at 40’.  The circle circumference is 16’.  The pitcher must have at least one foot completely inside of the circle at the time of the pitch.

 Game Play

  • Teams will play with a continuous lineup.

 

  • Teams will play with 11 players defensively.  Six infielders, four outfielders and a short fielder.  The short fielder must be on the outfield grass stationed directly behind second base.

 

  • The batter will have 5 pitches to hit a fair ball.  Failure to do so will result in the batter being out. 

 

  • There will be halfway lines in the base paths.  If the runner is past the halfway line when the ball enters the circle, the umpire will award the runner the next base.  If he is behind the line, the umpire will send him back.

 

  • Teams can score a maximum of 8 runs per inning or until three outs are registered.  In the sixth inning, the defensive team must register 3 outs.  No limits on runs in sixth inning.

 

  • Games are a maximum of 6 innings in length.

 

  • No new inning may begin one hour and five minutes from the start of the game.  A league official will notify both managers and the umpire of the official start time of the game.

 

  • Home team must furnish the umpire.

 

  • An official game is a game that has been called due to weather or darkness and has gone three innings (2 1/2 if the home team is ahead).  An official game that has been called in the middle of the inning must revert back to the last completed inning for the official result.  Both teams must have batted the same number of innings.

 

  • There is no mercy rule.  (Corrected 5/29/11)

 

  • If a regulation or official game ends up tied, a tie game will be the official result.

 

      *Runners cannot lead off.  Runners cannot leave base until the ball crosses the plate.      Penalty:  Immediate dead ball and the runner is out.

 

  • The Infield Fly rule and dropped third strike rule are not in effect.

 

  • Bats are limited to a barrel width of 2 Ό”.  There is no limit on bat differential.

 

  • There is no “slide or give up” rule.  However, if, in the judgment of the umpire, there is malicious contact by the runner, the runner is out.  If the umpire feels the contact was flagrant, the runner will be ejected.

 

Miscellaneous

Standings will be kept on the following point system:

            Win…………………………5 points

            Tie…………………………..2 points

            Loss…………………………1 point

      Forfeit……………………….- 3 points

The winning team is responsible for entering the score on the clipboard in front of the league office. In the event of a tie, the home team is required to post the score. Scores must be registered immediately after the game.  Failure to do so will result in the winning team losing two points off its total 5 points for the win, or, in the event of a tie, the home team losing one point off its total of two points.

Protests:  If a manager wants to place a protest due to an umpire not properly applying Puritas Rules, the manager must do so prior to the next pitch.  He must immediately notify the home plate umpire and a league official must be contacted before the game resumes.  Protests of an umpire’s judgment regarding balls and strikes, safe or out, fair or foul, will not be permitted.