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TRAVEL DIVISION RULES - 2012

Preliminary

 

Administrative

 

  • Rosters are due prior to first regular season game.

 

  • Maximum players permitted on a roster is 15.

 

  • Birthday cute off date is May 1st.

 

  • Teams may add players to their roster until and including June 1st.

 

  • Managers must collect a copy of every player’s birth certificate and have them on hand at all games.

 

  • Players are permitted to play on more than one team in different age divisions.  However, players are not permitted to play on different teams in the same division regardless of level (AAA/AA).

 

  • Team insurance is the responsibility of each individual team.

 

  • Each player must be dressed in a full uniform (cap, shirt, pants and socks) and have a number on the back of his jersey.  No duplicate numbers.  Team players must all have matching uniforms.

 

  • Metal spikes are permitted in the 13U and 14U divisions only.

 

  • Division schedules must be turned in no later than March 17th.  Managers have until April 1st to check their respective division master schedules and turn in any changes or report any corrections or conflicts on the schedule posted on the web site.

 

Pre-Game

  • Teams may play with a minimum of eight players.  A team cannot play with less than eight players.

 

  • Any player showing up after the start of the game may only be added to the bottom of the lineup.

 

  • There is a 10 minute grace period from the scheduled start of the game to avoid a forfeit.  If a team has only eight players at game time, the game will begin.

 

  • Teams may choose to use an “Additional Hitter” (AH).  The AH can bat anywhere in the lineup and is permitted to play in the field.

 

  • There are no bat restrictions.

 Game Play

 The official rules of Major League Baseball will apply except in the Puritas Rules of Play noted below.  In all cases, Puritas rules override all other rules.

 

  • All starters may re-enter the game one time.  The starter must re-enter in his original place in the batting order.  The re-entering starter may play anywhere defensively.  When a starter re-enters the game, the player that was his substitute is ineligible to play.

 

  • Any pitcher removed from the game defensively may not return as a pitcher, but is eligible to return to any other defensive position.  If a pitcher is moved from pitcher and immediately plays another defensive position, he is still eligible to return as a pitcher.  A pitcher placed as an AH is considered to have left the game defensively.  However, if a pitcher is removed from that position as a result of a defensive conference, he is ineligible to return as a pitcher.

 

  • There is no limit on innings pitched by a player.

 

  • There is no courtesy runner permitted for any player at any time.

 

  • There will be one balk warning in the 10U, 11U and 12U divisions.  No balk warnings in the 13U and 14U divisions.

 

  • A regulation game is seven innings. 

 

  • An official game is a game that has been called due to weather or darkness and has gone 4 innings (3 ½ if the home team is ahead).

 

  • An official game that is called in the middle of an inning must revert back to the last completed inning for the official result.  Exception:  If the home team is batting and is ahead, but has not completed their at bat and the game is called, the home team is the winner.  Both teams must have batted the same number of innings.

 

  • Mercy Rule: The mercy rule will be enforced if a team is ahead by 10 runs after five innings, or 15 runs after three innings.  Both teams must have batted the same number of innings for the mercy rule to be enforced.

 

  • Now new inning can begin after two hours from the starting time of the game.  However, if both managers agree prior to the game to waive the time limit, the time limit will be waived.  Both managers must notify the umpires prior to the game if they are waiving the time limit.  Maplewood Games:  For games at Maplewood, if the time limit is waived, the umpire fee will be $2.00 more for each umpire.  However, due to large volume of games on Saturday's the 2 hour time limit will be enforced.

 

  • Official games that end in a tie will have a tie as the game’s final result.\

 

  • There is no “slide or give up rule.  However, there is a malicious contact rule.  If, in the judgment of the umpire, a runner deliberately makes contact with a fielder with the intention of possible injury or jarring the ball loose, the runner is out.  If the umpire feels the contact was flagrant, the runner will be ejected.  If there is a safe and legal slide and there is contact, there is no penalty for the runner.

 

  •  Dimensions:

 Age Division            Bases         Mound

10U                  65’         46’

11U & 12U            70’              50’

13U                        80’              54’

14U                        90’              60’6”

Miscellaneous
  • The official game ball for all games is the Diamond DOL-1 and the ball should have the “Puritas Baseball” logo stamped on it.  No other ball is permitted and furnishing a different ball is cause for protest.

 

  • 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 turning in the result of the game.

Scores must be registered within 48 hours of the game.  For weekend games, scores must be registered on Monday.  In the event of a tie or a rainout, the home team is responsible for registering the result.  If the team responsible for registering the result does not do so as described above, they risk losing points.  The winning team will lose 2 points (from the 5) and, in the event of a tie, the home team will lose 1 point (from the 2).  The losing team will not lose a point, nor will the visiting team in a tie.

Protest Procedure
In the event of a protest, the manager must notify the umpire of his protest immediately at the time of infraction and must be dome prior to the next pitch.  This is done in the event the manager feels an umpire misinterpreted a rule.  No protest will be allowed regarding the judgement of the umpire.

If a manager is protesting a game due to an illegal or ineligible player, the umpires do not need to be involved.  If the game is being played at Maplewood, he can notify the league commissioner (on site).  The commissioner will go to the field and ask the opposing manager for the player’s birth certificate.  If the protest involves a roster situation, the commissioner can verify the roster immediately.

If the game is at a different location, the protesting manager must notify the league commissioner within 24 hours (by phone or e-mail) of the nature of his protest. 

Birth certificates: When a team is challenged about an illegal player, the manager will be required to present a copy of the birth certificate to the league director immediately, if the challenge takes place at Maplewood. If the challenge takes place elsewhere, the manager will have 24 hours to appear at the league office at Maplewood with a copy of the birth certificate. If the director feels that the copy may have been tampered with, the manager will have an additional 48 hours to appear at the league office with either the original birth certificate or a notarized copy. Failure to adhere to any steps in this policy will result in the team forfeiting any games the challenged player appeared in and that player will be ineligible to play in any future games for the season.