2003 South Mountain Softball Rules

By: League President: Scott Johnston
Home: 610-791-9417
Email: broncoboy22@aol.com

· The Home team is responsible for:
· Checking the field during inclement weather; notifying the visiting team one hour before game time
· Only the home team may cancel the game
· Calling in scores to the League President on the day of the game….scores may also be emailed
· Setting up the field with bases, pitchers’ mound and the mat
· Ground rules before a game
· Providing one new ball to start the 1st game; visiting team provides new ball 2nd game
· The Home team gets to warmup (batting practice) up until 15 minutes before game time; the visiting team than gets the field (i.e. 10 a.m. games – visiting team gets field at 9:45 a.m.)

1. Unlimited arc on the pitch; minimum 6’

2. The baseline measurements are as follows:

- The 1st and 3rd base lines are 65’ in length
- 92’ from the point of home plate to 2nd base
- 50’ to the pitchers mound

2a. The mat behind home plate measures as follows:

- From front to back: 36”
- Width: 23”
- 2 ½” extensions on the side of the plate

3. The mat and the plate are both strikes

4. Runners’ cannot leave the base until the ball is hit; if a runner leaves a base while the batter swings and misses, the runner is out unless the ball is put in play

5. Hit-and-Run rule is allowed; If a runner leaves the base when the pitcher releases the ball, and the batter does not do any of the following:

- Put the ball in play;
- takes the pitch for a ball;
- fouls the ball off, the runner is out

6. Third strike foul will be used

7. No bunting allowed

8. Overthrows are one base from the infield; two bases from the outfield from the point where the ball goes out of play

9. METAL SPIKES ARE NOT ALLOWED

10. Each team must supply one umpire for each game: In Game 1, the home team will umpire the plate and the visiting team will do the bases (In Game 2, vice versa)

11. Only the head coaches may argue a call with an umpire

12. Forfeits: A total of 4 will result in that team being eliminated from the league

13. Grace time:
- Game 1: 10:15 a.m.….if not enough players – forfeit of Game 1
- Game 2: 10:30 a.m.….if not enough players – forfeit of Game 2

14. 10- run rule…….the home team must bat in bottom of 5th inning; if the visiting team goes ahead by 10 runs in the top of the 6th inning the game is over – home team does not bat

15. The playoff system will be as follows: The top 8 teams by record qualify:

Tiebreakers for positioning:
1) Head-to-Head during regular season;
2) Run differential if teams split

1st round (Best 2-out-of-3) (#1, #2, #3 and #4 will be home team in games)

#8 team @ #1 team
#7 team @ #2 team
#6 team @ #3 team
#5 team @ #4 team

16. A team may bat no more than 12 players in a game….The 2 extra batters would be a DH & EH

17. The minimum # of players to start a game: 8 (one must be a catcher)

18. The following 2 fields will NOT have HR limits: Cedarbrook #3 and Alburtis;

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