HYBSA -- Minors DIVISION BASEBALL LOCAL RULES
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HYBSA -- MINORs DIVISION BASEBALL LOCAL RULES The following special rules apply to the Minors Baseball Division. These rules supersede any similar rules shown in the Common Rules. Game Play i. Umpire(s) will be scheduled by the Umpire Coordinator. Managers/Coaches from each team should be used only in cases where there is no umpire present. ii. No intentional walks are permitted. iii. Balks shall not be called. iv. The infield fly rule will not be enforced. v. The Strike Zone shall be designated from knees to shoulders, with home plate enlarged one and one-half inches on each side (left and right). vi. A maximum of five (5) runs shall be permitted per inning. When a team scores the fifth run in their half of the inning, their at bat shall be ruled completed. In the sixth inning, the following rules apply: 1. The visiting team can score 5 runs if ahead or tied. If behind, they are permitted to score as many runs as it takes to gain a 5 run advantage. 2. The Home team can score as many runs as it takes to win the game. 3. If the game is being called earlier than six innings due to time limit or darkness, then both coaches can agree that final inning rules will apply. This must be agreed upon before the inning starts. vii. Pitching: 1. A pitcher cannot pitch more than 6 innings per week. 2. A pitcher cannot pitch more than 3 innings per game. 3. The week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday. viii. If the pitcher throws one (1) pitch that shall constitute an inning pitched for recording purposes. ix. If a pitcher has pitched three (3) innings or less he must have one (1) days rest before he is able to pitch again. x. Days rest takes precedence over pitching in the new week. xi. If the same pitcher hits 3 batters in a game, he must be taken off the mound for the rest of the game. xii. If a pitcher walks 4 consecutive batters in an inning, he must be removed from the game. xiii. A manager/coach is allowed two (2) visits to a pitcher during an inning. A 3rd trip in an inning means the pitcher must be removed. xiv. For safety reasons, all pitching time counts, even if the inning is not officially recorded (e.g., game called because of darkness) xv. Once removed, a pitcher cannot return as a pitcher in the same game. xvi. Stealing is permitted with the following guidelines: 1. Runners cannot leave the base until the ball has reached the batter. 2. The total number of stolen bases per inning will be THREE (3). 3. Advancement on a passed ball or wild pitch will count as a “steal.” 4. A double steal or the advancement of 2 or more runners on base when there is a passed ball counts as only 1 stolen base toward the 3 steal limit. 5. A runner may not advance on an overthrow of a steal attempt, if the throw is made by the catcher. 6. Stealing home is allowed and counts toward the steal limit. However, in a first and third situation, the runner on 3B is not allowed to advance on a throw down to 2B. They must already be moving home before the catcher makes his throw. 7. The ball is considered to be in play until it is returned to the pitcher and his foot is on the rubber. Bases can be stolen at any time up to that point, but will count toward the 3 steal limit. xvii. Overthrows: 1. Runners are not allowed to advance on any overthrow when the catcher is returning the ball to the pitcher after a pitch. 2. Runners are allowed to advance 1 base when an overthrow is made attempting to get a hitter out at first base. Any other runners on base at the time are also only allowed one base. The base is not automatically awarded unless the ball is out of play, therefore the defense can attempt to get any moving runners out. No advancement will be allowed on subsequent overthrows. 