1. FITNESS of GROUNDS:
The Umpire is the sole judge of the fitness of the grounds. The Umpire and/or tournament Director shall suspend play if the weather or other conditions make play unsafe.
2. RUN SCORES:
A runner scores one run each time the runner legally touches first, second, third base, and home plate, or a runner starting at second in a tiebreaker inning touches third and home.
***NOTE: Runs scored would not count
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- When the third out is a force out.
- When the third out is a batted ball in flight that is caught or prevented from being caught by interference.
- If a base running infarction were the third out, runs scored by the following runner(s) would not count.
- When a runner crosses home plate after a preceding runner is declared the third out for a base running infraction.
- With two outs, if the base missed were the first to which the batter or runner was forced to advance, no run would score.
3. TIME LIMITS:
Tournament Directors and League Officials may establish time limits such that a game will consist of six (6) innings or the amount of time specified, whichever comes first. No new inning will begin once the time limit has expired. Any inning which has been started prior to the time limit expiring will be completed. The time begins when the pre-game conference ends and the home team is allowed to take the field. A new inning begins as soon as the third out is recorded in the previous inning. If the game is still tied after the time limit has expired, the tie-breaker rule shall be in effect at the start of the next inning.
NOTE: The 5 Minute Rule/Stalling: Umpire has a right to end a conference early if the umpire determines a team is trying to stall a game. This call will not be questioned or appealed by a coach. Also, any stoppage of play within the last 5 minutes of a timed game, will result in the game clock being suspended until the play resumes.
4. The RUN RULE:
Awards a win to a team that has a 12 run lead after 3 completed innings or 2 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead, 10 runs after 4 completed inning or 3 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead, 8 runs lead after 5 completed innings or 4 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead.
5. TIEBREAKER:
After the completion of 7- innings, or when time limits have expired, and the score is still tied, the tiebreaker procedure will begin. The player, who had the last completed at bat, assumes a position on 2nd base. A substitute may be inserted. A courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher or catcher. This procedure would be done at the beginning of each half-inning; until a winner is determined. If the absent player should begin the half-inning at second base, no out is declared. The player whose name precedes the absent player in the line-up is placed on second base. If the wrong player is placed on second base, the correct runner should be inserted immediately even if a pitch has been thrown, or the runner has advanced a base. All plays made while the incorrect runner was on base stands. It is the responsibility of the umpires and scorekeeper to notify the teams involved as to which player starts the half-inning at second base.
6. REGULATION GAME:
A) A game ends when the team behind in score has completed its turn at-bat in the seventh inning, in any extra inning or the time limit has expired. If the home team scores a go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning, in any extra inning or time limit has expired, the game is terminated at that point.
B) If a game is suspended and later resumed, it will be continued from the point of suspension, with the lineup and batting order of each team exactly the same as at the point of suspension
C) If a game ends because of weather conditions and the Tournament Director feels that the possibility of resuming the game is not likely, it is then a regulation game provided:
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- Two full innings have been played; or if the home team has scored an equal or greater number of scored an equal or greater number of runs in two or two and a fraction turns at bat than the visiting team has scored in their two-inning turn.
- The play has gone beyond two full innings and is called when the teams have not had an equal number of completed turn’s at-bats. The score shall be the same as it was at the end of the last completed inning; unless the home team in its half of the incomplete inning, scores a run (or runs) which equals or exceeds the opponent’s score, in which case, the final score shall be recorded when the game is called.
7. FORFEITED GAME:
A) A game shall be forfeited to the offended team by the Tournament Director when a team:
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- Is late in appearing or in beginning play after the Umpire calls “Play Ball.”
- Refuses to continue play after the game has started.
- Delays more than one minute in resuming play after the Umpire calls “Play ball” or in obeying the Umpire’s order to remove a player for violation of the rules.
- Persists in tactics designed to delay or shorten the game.
- Willfully and persistently violates any one of the rules after being warned by the umpires.
- Cannot provide the required number of eligible players to start or continue a game.
B) The score of a forfeited game is 7 to 0 unless the game is forfeited after the number of innings required for a regulation game and the offending team is behind, then the score remains as recorded. If the offending team is leading, the score shall be 7 to 0. All individual and team averages shall be included in the official records, except that no pitcher shall be credited with a victory or charged with a loss in such a game if it is not a regulation game.
8. CHARGED CONFERENCE:
A.) Defense - Any time a head coach gets permission to suspend play to talk to the players, only 1 offensive or defensive conference is allowed per half-inning without penalty. On the second defensive conference, the pitcher must be replaced. A replaced pitcher can not return to pitch in the same inning that she was replaced. The new pitcher must pitch to at least one batter.
B.) Offensive - Each team, when on offense, may be granted not more than one charged conference per inning to permit the coach or any of that team’s personnel to confer with the base runners, the batter, the on-deck batter, or other offensive team personnel. The Umpire shall deny any subsequent offensive team request for charged conferences. This offensive team-charged conference rule is effective when the ball first becomes live in each half-inning
C.) Not charged
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- Time granted for an obviously incapacitated player shall not constitute a charged conference.
- A conference is not charged when the pitcher is removed as a pitcher.
- If a dugout representative confers with any player during a charged conference of the other team and is ready to play ball when the other team is ready.
D.) Pre-game Conference - The pre-game conference shall be conducted by the Plate Umpire. At least one adult coach from each team must attend. The pre-game meeting should begin approximately five minutes prior to the game and before the home team takes the field. There shall be no ball hit or thrown in the live-ball territory during this meeting. The purpose of the pre-game conference is to
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- Exchange and check each team’s lineup cards.
- Discuss ground rules.
- Identify the head coach
- Have coaches verify that their players are legally and properly equipped.