Baseball Rules

Revised – September 5, 2019

These rules are for clarification or to note exceptions to CIF rules.

CIF rules apply to any situation not included here.

GAME AND SUBSTITUTIONS 

  1. Elementary games will be 6 innings or 11⁄2 hours. Junior high games will be 7 innings or 1 hour, 45 minutes. No new inning may start after the time limit. There is no time limit on the championship games. Time limits remain in effect for all other playoff games, but additional innings shall be played to break a tie. 
  2. All games must end on a completed inning unless the home team is ahead. If time expires in the middle of an inning, that inning must be completed. In the event of darkness or rain, the score will revert back to the last completed inning. 
  3. Tie scores will cause extra innings only if the time limit allows. 
  4. In all elementary divisions, there will be free substitution in the field. 
  5. In all junior high divisions regular substitution rules will apply. The re-entry rule will be in effect. 
  6. Underhand divisions may play with up to 10 fielders. All other divisions will play with 9. A team must have 8 players to continue a game. 
  7. If one team scores 10 runs in an inning, that half of the inning will be over. The only exception is the last inning. 
  8. In junior high divisions only, there is a 10-run mercy rule. If a team is ahead by 10 or more runs after 5 innings, the game will be over. 
  9. There may be no questioning of an umpire’s strike zone. 
  10. If any coach, manager, or other non-player in the bench or dugout area is ejected, the game is immediately declared a forfeit.
    1. If that individual is an adult, they must leave the premises immediately. If the ejected individual is not an adult, they should be moved away from the field, under the supervision of a responsible adult. The game will not continue, even as a practice game.

PLAYING FIELD AND EQUIPMENT 

  1. Distance between bases shall be 60’ for all elementary divisions, 75’ for all Junior High divisions. 
  2. The pitching rubber will be 36’ from home plate in elementary underhand, 46’ for elementary overhand, and 55’ for junior high divisions. 
  3. The home team is responsible for the official scorebook and scorekeeper. 
  4. The home team is responsible for providing one new game ball. The visiting team should provide a new or fairly new game ball. 
  5. Underhand leagues will use a 10” leather softball, elementary overhand leagues will use a 9” LEVEL 5 RIF baseball, and junior high teams will use a 9” baseball. 
  6. Catchers must wear a protective mask and helmet in all divisions. Catchers are required to wear shin guards and chest protectors in all overhand leagues. leagues. 
  7. Each player must have jerseys of the same color, shorts/pants of the same color, and matching socks. All uniforms must have numbers.
  8. Metal or detachable cleats may not be worn. Rubber (molded) cleats are permissible. 
  9. There is no restriction at all about what type of glove can be worn at any position. 
  10. The minimum size of the field to host home games will be 150’ foul lines. 
  11. Jewelry may not be worn. It is not acceptable to place tape over jewelry. Players wearing any jewelry (covered or not) may not participate. No exceptions! 

BATTING AND BASE RUNNING 

  1. In underhand divisions, everybody bats with free substitutions. Base stealing will not be permitted in these divisions. 
  2. In overhand 4th, 5th, and 6th grade divisions, the team with the fewest number of players must bat everyone. The other team has the option of batting the same amount or their entire lineup. Players not in the batting line-up may be substituted into the batting line-up, however, the replaced player is out of the batting line-up for the rest of the game. 
  3. Junior High divisions may use a designated hitter (DH). Refer to CIF rules for substitutions and changes. 
  4. A player leaving early will be charged an out when his spot in the line-up comes unless there is an available substitute. Succeeding times this spot is skipped and no out is charged. This rule does not apply when a player is injured. 
  5. Batting helmets are mandatory for batter and base runners and student base coaches in overhand pitching. A player who intentionally throws a helmet off while running will be automatically out. Other runners may continue to advance at their own risk. 
  6. Players must slide into home if a play at the plate is imminent. Failure to do so results in the runner being declared out. 
  7. Flagrant contact at any base will result in a player being ejected from the game. 
  8. Any player who throws the bat will be given a warning. The second time he will be called out. 
  9. There will be no dropped third strike rule. If the 3rd strike is dropped or missed by the catcher, the runner is out and may not advance to first base. 

PITCHING 

  1. In overhand elementary divisions, pitchers are limited to nine outs per game. In junior high divisions, pitchers are limited to twelve outs per game. A pitcher who is replaced may not return in the same inning. He may return in the following innings as long as he has outs remaining. 
  2. A pitcher may pitch without restrictions in underhand divisions. 

BATTING AND BASE RUNNING 

  1. The hitter must be in the batter’s box when contact is made with the ball. 
  2. A batter must make an effort to get out of the way of the ball being pitched. 
  3. A batter-base runner may overrun first. Once an attempt is made to advance to second the runner may be put out. 
  4. Players may steal as soon as the ball crosses the plate. There is no stealing, home (runner is out). A play at any base releases the runner at third.. 
  5. A player leaving the game early will be charged an out when their spot in the line-up comes unless there is an available substitute. Succeeding times this spot is skipped and no out is charged. This rule does not apply when a player is injured. 
  6. Batting helmets are mandatory for all batters and base runners. A player who intentionally throws a helmet off while running will be automatically out. Other runners may continue to advance at their own risk. 
  7. Players must slide into home if a play at the plate is imminent. Failure to do so will result in the runner being declared out if contact is made with an opposing player. Sliding is permitted at all bases. 
  8. Flagrant contact at any base will result in a player being ejected from the game. 
  9. Any player who throws the bat will be given a warning. The second time he will be called out. 
  10. There will be no dropped third strike rule. If the 3rd strike is dropped or missed by the catcher, the runner is out and may not advance to first base. 

INFIELD FLY RULE 

Runners on first and second or, first, second and third with less than two outs. On a fair fly ball that can be easily caught by an infielder, the batter is automatically out and the runners may advance at their own risk. 

OVERTHROWS

If the ball goes off the playing field and into an area that is out of play, the ball is dead and runners receive the base they were headed toward plus one. If the ball remains in the field of play (any area that is not a dead ball area), runners may advance without restriction. 

CIRCLE RULE

If the pitcher has the ball and is in the pitching circle, the runners must either return to the last base or advance to the next base. Any change in direction will result in the runner being called out. If the pitcher fakes a throw on the runner or makes a play on any runner, it releases all runners.