Summer 2023 season – 9/10YO, 11/12YO Baseball
**Any game started that is stopped due to rain will not be rescheduled.
Before the Game
1. Games will be cancelled due to weather on the decision of the league.
2. All warmups prior to the game must occur in the outfield. We do this to preserve the game prep that occurs to the field.
3. Teams are to be in the dugout area ready to start the game 5 minutes prior to the scheduled game start.
Field & Game Limits
1. Games are 90 minutes and are stopped at time, during an inning if at time.
2. While we do not keep score, an inning ends with three outs or 5 runs, whichever occurs first.
3. The infield fly rule applies.
4. The dropped third strike rule does apply for 11/12YOs, but not for 9/10YOs.
5. Fake bunting and swinging for a pitch are not allowed and the batter will be called out.
Bats
1. All bats must have the "USA Baseball" factory stamp to be used. All other bats are illegal and cannot be used. There are no exceptions.
Player Participation
1. There are 9 players on the field for defense – 3 outfielders, 4 infielders, 1 pitcher and 1 catcher on defense.
2. All players must be in the batting order to bat.
3. Coaches use free substitution in the field.
4. Players are not to sit consecutive innings in the field meaning a player can play 1B in the 1st, sit in the 2nd, play 1B in the 3rd but cannot sit the 1st and 2nd.
5. Players arriving after game time must be placed at the bottom of the order even if they were in the order and previously skipped.
Pitchers (9/10YO and 11/12YO)
1. The "Maximum Pitch Counts" per game are 3 innings or 65 pitches, whichever occurs first.
- Any pitcher that exceeds 35 pitches cannot pitch the next day.
- Any pitcher that exceeds 50 pitches in a game must have two calendar days of rest (i.e. pitches Monday, cannot pitch until Thursday)
- Any pitcher that exceeds 65 pitches in a game must have three calendar days of rest (i.e. pitches Monday, cannot pitch until Friday)
- Once a player reaches one of the three above limits, they will finish the batter and it does not count as additional pitches
- The counts do not start over for a new week.
2. A pitcher must be replaced if he walks 3 batters in a row in an inning or the pitcher walks 5 batters in one inning. In either situation, the pitcher cannot return to pitch in the same game.
3. If three batters are hit during the game by a pitcher, that pitcher must be pulled from pitching and cannot return to pitch later in the same game.
4. A pitcher must be pulled on the 2nd trip to the mound in the same inning.
5. A pitcher may re-enter the same game unless he was pulled due to 2nd trip in same inning.
Player Shortage & Sub Rules
1. If you need a Substitute player due to a short roster (less than 9), use a player from the existing age division or a younger division. They must be registered in our summer league.
2. Teams cannot sub using a player outside of our league.
3. Teams may start a game with no less than 8 players and must have a minimum of 8 players to play throughout the game. Teams have until the scheduled game start time to have 8 players.
4. If a player starts the game and leaves for any reason, they will be skipped in the order.
Base running
1. Any base can be stolen.
2. There are no leadoffs in 9/10YO but are allowed in 11/12YO.
3. Baserunners in 9/10YO cannot move off of base until the ball from the pitcher passes Homeplate.
4. On any play at home plate, players must slide feet first, if sliding and avoid a collision with the catcher. If not sliding, they must also avoid a collision. The catcher may block the plate only if he has the ball. If sliding headfirst at home, the player will be called out.
5. A base runner is required to do whatever is needed to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball. A runner is out for running out of the baseline, only when attempting to avoid a tag.
6. You may use a courtesy runner for the catcher of record and use the last batted out as the runner.