Pikesville Men's Softball League Rules

PIKESVILLE MEN'S SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2007 RULES

OFFICIAL AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (ASA) 2006 RULES ARE IN EFFECT WITH THE FOLLOWING NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS:

RULE 2 (The Playing Field): Section 1: Distance between bases 65 feet, pitching rubber to back of home plate 46 feet, back of home plate to 2^nd base 92’.

RULE 3 (Equipment): Section 1: Banned listed on website. No composite bats.
Section 6: Uniform requirement section is waived, however players in the field and at the plate must wear shirts
Section 6, Article F: Non-sharp jewelry will be allowed. In addition, all earrings are permitted.
Section 6, Article G: (And Points of Emphasis #36) Metal cleats are illegal.

RULE 4 (Players and Substitutes): Minimum age for participation in league games is 15 years of age.
Section 1, Articles C & D: Slow pitch rules are used.
Section 1, Articles A & D: A game may be started with 9 players without penalty (i.e. there is no automatic out or forfeit). If a 10^th player does arrive late, he must be placed in the number 10 slot of the batting order (Rule 4, Section 1C3).
Section 4: A team batting 10 or 11 players may finish a game with a minimum of 9 players, however, each time a missing player’s spot is due up in the batting order, an out shall be declared (Rule 7, Section 2).
Section 6, Article B: No automatic ejection for failure to report substitutions. A warning is issued for the first infraction. An out for the second infraction.
Section 9: Any player ejected in 1^st game of a doubleheader is eligible to return for play in the 2^nd game. League fines applicable.

RULE 5 (The Game): Section 2: The fitness of the ground for a game shall be decided by the park director, team managers, and the field umpire(s). If teams feel that their field is not fit for play, they may either postpone their game or move to a mutually agreeable location.
Section 9: Run ahead rule for our league is 15 after 4 innings, 12 after 5 innings.

RULE 6 (Pitching Regulations): Bowling-style pitching only. No slingshot or windmill.

RULE 7 (Batting): No changes. Please note rule Rule 7, Section 3-E below:
            After the ball is in play, the batter may not step out of the batter's box to stop play unless time has been granted by the umpire.
            EFFECT: All action will continue and the pitch will be called.
            EXCEPTION: If special conditions warrant, such as a ball from another field or a wind gust putting dust in a batter's eye, time can be called.
            COMMENTS: This prevents the batter from stepping out of the batter's box to delay the game or to upset the pitcher's rhythm. If conditions occur, in the umpire's judgment (see comments listed under EXCEPTION), the umpire should grant the "time out." If no time is called, the umpire should call the pitch a strike or ball depending whether the pitch enters the strike zone or not.

RULE 9 (Protests): Sections 4-6: All game protests must be filed with the field umpire(s) as per ASA rules. In addition, the league rules committee must be notified by telephone within 36 hours after completion of the game. All protests will be sent before the rules committee. Protest fee is $25 and will be refunded if protest is upheld.

THE ABOVE QUOTED RULE SECTIONS ARE FROM THE 2004 ASA RULE BOOK.

Pikesville Men’s Softball League Rule 6

A. Before starting the delivery (pitch), the pitcher shall take a position with at least one foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate. Both feet must remain on the ground. The shoulders shall be in line with first and third bases and shall be squared to home plate.

A. The pitch starts when the pitcher commences the first motion within the sequence of motions constituting a Legal Delivery.

A. The pitcher must not make any motion to pitch without immediately delivering the ball to the batter.

B. The pitcher must not use a pitching motion in which, after having the ball in one or both hands in the pitching position, the pitcher removes one hand from the ball and returns the ball to both hands.

C. The pitcher shall not make a stop or reversal of the forward motion after separating the hands.

E. THE PITCHER MUST NOT USE A WINDMILL OR ANY FORM OF SLINGSHOT-TYPE PITCH OR MAKE A COMPLETE REVOLUTION IN THE DELIVERY. Any pitch in which the position of the ball is not maintained in accordance with Section 3.F. is deemed a slingshot-type pitch.

F. Position of the ball: Throughout the entirety of the back swing, the pitcher’s arm grasping the ball may not exceed the natural height achieved with the pitcher’s elbow “locked” in a fully extended position behind the pitcher. This position is roughly parallel to the ground although the pitcher may achieve a slightly greater angle than parallel by bending forward from the pitcher’s waist through the back swing and continuing through the forward delivery. In no event, however, and at no time during the entire sequence of the pitching motion of a legal delivery, may the ball be outside the pitcher’s wrist, whether on the back swing, at the top of the back swing, on the downward motion, or during the complete delivery. The objective is to have a legal delivery most closely resemble the motion of a bowler.

