Minor Division Rules The Minor Division shall be played in accordance with the rules stated in the Babe Ruth Rule Book and the Spencer Cal Ripken Inc. Local Rules with the following exceptions:

I. Purpose Although, more advanced than Coach , the Minor Division is considered highly instructional where every player will play a minimum of 6 consecutive defensive outs. More than 6 defensive outs are highly encouraged. All players will be in the order for all games.

While standings and win/losses are recorded and rewarded at this level, the Minor Division is not competitive to the point that any player should be discouraged for his/her lack of ability.

Although the desire to excel and win games is a part of the Minor Division, the focus of our league objective must be foremost in the minds of participants.

The objective of Spencer Cal Ripken Inc. shall be to support the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect for the nurturing and edification of the youth in our community in the hope that they may grow to be well adjusted, decent, healthy and trustworthy citizens.

Playing Rules

Playing rules are outlined in the Spencer Cal Ripken Inc. Local League Rules and the Official Baseball Rule Book.

Each team will bat its entire roster of players present. Once a is established, it will remain the same throughout the entire game.

The Minor Division can play with a minimum of 8 players. Players that show up late for a game will be placed at the end of the established batting order, and will bat in their appropriate position. Teams can pick up a player to make 9, that player must play the and bat last in the lineup.

Major division players cannot play substitute for a minor team.

Minor Division will play with 10 defensive players, 4 of which must be on the outfield grass before the pitch is delivered.

Any player who is removed from the game may be re-entered to any position (with the exception of the pitcher). A pitcher removed from the position as the pitcher shall not return as the pitcher in the same game if benched, he/she may renter as pitcher if they remain on the playing field.

Teams with identical regular season points, the higher seed will be determined by: Head to Head Most runs allowed Least runs scored A coin flip

*Pitching Rules

Minor pitchers are allowed to pitch a maximum of three per game and a total of six innings in a calendar week (Monday through Sunday). A pitcher who pitches (3) innings in a game must have one days rest between pitching assignments. Pitchers are not allowed to pitch in more than 2 games per week.

A pitcher who hits three batters consecutively (back to back) in a game will be removed from the .

There is a 6 limit per half . Scoring is unlimited in the 5th and 6th innings.

In the Minor Division, play stops when ALL runners stop forward motion while the pitcher is standing on the pitching rubber and the catcher is standing or crouched behind the plate wearing protective mask. Coaches must remember that this is a judgment call and the cannot be challenged with his/her ruling.

Intentional walks are NOT pitched.

Time of play for the Minor Division is 1hour 20 minutes.(no new inning started after 1hr 20min)The inning will be completed even if time has expired. There will be a 1hr 30 min drop dead time limit, the score will revert back to the last inning completed.

The 10 run mercy rule is in effect after 3 ½ innings if home team is ahead, 4 innings if visitor team is ahead.

Bunting is allowable. NOTE: If a batter squares around to then pulls the bat back and slashes at the ball the umpire will call the batter .

Head first sliding is not permitted. When a base runner makes a move back to a base he once occupied, diving is permitted. If a base runner slides head first into a base or home plate, the runner will be declared out.

Speed up rule: A runner for the catcher is allowed after 2 outs has been made. The player making the last out will be used as the runner. There are no other runner substitutions.

The fly rule is in effect for all Cal Ripken Minor and Major league play as written in the Babe Ruth Rule Book (BR 2.00). An infield fly is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive or attempted bunt) which can be caught by an (or another player in the infield area) with ordinary effect, with first and second or first, second and third occupied before there are two outs. The umpire must call the “infield fly." The batter is out; therefore, there is no force on for any base. Runners may advance at their own risk. They must be tagged to be put out since there is no force.

All bases are live, including 3rd base. Players may not steal a base until the pitched ball has crossed home plate. Stilling home and multiple bases is allowed.

The ball is considered live unless it is out of bounds.

One visit to the mound by a manager or coach is allowed per inning. If two visits made to the mound in the same inning, a pitching change must occur.

These rules may not be changed by any manager, coach or umpire without the consent of the Spencer Cal Ripken Inc. Board of Directors. The Board of Directors reserves the right to make changes to these rules during the season should it be deemed necessary.