3. On any other batted ball or a pick-off attempt by the pitcher, runners shall be allowed to advance until the defense stops further action or until the ball is returned to the pitcher on the mound. xviii. Managers should make all players aware of stealing and overthrow rules before the season and during game situations. Stealing/Overthrows – Clarifying examples: EXAMPLE 1 (these events all occur in the same inning) Example 1a Situation: Runner on 1st Event: Passed ball - runner advances to 2nd Result: This counts as ONE (1) stolen base Example 1b Situation: Runners on 1st and 2nd Event: Passed ball - runners advances to 2nd and 3rd Result: This counts as ONE (1) stolen base Example 1c Situation: Later in the inning, runner on 1st Event: Passed ball - runner advances to 2nd – catcher’s throwing error - runner advances to 3rd. Result: This counts as ONE (1) stolen base. The runner is returned to 2B as there is no advance on the catcher’s overthrow during a steal attempt (Minors only). AT THIS POINT THE 3 STEAL LIMIT HAS BEEN REACHED, AND NO MORE BASES CAN BE STOLEN IN THE INNING, INCLUDING ON PASSED BALLS. Runners MAY advance due to throwing errors in the field, however. EXAMPLE 2 Example 2a Situation: Runner on 2nd Event: Passed ball - runner advances to 3rd Result: This counts as ONE (1) stolen base. Example 2b Situation: Later in the inning, Runner on 1st Event: Passed ball - runner advances to 2nd Result: This counts as ONE (1) stolen base. Example 2c Situation: Same runner as in Example 2b at the end of that play... Event: Same runner sees the pitcher is away from the rubber. The runner advances AGAIN to 3rd base Result: This counts as an additional (1) stolen base. Note, however, that if the pitcher had attempted a pickoff and overthrown 2nd base, this would NOT count as a stolen base. Example 2d Situation: Later in the inning, runner on 1st. Event: Passed ball Result: NO ADVANCE by the runner. The 3 “steal” limit has been reached. AT THIS POINT THE 3 STEAL LIMIT HAS BEEN REACHED, AND NO MORE BASES CAN BE STOLEN IN THE INNING, INCLUDING ON PASSED BALLS. Runners MAY continue to advance due to throwing errors in the field, however, such as below: Example 2e Situation: Runner on third Event: Catcher throws to third to try to pick off runner. Ball goes into left field. Result: Runner MAY ADVANCE to home, because this is a catcher’s overthrow/error and not a steal attempt. EXAMPLE 3 Situation: Runner on 1st. Event: Ground ball to 2nd base and second baseman throws it over the first baseman’s head. Result: Batter is allowed to attempt to advance to second and runner from first is allowed to attempt to advance to 3rd. Both can be tagged out by the defense and if further overthrows occur the runners cannot advance. EXAMPLE 4 Situation: Runner on 1st Event: Pop up caught by 2b and he tries to double off the runner at first, but throws it away. Result: Runner from first base may continue advancing until the defense stops him or until they return the ball to the pitcher on the rubber. EXAMPLE 5 Situation: Runner on 1st Event: Grounder to short, who then throws the ball into RF while trying to get a force at 2nd. Result: Both the batter and the runner coming to second can advance as far as possible until the defense stops them or until the ball is returned to the pitcher on the mound. xix. Thrown bats – the umpire will issue a warning for the first occurrence. If the same batter throws a bat a second time he MAY be called out (Umpire’s discretion). xx. A Minors Division player may play on a Majors Division team to prevent a forfeit, as long as it does not conflict with the player’s Minors Division schedule. Pace of Play To make our games more fun for players, coaches, umpires and spectators please remember that a brisk pace is a very important factor. To help achieve good game flow see, the protocol below is being observed at the Majors Division level. Since the Minors Division is more instructional in nature, coaches should be aware of the protocol below and prepare the kids for Majors by encouraging these “pace of play” improvements. Umpires will be instructed to give leeway for these players and coaches, as needed. Majors Pace of Play Protocol 1. Be aware of the Little League rule limiting the warm-up time for pitchers to one minute. The “clock” starts on this at the end of the previous half-inning (when the 3rd out is made). While the umpires will not be instructed to use a timing device, they will be asking the teams to get their work in during the estimated one minute period. 2. If the pitcher and catcher are ready immediately after the 3rd out is made, they should be able to get in plenty of warm-up pitches. Eight is the maximum. Infield and outfield balls should come into the dugout no later than the pitcher’s last warm-up toss. 3. To help the transition between innings, the catcher for the next inning should be dressed and ready to go. If the catcher for the next inning is on the bases with 2 outs, it is strongly encouraged that a substitute runner takes his place so that he can get dressed.