G. The delivery must be in an underhanded motion with the hand below the hip, although the pitcher’s palm may be pointing downward.

H. Arm, shoulder, hip: On the forward swing of the pitching arm, the elbow must be locked at the point of release and the shoulders and driving hip must be squared to home plate when the ball is released.

I. The release of the ball must be on the first forward swing of the pitching arm past the hip. The release must have a complete, smooth follow-through with no abrupt stop of the arm near the hip.

J. In the act of delivering the ball, the pitcher must take one step simultaneous with the release of the ball. The step must be forward and toward the batter within the 24-inch length of the pitcher’s plate. NOTE: It is not a step if the pitcher slides the pivot foot across the pitcher’s plate, provided contact is maintained with the plate. Raising the foot off the pitching plate and returning it to the plate creates a rocking motion and is an illegal act.

K. Pushing off with the pivot foot from a place other than the pitcher’s plate is illegal. MOREOVER, THE PIVOT FOOT MUST REMAIN POINTED TOWARD HOME PLATE AT ALL TIMES DURING THE ACT OF DELIVERING THE BALL.

L. The pitcher shall not deliberately drop, roll or bounce the ball in order to prevent the batter from hitting it.

M. The pitcher has 20 seconds to release the next pitch after receiving the ball or after the umpire indicates “play ball.”

A. Any pitch which an umpire detects as having been delivered in violation of this Rule 6 may be declared an "illegal pitch" and shall have the following effect:

ii. If the batter hits the ball and reaches first base safely, and if all other runners have advanced at least one base on the batted ball, the illegal pitch is cancelled. All action as a result of the batted ball stands. No option is given.

iii. Otherwise the manager has the option to take the result of the play, or the illegal pitch is enforced by awarding a ball to the batter (if ball four award first base). Baserunners are not advanced unless forced as a result of a walk.

B. The pitcher delivering the illegal pitch, as well as the Team Managers for both teams, shall be advised of the issuance by the umpire of a "first warning" of the delivery of an illegal pitch, together with a brief explanation by the umpire of those aspects of the delivery of the pitch that led the umpire to declare the pitch an illegal pitch (e.g., that the pitcher used a windmill or slingshot delivery).

C. The next illegal pitch delivered by the same pitcher will result in a “second warning”. The same Illegal Pitch effects as above will be enforced by the umpire.

D. The umpire shall advise the respective Team Managers that any further illegal pitches will result in a declaration by the umpire that the pitcher is no longer eligible to pitch in the game in progress, but may be assigned to any other fielding or hitting position within League Rules. Any replacement of the pitcher shall also be in accordance with League rules.

A. At the beginning of each ½ inning, or when a pitcher relieves another, not more than 1 minute may be used to deliver not more than 5 warm-up pitches.

A. In addition to the enforcement of this Rule 6 by League ASA umpires as provided in Section 4, the League Commissioner shall appoint a Pitching Rules Committee whose sole responsibility shall be the consistent implementation of this Rule 6. The Pitching Rules Committee shall be comprised of three members, each of whom are veteran Pikesville Men’s League pitchers.

B. In the event a Team Manager believes that Rule 6 is not being enforced by the League or any of the League umpires, the Team Manager shall so advise one or more members of the Pitching Rules Committee. If a Team Manager desires to make such an assertion while a game is in progress, but not all of the members of the Pitching Rules Committee are available to investigate the assertion, the Team Manager shall advise the League ASA umpire and the other Team Manager that the game is being played under protest.

C. Upon being advised of an asserted failure to correct a violation of Rule 6 by a League ASA umpire, it shall be the obligation of each member of the Pitching Rules Committee to investigate the asserted violation on an expedited basis, including, if possible, observation of the pitcher in question during the game in which the occurrence of a violation is asserted.

D. If, by not less than a majority vote of the Pitching Rules Committee, a pitcher is found to be in violation of Rule 6, the Pitching Rules Committee is empowered to take the following actions:
(i) If the Pitching Rules Committee is able to make its determination while a game is in progress, the Committee shall so advise the League ASA umpire and the Team Managers of the involved teams, whereupon the umpire shall thereafter invoke all of the options available to the umpire under Section 4 of Rule 6 to restore compliance with Rule 6.

(ii) If the Pitching Rules Committee is unable to make its determination while a game is in progress, then as soon as practicable after making its determination the Committee shall so advise the League Commissioner, as well as the Team Managers of the involved teams. Scores, reports and other evidence concerning all games in which the pitcher found to be violating Rule 6 participated as a pitcher, shall be reviewed by the Pitching Rules Committee. If, by majority vote of the Pitching Rules Committee, the outcome of any game was unduly influenced by a pitcher found to be violating Rule 6, the Pitching Rules Committee is empowered to declare all such games forfeited by the team on whose behalf such pitcher participated

Additional Rule 1. Amendment to the rule for an automatic out due to team reducing its lineup by one or two players during a game.

