PIONEER 3 PITCH LEAGUE

RULES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE 1:  LEAGUE STRUCTURE

ARTICLE 9:  HITTING

ARTICLE 17:  PLAYOFFS

ARTICLE 25:  GAME PLAYED UNDER PROTEST

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 2:  TEAM REGISTRATION

ARTICLE 10:  BASE RUNNING

ARTICLE 18:  RULE AMENDMENTS

ARTICLE 26:  TREATMENT OF UMPIRES

 

ARTICLE 27:  SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

ARTICLE 3:  SAFETY

ARTICLE 11:  COURTESY RUNNERS

ARTICLE 19:  RAIN OUTS

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 28:  ALCOHOL

ARTICLE 4:  GAME ROSTER/BATTING ORDER

ARTICLE 12:  SLIDING

ARTICLE 20:  POSTPONED GAMES

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 29:  ALL OTHER RULES

ARTICLE 5:  GAME STRUCTURE

ARTICLE 13:  FIELDING

ARTICLE 21:  RAINED OUT GAMES

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 6:  GAME DELAYS

ARTICLE 14:  OVER THROWN BALLS

ARTICLE 22:  SUBMISSION OF SCORE SHEETS

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 7:  FIELD SET UP

ARTICLE 15:  OPTION TO CALL GAME

ARTICLE 23:  UMPIRES

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 8:  PITCHING

ARTICLE 16:  PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY

ARTICLE 24:  APPEALED CALLS

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEAGUE STRUCTURE     

1.1        THE LEAGUE WILL CONSIST OF 2 DIVISIONS FOR PLAYOFF PURPOSES.

1.2        THE LEAGUE EXECUTIVES HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MOVE TEAMS BETWEEN DIVISIONS AS THEY DEEM NECESSARY TO BALANCE OUT THE NUMBER OF TEAMS IN EACH DIVISION AND TO ENSURE COMPETITIVE BALANCE WITHIN EACH DIVISION.

             

2. TEAM REGISTRATION             

2.1        TEAM FEES MUST BE SUBMITTED PRIOR TO THE FIRST LEAGUE GAMES WITH UNPAID TEAMS SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE OF THEIR GAMES UNTIL PAID.      

2.2        TEAM ROSTERS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO SLOPITCH ONTARIO PRIOR THE TEAM’S FIRST GAME.  TEAMS FAILING TO SUBMIT THEIR ROSTER MAY, AT THE PRESIDENT’S DISCRETION, BE PROHIBITED FROM PLAYING UNTIL THEIR ROSTER HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.  GAMES PLAYED WITHOUT A ROSTER BEING SUBMITTED MAY BE FORFEITED AT THE PRESIDENT’S DISCRETION.          

2.3        A TEAM MAY HAVE A MAXIMUM OF TWENTY-FIVE (25) PLAYERS ON ITS ROSTER.         

2.4        TEAMS ARE PERMITTED TWO (2) ROSTER CHANGES PRIOR TO JULY 10th, 2023.  EACH ROSTER CHANGE CAN INVOLVE A MAXIMUM OF FIVE (5) PLAYERS.  CHANGE REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT PRIOR TO THE NEW PLAYERS BEING ALLOWED TO PLAY            

2.5        ALL PLAYERS MUST BE A MINIMUM OF SIXTEEN (16) YEARS OF AGE.      

2.6        A PLAYER TURNING SIXTEEN (16) PRIOR TO THE JULY 1 ROSTER CHANGE DEADLINE, MAY BE ADDED TO THE ROSTER ON HIS/HER SIXTEENTH (16TH) BIRTHDAY.  A PLAYER TURNING SIXTEEN (16) AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY IN THAT SEASON.

2.7        USE OF NON-REGISTERED PLAYERS WILL RESULT IN FORFEITURE OF THE GAME INVOLVED AND/OR POSSIBLE TEAM SUSPENSION.    

2.8        PLAYERS CANNOT PLAY FOR MORE THAN ONE TEAM IN THE LEAGUE.  HOWEVER, TEAMS WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE PLAYERS FROM THEIR OWN DIVISION OR A LOWER DIVISION(S), AS LONG AS 1- THAT PLAYER IS A REGISTERED ROSTER PLAYER FOR ANOTHER TEAM AND 2- THE SPARE IS BEING USED TO AVOID A DEFAULT.  SPARES FROM OTHER DIVISIONS MAY ONLY PARTICIPATE IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR THEIR REGULAR TEAM (THE ONE THEY ARE REGISTERED UNDER).

