DIVISION RULES GENERAL RULES PITCHING REQUIREMENTS 2021

LET’S PLAY ! T-Ball (4-6 year old)

One hour fifteen minute time limit (play to time limit only)

No coach limit (see General Rules)

Continuous order (all players bat each )

No score/No standings

No

Please refer to Lowell statement for bats for 2018 season in General Rules – for any player who makes All-Stars – please refer to attached 2018 bat rule change as this will apply for any All-Stars

Coach (5-6 year old)

One hour fifteen minute time limit (play to time limit only)

No coach limit (see General Rules)

Continuous (all players bat each inning)

No score/No standings

No catcher

Please Note:

At a time – perhaps halfway through the season, more coaching options will be implemented – we will begin to teach the art of outs to the players – it will bring their game to a new level of play and better prepare our players for the next level of play.

Please refer to Lowell Baseball statement for bats for 2018 season in General Rules – for any player who makes All-Stars – please refer to attached 2018 bat rule change as this will apply for any All-Stars Rookie (7-8 year old)

1 hour – 30 minute time limit or 6 – all innings will be finished. Once third is made – constitutes another inning – if time is left, another inning will be played. A tie is a tie. For standings at the end of the season, runs allowed – head to head match-ups will be used to determine place in the standings.

1 umpire

1 Manager – 2 Coaches (see general Rules)

Standings will be kept based on winning percentage

Maximum 5 runs per ½ inning

Continuous batting order

No stealing or advancing on

Mercy Rule - 15 runs after 4 innings; 10 runs after 5 innings

*Advance 1 base per over throw at your own risk – per – cannot advance once ball is in control in dirt, foul or fair territory – umpire call is final

*No walks – Batter gets 3 strikes as called by the umpire

No – No bunting – No drop 3rd strike

Players must not be on the bench for more than 3 consecutive outs

Ball in play, lead runner is not halfway – all other runners must return to base

Umpire feeds and calls strikes () – or coach feeds machine to own team and umpire behind plate – If ball hits machine on a – and base runners advance one base only and is

Four players in the . Outfielders must play in the outfield grass

No changing of positions mid ½ inning unless injury or illness

Replacement players only when less than 9 – have to play outfield and be the last batter – (see General Rules) Please refer to Lowell Baseball statement for bats for 2018 season in General Rules – for any player who makes All-Stars – please refer to attached 2018 bat rule change as this will apply for any All-Stars Minor (9-10 year old) 46-60 (pitch/base)

1 hour 45 minute time limit or 6 innings - all innings will be finished. Once third out is made – constitutes another inning – if time is left, another inning will be played.

Mercy Rule - 10 rule after 5 – 15 run rule after 4 or if mathematically cannot tie or take the lead due to 5 run limit

1 Manager and 2 Coaches (see General Rules)

Standing kept based on winning percentage - A tie is a tie. For standings at the end of the season, runs allowed – head to head match-ups will be used to determine place in the standings.

Maximum of 5 runs per ½ inning

Continuous batting order

No drop 3rd strike – no – no pinch runners (except if injury occurs or courtesy runner (last recorded out) may be used for with 2 outs to speed up play)

Infield fly rule will apply – must be called by umpire - if no call – no infield fly

No leadoffs until after ball crosses the plate (secondary leads are allowed and encouraged after the ball crosses the plate)

Stealing once pitch crosses the plate. 1 base per pitch.

If batter interferes with catcher on a steal, the runner (if ) will be sent back on the warning (first occurrence per team in the game) and called out on additional interferences.

Bunting allowed (out if fouled on third strike) – once you square to , either take pitch or bunt ball – cannot pull back to swing or slap

Players must not be on the bench for more than 3 consecutive outs

Once has ball on mound, in the circle (not rubber), runners MUST return to base - once forward momentum stops – runner must return to the base

Advance one base per overthrow; cannot advance when ball is in control by pitcher in circle (not rubber) - (see General Rules) Replacement players only when less than 9, have to play the outfield and must be last batter (see General Rules)

Pitching Rest – please refer to attached Pitching Rest Requirements

Please refer to Lowell Baseball statement for bats for 2018 season in General Rules – for any player who makes All-Stars – please refer to attached 2018 bat rule change as this will apply for any All-Stars

Any play at home plate – runner must

Majors (11-12 year old) 50-70 (pitch/base)

2 hour time limit or 6 innings – all innings will be finished. Once third out is made – constitutes another inning – if time is left, another inning will be played.