If Team A loses a player currently in its batting order, and does not have an eligible replacement, Team A is allowed to continue the game, but is forced to take an automatic out in place of the missing player's spot in the batting order. BUT; If TEAM A makes proper notification to the umpire and Team B manager PRE CURRENT HALF INNING; Team B may not intentionally OR unintentionally walk the batter directly preceding the automatic out, in an effort to draw the 3rd out of the inning.

It remains possible to intentionally or unintentionally walk the batter directly preceding the automatic out if the automatic out is NOT the 3rd out of the half inning.

If with two outs a walk of any kind is drawn by the batter preceding the automatic out, the automatic out's spot in the order is skipped, and the batter directly following the automatic out is now awarded and at bat.

Notification must be made to both the umpire and the opposing manager before the half inning the first time Team A will bat knowing an automatic out is in their lineup. Otherwise, Team B is allowed to walk the batter preceding the automatic out, intentionally or unintentionally, to bring the third out of the half inning by the automatic out.

Additional Rule 2. Amendment to rules allowing Teams to start a game with only 8 players.

Teams are now allowed to start a game with only 8 players. Teams may play an entire game with 8 players, but if a 9th and or 10th player arrives he can be immediately inserted into the field, and the players are then added to the batting order in the 9th and 10th spots respective to their arrival. (Rule 4, Section 1C3). Section 4: A team batting 9, 10 or 11 players may finish a game with a minimum of 8 players, however, each time a missing player’s spot is due up in the batting order, an out shall be declared (Rule 7, Section 2)

Teams may no longer use a uniformed player from another team to make up their 8th, 9th or 10th player. Teams may use another person at the fields who is not a regular member of an individual team to fill in if necessary without penalty. If a new member of the league is present, and has not been pre-assigned a team by a member of the 3 man League Executive Committee, that player may be added to the team in need of an 8th, or 9th player.

The term uniformed player is mean to read, "player who is a regular member of a specific team." Actual wearing of the teams uniform that the player is a member of is not necessary for him to be deemed a "uniformed player"

A Courtesy Runner will be allowed for any player, at anytime in an individual game. THIS WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED ONCE PER GAME, PER TEAM.

The actual runner is determined by choice of the opposing team's manager. If Team A who is applying for the Courtesy Runner has a player on the bench not currently in the lineup, that player is automatically selected. If two players not currently in the lineup exist on the bench, Team B is allowed to choose the runner between the two available.

If no bench players are available to be the courtesy runner, only players who are a minimum of 5 places away in the batting order may be chosen by Team B as the runner. For Example: If Team A wants to enter a courtesy runner for a person occupying the 10th and last spot in the order, and no bench players exist, only batters in the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th spot can be chosen. The runner is chosen by Team B, or the opposing team.

If the runner is in the 6th spot in the order of a 10 man lineup, only batters 1 through 5 can be chosen from. In an 8 or 9 man lineup follow the same procedure. The key though is that the OPPOSING TEAM chooses the runner from the available players.

The courtesy runner must be a player who is not currently on base, or a player who was injured previously in the game and is sitting out temporarily. This rule does not affect any players status to re-enter a ball game. Acting as a Courtesy Runner does not qualify as an official entry into a game.

It is possible to pinch run for Player A, have player A re-enter the game, and then courtesy run for Player A later in the game and Player A is STILL IN THE LINEUP. All pinch runners are deemed pinch runners unless notification of the player being deemed as a Courtesy Runner to the umpire and opposing manager is made previous to the 1st pitch in the AB where the runner is switched.

The following is the tie-breaker procedure which was approved by all team representatives prior to the start of the 1998 season.

RE-ENTRY.

A. Any player may be substituted and re-entered once, providing players occupy the same batting positions whenever in the line-up.

B. Players may not re-enter a second time. The starting player and their substitute may not be in the line-up at the same time.

C. If a player re-enters the game a second time or a player re-enters the game in a position in the batting order other than their original starting or substitute position, this is considered an illegal re-entry.

EFFECT – Section A-C: Violation of the re-entry rule is considered an illegal player. The illegal player is disqualified. See Rule 4, Section 7 for additional penalties.

COMMENTS: To allow more participation in the game. This new ruling allows substitutes to re-enter. It was the feeling that if starting players could re-enter, then the substitute was penalized if he/she could not re-enter.