2.9        PLAYERS MUST REGISTER INDIVIDUALLY WITH SLOPITCH ONTARIO.  ANY TEAM WHICH PLAYS WITH AN UNREGISTERED NOT “ACTIVE” ON SLOPITCH WEBSITE) SHALL FORFEIT THAT GAME AND THE GAME SHALL COUNT FOR ANY PLAYERS TOWARDS QUALIFYING FOR PLAYOFFS.

             

3. SAFETY          

3.1        IT IS LEAGUE POLICY FOR ALL BATTERS AND BASE RUNNERS TO WEAR A HELMET; ANY PLAYER NOT WEARING A HELMET DOES SO AT THEIR OWN RISK.           

3.2        ALL PLAYERS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN (18) MUST WEAR A HELMET FOR BATTING AND BASERUNNING.

3.3        CATCHERS ARE NOT TO STAND DIRECTLY BEHIND THE BATTER.  ANYONE DOING SO DOES SO AT THEIR OWN RISK.   

3.4        CATCHERS NOT WEARING A MASK DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK.           

3.5        A DOUBLE SAFETY BAG IS PROVIDED BY THE LEAGUE FOR USE AT FIRST (1ST) BASE    

3.6        THE ORANGE HALF OF THE SAFETY BAG IS TO BE PLACED IN FOUL TERRITORY.

3.7        HOME TEAMS MUST ENSURE ALL BASES ARE FIRMLY SECURED.  HOMES TEAMS FOR THE LATE GAMES MUST ENSURE THE BASES ARE PUT AWAY AFTER THEIR GAME.  BASES WHICH ARE STOLEN AS A RESULT OF THE HOME TEAM FAILING TO PUT THEM AWAY WILL BE REPLACED BY THAT HOME TEAM AT ITS COST.             

3.8        METAL CLEATS OR SPIKES ARE NOT ALLOWED.             

3.9        A BATTER THROWING HIS/HER BAT WHILE SWINGING WILL RECEIVE A WARNING AND WILL BE CALLED OUT UPON A SECOND INFRACTION.    

3.1        ANY PLAYER WHO IS BLEEDING WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE GAME UNTIL ALL BLOOD IS REMOVED OR COVERED, INCLUDING ANY SOAKED CLOTHING.  PLAYERS WILL NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH A BLEEDING INJURY WITHOUT THE USE OF PROTECTIVE GLOVES.             

3.11      THE PIONEER LEAGUE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ARTICLES LOST OR STOLEN AT ANY OF THE BALL PARKS.     

3.12      THE PIONEER LEAGUE WILL PROVIDE YELLOW BALLS FOR USE BY THE TEAMS.

3.13      TEAMS WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE THE LEAGUE PROVIDED PITCHING CAGE, HOWEVER, NO TEAM IS UNDER THE OBLIGATION TO DO SO.  ANY TEAM WISHING TO USE THE CAGE WILL HAVE TO BRING IT OUT TO THE MOUND PRIOR TO THE START OF ITS AT BAT.  IF THE OPPOSING TEAM DOES NOT WISH TO USE THE CAGE, THE TEAM WHICH USES THE CAGE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REMOVING THE CAGE PRIOR TO THE OPPOSING TEAM’S AT BAT.  ANY HIT BALL WHICH STRIKES THE CAGE AFTER BEING HIT BY THE BATTER SHALL BE CONSIDERED DEAD AND ONE PITCH SHALL BE ASSESSED TO THE BATTER.  ANY BALL HITTING THE CAGE AS A RESULT OF A THROW BY A DEFENSIVE PLAYER WILL REMAIN LIVE.

             

 

 

4. GAME ROSTER/BATTING ORDER        

4.1        TEAMS MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF EIGHT (8) PLAYERS AVAILABLE, IN ORDER TO PLAY ANY GAME.  TEAMS WITH SEVEN (7) OR FEWER PLAYERS MUST FORFEIT THE GAME.       

