OHIOVALLEY CLASSIC TOURNAMENT

RULES

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES APPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS

  1. Games will be 7 innings.
  1. There will be an 8 run mercy rule after the losing team has batted 5 times.
  1. There will be a 2 hour and 15 minute time limit. No inning, including extra innings, will start after the 2 hour and 15 minute mark.
  1. The High School DH will be utilized. In addition, an OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL HITTER may be used. Because the DH rule is standard and widely in place, all such rules shall remain in effect regarding the DH. However, the additional hitter shall simply be regarded as another player in the lineup and may move freely from the AH position to a field position while remaining in the same batting spot. The player removed from his position becomes the AH.
  1. Base runners shall avoid violent contact--i.e. -high spiking or the use of body parts for the purpose of dislodging the ball. Violation penalty: the player is out and is ejected from the game.
  1. The High School re-entryrule will be used. We will use the AABC rule regarding wood bats. Only laminate, composite or wood bats may be used. The Baum Bat is legal.
  1. An optional courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher and/or catcher regardless of the number of outs. This is a courtesy rule not a speed-up rule. The runner may be anyone not yet in the game. Only when all eligible players have been used may the courtesy runner be someone removed and not currently in the game. A courtesy runner may not run for both the pitcher and catcher in the same inning but may do so in different innings. Being a courtesy runner does not constitute official entry into the game.
  1. Protests will be handled immediately. There shall be no protest over a judgment call.
  1. Behavior (province of the umpires) will be handled as follows:

a)Managers, players or coaches who are ejected twice will be spectators for the remainder of the tournament.

b)If a fan is ejected they will be banned from the park for the remainder of the tournament.

  1. Alcoholic beverages and glass containers are prohibited!
  1. Places will be determined by the following criteria:

a)Best record

b)Head-to-head competition

c)Fewest runs allowed**

d)Run differential**- winning team may not earn more than 8 runs due to mercy rule.

e)Coin flip

3 WAY TIE

**In the event 3 or more teams are tied, runs allowed and run differential for games between the tied teams will be used for the tie breaker.

If at any point in the above criteria you are able to determine a first or third place and the other two teams are still tied, then the game between these two tied teams will determine placement. If the teams are not tied at this point, they will be placed accordingly.

Example – placement without tied runs allowed Example – Placement with tied runs allowed

Team 1 – 15 Runs Allowed / 3rd placeTeam 1 – 15Runs Allowed / 3rd place

Team 2 – 7 Runs Allowed / 1st place Team 2 – 10Runs Allowed / 2nd place

Team 3 - 10 Runs Allowed / 2nd place Team 3 – 10 Runs Allowed / 1st place

[Team 3 beat team 2]

  1. RAINOUT PROCEDURE

If a game cannot be started within 1 hour of its scheduled time due to bad weather the game will be cancelled.

** Each team will receive ½ win and½ loss for any game not started or completed due to bad weather.

** A complete game is 4 1/2 innings. If play is suspended after that point the score will revert to the last complete inning.Exception: If home team ties the game in the bottom of the fifth and game is stopped and not resumed, the game will be official and each team will be given ½ win and½loss for a tie.

TIE GAME PROCEDURE

In the event that a game is tied at the end of7 innings we will revert to the California Rule beginning with the top of the 8th inning.

The last 2 batters from the last inning will be placed on 3rd and 2nd base and there will be 1 out. Play will commence as normal.

We will use these speed up rules: 1 foot in batter’s box when taking signal, no throws around the infield after a strikeout or an out. Courtesy runner for pitcher and catcher is MANDATORY at this time.

  1. We supply 4 Pro Nine NFHSbaseballs for each game- 2 new and 2 from previous games. You are asked to provide additional balls if attrition is high.
  1. The dugouts will be clean each morning-please keep them that way! Please place all trash in the proper containers.
  1. There is no pitching limit. This is left up to the discretion of the managers and coaches. We trust that you will use your best judgment and not overwork a young arm.
  1. Home team will be decided by the flip of a coin prior to the game.
  1. REFUND POLICY

a)0 games played-----95% refund

b)1 game played-- 75% refund

c)2 games played-- 50% refund

d)More than 2 played-- 0%refund

e)Any game started is considered a game played as umpires have been paid.

17. AMERICAN LEGION TEAM ELIGIBILITY

The American Legion has a different birth date rule from the other national organizations. Players whose

19th birthday comes after January 1 are eligible to compete.