2013 Westhills Baseball

Tournament Rules and Guidelines

Guidelines and Rules for Pony, Bronco, and Mustang are addressed as follows. The current Official Rules of Major League Baseball distributed by the Sporting News and the PONY Baseball Rule Book will govern all play, unless modified for this tournament and noted in the Westhills Baseball Tournament Rules & Guidelines.

Bats: All pony bat rules are in effect. Drop 3 bats must be BBCOR, barrel diameter is not to exceed 2 5/8”, The BBCOR decertification process has been implemented on the following bats: Reebok Vector TLS 33" length, Marucci CAT5 33" length. These bats should be considered a non-compliant bat in accordance with PONY Rule: 8-C (3) and subject to PONY Rule 18-E (6).

Rosters: Only rostered players are eligible to compete in the tournament. Rosters must be turned in prior to the first pitch of the team’s first tournament game. Players may only be on 1 roster for the tournament. Any player found to be on multiple rosters will be removed from the tournament, any victories for their team will be reversed and should the player have pitched all pitchers will be deducted the number of innings the player in question pitched.

Time Limits; Darkness:

Time limits: will be implemented in this tournament. See individual brackets for guidelines.

Mustang Division: No new inning after 1:40 in seeding and conciliation games and 1:50 in Semi-Finals. No time limit in Championship game.

Pony & Bronco Division: No new inning after 1:45 in seeding and conciliation games and 2:00 in Semi-Finals. No time limit in Championship game.

A new inning begins when the third out is made.

Darkness: For the safety of all players it is the discretion of the umpire to call a game due to darkness. In pool play the game score will defer back to the last completed inning and the game will be determined as a tie, or win/loss. In elimination play or championship game if the game is suspended due to darkness the game will be reschedule at a date determined by tournament director. Game will resume play at suspended point.

Protests: Any protests or procedural questions must be resolved immediately by the acting Tournament Director, in conference with the umpires.

Pre-game Warm-up: There is no on-field warm up permitted before any game. Warm-up exercises and throwing should be held in the outfield. Final field preparation will be performed during the ten minutes prior to game time. The acting Tournament Director has the sole authority to adjust the start times. Batting cages are available for all teams with 11 batting cages on-site.

Home and Visitors: Home team may occupy either dugout for seeding games. During Pool play home and visitors will be determined by a coin flip. Coin flip will be completed by tournament director representative and a representative from each team. During elimination rounds home and visitors will be determined by team seeding.

Tournament Pitching:

Mustang – 3 innings per game, 4 innings per day and 8 innings for the tournament

Bronco - 4 innings per game, 6 innings per day and 12 innings for the tournament

Pony - 5 innings per game, 7 innings per day and 14 innings for the tournament

Tournament Batting and Defense:

Managers choice to bat all players, 9 players or 10 with an EH.

If you elect to hit 9, player rotation is as follows: non-starters can be inserted into the lineup to replace a starter any time during the game, and will remain in that position until replaced. A starter can re-enter the game, but it must be in the same spot in the batting order. Once a non-starter, who has been inserted into the lineup is removed from the game, he cannot re-enter. If batting 9 and all subs have played, been removed and an injury occurs the last sub played may re-enter the game. Substitutions must be announced to the scorekeeper.

If you elect to play 10 the EH may be used freely defensively.

If you elect to hit the entire line up you will be allowed free defensive substitution. If a player is forced out of the game due to injury when hitting all 12 an out will NOT be called the next time his spot comes up.

Pinch runners:

Mandatory run for catcher with 2 out.

If batting 9 or 10 the courtesy runner may be one of the subs and will not be considered as their entry into the game. If batting 12 the courtesy runner must be the last out.

Length of games

Mustang – 6 innings. Bronco and Pony – 7 innings.

Mercy Rule (all divisions)

15 run mercy rule after 3 innings all divisions

10 run mercy rule after 4 innings Mustang Division

10 run mercy rule after 5 innings Bronco and Pony Divisions

8 run mercy rule after 5 innings Mustang Division

If the game has been decided, i.e. the home team is ahead after time has expired, or the home team is leading by the mercy run rule in the appropriate inning, at that time the game is complete. The last half inning shall not be played. Once the game has been decided the game is over. Example, home team leads by 10 runs after 3 1/2 innings, the game is over. If time expires during the bottom of an inning and the home team is ahead, the game is over.

Slide to avoid contact at all bases:

IN ALL DIVISIONS: In order to protect all defensive players, on all plays at any base, or at home plate, runners must slide or avoid contact. If the runner does not slide, but there is no contact, there is no penalty. If the runner does not slide and contact is made that in the umpires judgment is not incidental, the runner is out. If, in the umpire’s judgment, there was intent to injure (throwing of elbows, stiff arming, etc.) then the runner may also be ejected from the game.