4.2        TEAMS MAY HAVE A MAXIMUM OF FIFTEEN (15) ON A GAME ROSTER (BATTING LINE UP).  IF A TEAM HAS ADDITIONAL PLAYERS, THEY MAY SUBSTITUTE PLAYERS AS PER LEAGUE RULES CONCERNING SUBSTITUTIONS AND BATTING ORDER.           

4.3        AN AUTOMATIC OUT WILL BE INSERTED IN THE LINE UP IF A TEAM HAS ONLY THREE (3) WOMEN IN THE LINE UP.           

4.4        IF A TEAM HAS ONLY TWO (2) WOMEN IN THE LINE UP, IT MUST FORFEIT THE GAME.   

4.5        LATE ARRIVING PLAYERS CANNOT BE ADDED TO THE GAME LINEUP ONCE THE FOURTH INNING HAS STARTED.  

4.6        THE BATTING ORDER WILL CONSIST OF TWO MEN AND ONE WOMAN WITH A SPLIT LINE-UP BEING ALLOWED.  IF A TEAM IS PLAYING WITH THREE WOMEN IT SHALL BE ALLOWED TO HAVE FOUR CONSECUTIVE MEN BATTING BUT WITH AN AUTOMATIC OUT IN PLACE OF THE MISSING WOMAN (I.E. MAN-MAN-AUTO OUT-MAN-MAN).  IN ADDITION, TEAMS MAY ADOPT A “ONE LINE-UP” APPROACH (AS OPPOSED TO A SPLIT LINE-UP) AS LONG AS THEY RESPECT THE TWO MEN, ON WOMAN RULE.  IF A TEAM IS MISSING A WOMAN AND USING ONE LINE-UP, AN AUTOMATIC OUT MUST BE INSERTED INTO THE LINE-UP.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, IF TEAMS USE A STRAIGHT LINE-UP, TWO WOMEN CAN BAT IN A ROW.

4.7        PLAYER'S NAMES MUST BE PRINTED IN FULL ON THE SCORE SHEET.  NICKNAMES ARE NOT ALLOWED.         

4.8        TEAMS MAY PLAY A MAXIMUM OF TEN (10) DEFENSIVE FIELDERS. FIVE (5) OF THE FIELDERS WILL PLAY IN THE OUTFIELD.     

4.9        TEAMS MUST PLAY A MINIMUM OF FOUR (4) WOMEN IN THE FIELD AT ALL TIMES.     

4.1        IF A TEAM IS PLAYING WITH ONLY THREE (3) WOMEN, THEY ARE ONLY ALLOWED 9 FIELDERS.

4.11      IF AN INJURED WOMAN LEAVES THE GAME AND LEAVES THE TEAM WITH ONLY THREE FEMALE PLAYERS, AN AUTOMATIC OUT WILL BE INSERTED IN THE BATTING ORDER IN THE INJURED WOMAN'S SLOT.          

4.12       TEAMS MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF ONE (1) WOMAN PLAYING IN THE INFIELD, EXCLUDING ANY                                                    WOMAN PLAYING THE CATCHER POSITION.

             

5. GAME STRUCTURE    

5.1        REGULAR SEASON GAMES WILL CONSIST OF SEVEN (7) INNINGS. THE MAXIMUM TIME ALLOWED FOR A GAME IS ONE (1) HOUR AND THIRTY (30) MINUTES.  NO NEW INNING IS TO START AFTER ONE (1) HOUR AND FIFTEEN (15) MINUTES FROM THE SCHEDULED START OF THE GAME.       

5.2        LIGHTS WILL BE TURNED OFF AT THE DIAMONDS AT THE CITY'S DISCRETION. 

5.3        SEVEN (7) INNING GAMES WILL BE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL AFTER FOUR (4) INNINGS; THREE AND ONE HALF (3.5) INNINGS IF THE HOME TEAM IS LEADING

5.4        TEAMS MAY SCORE A MAXIMUM OF FIVE (5) RUNS PER INNING WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SEVENTH (7TH) INNING WHICH WILL BE OPEN.

