Cape Cod Senior Softball League

 

Guidelines and Rules of Play

 

 

 

The following are the Guidelines and Rules of Play for the 2012 Cape Cod Senior Softball Classic:

 

 

General:

 

1. ASA rules will govern all games except as herein noted.
2. A coin toss will determine the home team in Day 1 and Day 2 seeding games. In Day 3 single elimination games, the highest seed is home team.
3. In the 75+ Division, a team can have up to 5 players 74 years of age.
4. Each game will start with one new ball and one used ball in good playing condition.
5. No smoking is allowed on any playing field, dugout or behind team benches, and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in dugouts, benches, parking lots and any areas surrounding the playing fields.

           

Official Score          

  

The home team score book is the official book. Managers should frequently check the score with the umpire, field host and opposing Manager. If there is any discrepancy, the plate umpire will make the final ruling. The game will not continue until the score issue is resolved.

 

Equalizer Rule

 

When teams with different ratings are competing, the lower rated team will have 1 run added to their score each inning for innings 2 thru 6. If a game goes only five innings, the lower ranked team will not be compensated for the 6^th inning equalizer run.

           

Mercy Rules

 

There is a 5 run per inning scoring limit except for the seventh or later innings. A game mercy rule applies if a team is ahead by 12 runs after 5 (4 ½) innings except in the final Championship games.

 

Time Limitations

 

After 60 minutes have expired in a game, the current inning will be completed and one additional inning will be played. There is no run limit in the additional inning. If the score is tied at the end of the additional inning, the Tie-Breaker rule is in effect. There is no time limit in the final Championship games.

 

Home Runs Limit

 

A limit of 3 home runs (over a fence) per team per game is in effect at  Sandy Pond, Ezra Baker, Memorial, Potter and Johnny Kelley fields. Any home runs exceeding 3 per team per game will be outs. There is no limit for inside-the-park home runs.  

 

Bats

 

Approved bats:

·        must bear either the ASA approved 2000 certification mark or the ASA 2004 certification mark, and must be listed on the current ASA Approved list, or

  

·      if manufactured prior to 2000 and, if tested, would comply with the ASA bat performance standards then in effect.

 

Umpires will check all bats to be used by each team before each game. Additional checks may be made during the game upon appeal by an opposing team or at the umpire’s discretion.  If a non-approved bat is used, the 1^st offense is an out and the batter is removed from the game and tournament; a 2^nd offense by the same team will result in a team disqualification from the tournament.

 

Players

 

All Divisions will play with a maximum of 11 defensive players on the field and may have as many players in the Batting Order as they want. All players in the Batting Order may play on defense at any time and may re-enter an unlimited number of times.

 

Substitute Players

 

Substitutes must be so identified on the Team Roster but are not included in the Batting Order. Substitutes may enter the game but must bat in the same position in the Batting Order as did the player they are replacing. A player who is replaced may re-enter one time. When a substitute leaves the game he may not return.

 

Courtesy Runners

 

Any player on the roster may be a courtesy runner, and unlimited courtesy runners are allowed each inning. However, each player may be a courtesy runner only once per inning and a courtesy runner cannot replace another courtesy runner already on base except in the case of a game ending injury. Violations of this rule will result in an out being declared and the runner removed from the base.

 

Please Note: Courtesy runners from home will no longer be allowed in the 75+ Division. This is a permanent change to the Classic’s Rules of Play.

 

Sliding

 

Sliding or diving into first base or home plate is not permitted, and any players doing so will be called out. A player may slide or dive going into second or third base and when returning to first, second or third base.

 

Plays at First Base

 

If there is a play on the batter-runner going to first base, the batter-runner must touch the extra base in foul territory. The batter-runner will be called out for failure to do so. This is not an appeal play.

 

Exception: If the defensive player is occupying or blocking the batter-runner’s base, the batter-runner may touch the regular base to avoid contact and will not be called out.  

 

Flagrant Collisions

 

Flagrant collisions will be an automatic out and the player may be removed from the game at the umpire’s discretion.

  

Runner Leaving a Base Too Soon

 

A runner will be called out if he fails to keep contact with the base to which he is entitled until the pitched ball is struck by the batter, touches the ground or reaches home plate. If the batter swings and misses, the runner is not out as long as he did not leave his base before any of the above occurred.

 

Foul Tips

 

When there are less than two strikes on a batter, a batted ball that goes directly from the bat to the catcher’s hand(s) or glove, not above the batter’s head, is not an out, even if it is caught by the catcher.

 

Tie-Breakers

 

When teams are tied going into extra innings (or after the final inning under the Time Limitation rule), each team starts each inning with a runner on second base. That runner will be the player in the regular batting order that precedes the first scheduled batter of that extra inning. There will be no substitute runner allowed for the runner at second base until he reaches third base. If the runner scheduled to be placed at second base is not able to continue play, an out will be declared and the next previous player in the official batting order will be the runner at second base. In all Divisions, each batter will start with a one ball, one strike count. If a batter hits a foul ball after he has recorded a second strike, he will be declared out.

 

Strong Wind Conditions

 

Subject to the judgment of the home plate umpire, the umpire will call strikes but not balls when prevailing winds are strong enough to significantly divert the path of a pitch.

 

Ejections and Game Ending Injuries

 

A substitute player may not be used to replace a player who has been ejected for misconduct and an out will be declared each time that ejected player is scheduled to bat. If a player incurs a game ending injury, an out will not be declared each time that player is scheduled to bat.

Protests

 

If there is a protest, the game will be stopped and the Field Host will contact the Tournament Director, or in his absence, the Tournament Director’s designee. The protest will be ruled on immediately. The game should not continue under any circumstances until there is an official ruling.

 

Weather Contingency Plans

 

If games are shortened due to rain delays, all teams affected will continue play, when possible, with each batter beginning with a one ball, one strike count. If a batter hits a foul ball after he has recorded a second strike, he will be declared out.

 

·        If Day 1 is rained out, Days 2 and 3 will be played as originally scheduled

·        If Day 2 is rained out, Day 3 will be played as originally scheduled

·        If Day 3 is rained out,  the Tournament is cancelled and champions, by Division, will be based on:

              * Won-Loss record   

                          * Head-to-Head play

                          * Lowest number of runs scored against

  * Coin toss