Number of Players: Team must have a minimum of 8 players. If a team cannot field 8 players within time period, team would forfeit game. There is no grace period

Forfeits: If a team forfeits a game; game score will be recorded as a 7-0 win to the non forfeiting team.

Scorekeepers: The home team will be required to keep the tournament scorebook, fill in pitching log and operate scoreboard. Score book and pitching record will be located and is to remain and field score booth or table. Please note pitching record must be certified by each team manager after game.

Seeding: Seeding’s are determined as follows:

Point System: Win = 2 Points; Tie = 1 Point; Loss = 0 Points

In the event of a tie winners are determined by 1: head to head; 2) runs allowed; 3) runs scored; 4) coin flip

If three or more teams are tied, tournament officials will throw out head to head record and use least runs allowed as the primary tie-breaker.

Tie games: Round robin games can end in a tie for seeding purposes. In this tournament, we will play extra innings (with no maximum) in all divisions, with time limits and darkness as the only limitations. During the elimination phase or championship game, there are no ties and all games must be played out, unless specified on bracket schedule. If an elimination game is tied after regulation innings have been played and time still remains extra innings will be played until a winner is reached or the time limit is reached. In a tied elimination game when time has expired a California Tiebreak will be played immediately. The last out from the previous inning will go to 2nd base, the inning will start with 1 out and the next batter up in the lineup will bat. The game will continue until a winner comes from the California Tiebreak.

Uniforms: Players must be uniformed in like colors with non-duplicating numbers.

Metal cleats are allowed in Bronco, and Pony only! No jewelry allowed. (Pitchers must remove arm sleeves)

Time Limits and “last inning”: If the visiting team is losing after their at bat in the top half of the inning and the time limit has been reached the home team WILL NOT bat in the bottom of the inning. Rather, the home team will be the winner since it is the last inning of play. Additionally if the home team takes the lead after time has expired or time expires while the home team is batting and they are leading the game will be called immediately with the current score being the Final Score.
To clarify, it will be treated like the 9th inning inMajor League Baseball. If the visiting team is still trailing after their at bat in the 9th, the home team does not bat.

  • Trophies or awards are presented to first & second place teams.
  • Please no ice chests or outside food, this is our fundraiser and we appreciate patronage at our snack bar.
  • Each team is required to supply tournament with proof of insurance and roster / medical waivers.
  • Batting cages are available for coach pitch prior to each of their games. All teams must only use their respected age / division cages; 9/10 Mustang, 11/12 Bronco & 13/14 Pony. NO HITTING BEFORE 8AM.
  • No metal cleats in the batting cages.
  • Due to number of games each day, No time is permitted for infield. When game is over please let team completely off field before entering gate and use respective outfield.
  • Prior to each game umpires will meet with managers & coaches at home plate. Home team must be on the field preparing for start of game. Please have line-ups ready to exchange with opposing team at this time.
  • All Teams must be ready to play 15 minutes prior to each game. This to assist us with getting all games in and completed each day.
  • Please have line-ups given to scorekeeper at least 20 minutes prior to game time.
  • All teams must clean out dugouts of all food and trash after your game.
  • No more than one offensive and defensive timeout per inning.

Code of Conduct:

  • The umpire will determine whether the game clock should be stopped for rules discussions or for other delays to the game (for example injury to player).
  • All conversations with an umpire should be conducted after a time out has been called and be held in a calm and professional manner. Verbal abuse of the umpire will not be tolerated and may result in ejection from the game.
  • Managers are responsible for the conduct of their players and fans.
  • Ejection of a player from the game will result in an out the next time at bat only.
  • In the event a Manager, Coach or player is ejected from a game for disciplinary reasons, they will be asked to leave the baseball complex within 5 minutes. If the ejected person does not cooperate, their team may forfeit the game and the offending manager will be required to sit out the next scheduled game and will not be allowed in the dugout or in any way attempt to manage the team.
  • If a parent or spectator is causing a distraction to the game or the Umpire, the Manager will be warned and if repeated the Manager will be ejected from the game. The parent or spectator may be asked to leave the baseball complex area. If the parent or spectator does not cooperate, their team is subject to forfeiting the game at that time.
  • Mechanical noise makers are not allowed.
  • No chant rule or other intentional distractions by the players or spectators are allowed that may disrupt the opposing pitcher during his delivery or noises/distractions that may disrupt the batter once the player is in the box.