2017Charlton Softball

Junior-Senior Division Rules

  1. Seven (7) inning games will be played. In the regular season and in the playoffs, no new inning shall start after 1 hour 45 minutes from the start of the game. The championship game(s) will play the regulation 7 innings with no time limit.
  2. Tie games that are suspended due to weather, darkness, or time limits, are to be decided from point of suspension in the next meeting of the two teams. If the game is played on a weeknight, then completion of the suspended game should begin at 5:30 pm. If the tied game is the last scheduled meeting of the two teams, then it should be played at a mutually agreed upon time and location if it affects the final standings.
  3. The game will be considered complete after 5 innings (4.5) if the home team is winning) in the case of weather, darkness, or time limit.
  4. The defensive team can field 10 players and there are free substitutions with the exception of the pitcher. The starting pitcher, and only the starting pitcher, may be re-inserted into that position. The reinsertion of the starting pitcher can only happen once.
  5. SHORTAGE OF PLAYERS: NO FORFEITS
  • No game may start with fewer than eight (8) players.
  • If a team is short of players, additional players may be selected from another team.
  • The short team should first try to get a player from the junior division, but if no player is available, they may select a player from the majors division. If a player from the intro-pitch division is selected, the player's parent or guardian must give their consent.
  • Any added player must be OK'd by the other competing team.
  • The added player must play in the outfield and bat at the end of the lineup.
  • A team short of players may only add an additional player that is not on their roster if they have less than 9 roster players at the start of the game.
  • If a team starts a game with non roster players and then a roster player shows up, the non roster player may remain in the game. The roster player will be placed at the end of the batting order.
  1. All players are to be included in a continuous batting order.
  2. Bunting is allowed
  3. The Infield Fly Ruleisin effect.
  4. The Dropped Third Strike Rule is in effect. A batter is out when a third strike is not caught by the catcher and when first base is occupied before two are out.
  5. Sliding is encouraged. The umpire has the discretion to call a player out on a close play when the runner

does not slide.

  1. Stealing is unlimited from first base to second base.
  • There is a limit of three (3) steals per inning to either 3rd or home.
  • A base advancement on a passed ball will be counted as a steal.
  • Runner can leave base when ball leaves the pitchers hand.
  • Base advancement on an overthrow or pickoff attempt does not count toward the three steal limit.
  1. Pitching:
  • Players will pitch from 43 feet.
  • An 12-inch ball will be used
  • Any player on a tournament team may pitch. (NOTE: There is no limit to the number of eligible pitchers atournament team may use in a game.)
  • A Tournament pitcher may not pitch in regular season or Special Games while the team is still participating in theTournament.
  • Delivery of a single pitch constitutes having pitched an inning.
  • A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainderof the game, but only once in the same inning as he/she was removed.
  • No pitching restrictions apply.
  • Pitchers facemasks are required.

13. RUN RULE / RUN AHEAD RULE:

  • There is a six (6) run rule per inning. Once the sixth run has crossed home plate in any inning, play will stop and no subsequent runs will be scored in that inning.
  • A ten (10) run, run ahead rule, will be in effect after five(5) innings. 4.5 if the home team is winning.