Mercy Rule - 10 run rule after 5 innings – 15 run rule after 4

1 Manager and 2 Coaches (see General Rules) - A tie is a tie. For standings at the end of the season, runs allowed – head to head match-ups will be used to determine place in the standings.

Standings kept based on winning percentage -

Continuous batting order

Bunting allowed (out if fouled on third strike) – once you square to bunt, either take pitch or bunt ball – cannot pull back to swing or slap

Lead offs and steals at any time. If batter interferes with catcher on a steal, the runner will be out.

Balks will be called at umpire discretion. Each pitcher will be given at least 1 warning before a is called.

Infield fly rule will apply – must be called by umpire – if no call – no infield fly

Drop 3rd strike will apply

No limit on advancing on overthrows

Will follow all other tournament rules as stated in 2018 Cal Ripken Rule Book

Replacement players only when less than 9, must play outfield and be last batter (see General Rules)

Pitching Rest – please refer to attached Pitching Rest Requirements Please refer to Lowell Baseball statement for bats for 2018 season in General Rules – for any player who makes All-Stars – please refer to attached 2018 bat rule change as this will apply for any All-Stars

Any play at home plate – runner must slide

General Rules for all Levels of Play

Home team sets up the field. Away team cleans up the field. For Divisions this is the rule if two Lowell teams are playing each other. If another town is playing, Lowell team is responsible for both.

Umpire collects game balls from Concession Stand

Pledge of Allegiance before each game

Each team gets 5 minutes to warm up on mound – visitors warm up first – then home team

1 Manager – 2 Coaches on playing field and dugouts – except for T-Ball and Coach Pitch

All Managers/Coaches must be certified – Copies of Certificate of Completion to be turned in prior to start of season.

All Managers/Coaches/Umpires must have completed Concussion Certification (available on Lowell Baseball.org) prior to start of season. Copies of Certificate of Completion to be turned in prior to start of season.

Time Limits

Umpire is the official time keeper and should announce the start of the game (after pledge and once players have taken the field, not before)

All innings will be finished. Once third out is made – constitutes another inning – if time is left, another inning will be played. A tie is a tie. For standings at the end of the season, runs allowed – head to head match-ups will be used to determine place in the standings. Replacement Players

Only when less than 9 players (your 9 must play - unless injured)

Replacement must play outfield

Replacement must be last batter

Replacement must come from equal or lower division. Replacement players will be coordinated thru the President and players from a lower division will be given a top priority above players from equal division

If you are unable to find a replacement player and choose to field 8, you can, however, your team will receive an automatic out every time the 9th player comes up in the batting order. This is only applicable for Minors division and above. Rookie division will not have automatic outs.

Pitching/Tracking Requirements

If a pitcher exits the game (as pitcher) they are done for the game as a pitcher (extra inning exclusion below).

If a game goes into , any pitcher with pitches remaining under their daily max pitch may re-enter the game as the pitcher.

LOWELL BASEBALL 2018 BAT STATEMENT

Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth have come out with new bat rules based on the new design of baseball bats for 2018. Our in-house program will not be requiring you to buy a new bat that meets the news rules for the regular season of in-house play. The rule will be enforced in the Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth All Star games and a new bat will then have to be purchased – you will then need to follow the attached new 2018 bat rules. A big barrel 2-5/8” bat that doesn’t have the USA baseball bat label will not be allowed for all-star play – that would be any big barrel bat purchased prior to 2018 – big barrels with a USA bat label and meets the Cal Ripken – Babe Ruth guidelines will be allowed during in-house games - you can to www.baberuthleague.org for more details – -Clarification as of 5/15/21 - USA Baseball (and .50 BBCOR for 13 and older) bats are allowed in our in-house program. USSSA bats (regardless of barrel size) or 2 ¾” barrel bats (regardless of the stamp) are not legal in Lowell baseball for safety and fairness. Prior to the games, a representative from each team will check both teams’ bats. Any unchecked bat or bat that is deemed illegal should be removed from the field and shouldn’t even be in the to avoid accidental usage. If a bat check is requested during the game and an illegal bat has been accidentally used to get a hit, it can be overturned and changed to an out. Runners who advanced safely will return to the base they were at prior to the batted ball. Runners who were out on the play are still out. If an illegal bat was intentionally used the team will forfeit the game. If you have any further questions, please contact our President Kyle Huisman at [email protected]