DIVISION RULES GENERAL RULES PITCHING REQUIREMENTS 2021 LET’S PLAY BALL! T-Ball (4-6 year old) One hour fifteen minute time limit (play to time limit only) No coach limit (see General Rules) Continuous batting order (all players bat each inning) No score/No standings No catcher 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 Coach Pitch (5-6 year old) One hour fifteen minute time limit (play to time limit only) No coach limit (see General Rules) Continuous batting order (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 innings – 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. 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 passed ball Mercy Rule - 15 runs after 4 innings; 10 runs after 5 innings *Advance 1 base per over throw at your own risk – per batted ball – cannot advance once ball is in control in infield dirt, foul or fair territory – umpire call is final *No walks – Batter gets 3 strikes as called by the umpire No infield fly rule – 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 pitching machine and calls strikes (strikeouts) – or coach feeds machine to own team and umpire behind plate – If ball hits machine on a hit – single and base runners advance one base only and is dead ball Four players in the outfield. 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 run 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 balks – no pinch runners (except if injury occurs or courtesy runner (last recorded out) may be used for catchers 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 safe) 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 bunt, 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 pitcher 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 slide 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 balk 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 Babe Ruth 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 pitchers 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 extra innings, any pitcher with pitches remaining under their daily max pitch count 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.