5.5        THERE IS NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF RUNS A TEAM MAY SCORE IN THE SEVENTH (7TH) INNING.

5.6        TEAMS MUST REACH THE SEVENTH (7TH) INNING IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE UNLIMITED RUN RULE.  TEAMS CANNOT HAVE UNLIMITED RUNS IN THE SIXTH (6TH) INNING IF THE GAME IS RUNNING LATE.

             

6. GAME DELAYS           

6.1        A TEAM MAY REQUEST A FIFTEEN (15) MINUTE DELAY AT THE START OF A GAME IF IT HAS ONLY SEVEN (7) PLAYERS OR TWO (2) WOMEN AT THE FIELD.  ANY GAME STARTING LATE WILL HAVE TO BE PLAYED WITHIN ONE AND A HALF HOURS OF THE ORIGINAL STARTING TIME.  THE LIMIT FOR NEW INNINGS WILL BE ADJUSTED BY THE NUMBER OF MINUTES THE GAME STARTED LATE.  FOR EXAMPLE, TEAMS WHO'S GAME IS DELAYED BY 15 MINUTES CANNOT START A NEW INNING 1 HOUR AFTER THE START OF THE GAME.    

6.2        THE GAME MUST START ON TIME IF BOTH TEAMS EACH HAVE ANY COMBINATION OF EIGHT (8) PLAYERS INCLUDING THREE (3) WOMEN.           

6.3        A RAIN DELAY CAN BE IMPOSED DURING A GAME BUT MUST NOT EXCEED THIRTY (30) MINUTES. ANY SUCH RAIN DELAY CANNOT AFFECT THE STARTING TIME OF ANY SUBSEQUENT GAME.

             

7. FIELD SET UP              

7.1          THE PITCHER'S PLATE WILL BE LOCATED FORTY (45) FEET FROM HOME PLATE.  

7.2        THE BASE PADS WILL BE SIXTY (60) FEET APART.

7.3        A SAFETY LINE WILL BE DRAWN TO THE LEFT SIDE AND PERPENDICULAR WITH THE LEFT TOP CORNER OF HOME PLATE.          

7.4        A COMMITMENT LINE WILL BE DRAWN 2/3 OF THE WAY BETWEEN THIRD (3RD) BASE AND HOME PLATE, CLOSER TO HOME PLATE.

7.5        FIELDING LINES MAY BE DRAWN BETWEEN FIRST (1ST) BASE AND SECOND (2ND) BASE AS WELL AS BETWEEN SECOND (2ND) BASE AND THIRD (3RD) BASE.         

7.6        A BATTER'S BOX WILL BE DRAWN ONE (1) FOOT IN FRONT OF HOME PLATE AND TWO (2) FEET BEHIND HOME PLATE.  IF NO SUCH BOX IS DRAWN BATTERS MUST STILL RESPECT THE SPIRIT OF THE RULE, FAILING WHICH THEY WILL BE CALLED OUT AND THE BALL SHALL BE CALLED DEAD IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 9.3

7.7        THE HOME TEAM MUST PROVIDE ONE NEW BALL AND TWO ADDITIONAL BALLS IN GOOD CONDITION FOR USE IN THE GAME.

             

8. PITCHING      

8.1        TEAMS WILL SUPPLY THEIR OWN PITCHERS.             

8.2         ALL PITCHERS MUST PITCH FROM THE PITCHER'S PLATE, UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED TO BY BOTH TEAMS.  PLAYERS PITCHING FROM ANYWHERE BUT THE PITCHER’S PLATE DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK.             

8.3        ONE OF THE PITCHER'S FEET MUST REMAIN ON THE PITCHING RUBBER WHEN RELEASING THE BALL.  IF THE PITCHER DOES NOT PITCH WITH AT LEAST ONE FOOT ON THE PITCHING RUBBER, THE PLAY WILL BE CALLED DEAD AND A STRIKE ASSIGNED TO THE BATTER.  THIS RULE SHALL NOT APPLY IF THE PITCHER DOES NOT PITCH FROM THE PLATE.

8.4        THE PITCHER MAY ONLY MOVE FROM THE PITCHING RUBBER ONCE THE BALL HAS BEEN RELEASED.         

8.5        A PITCHED BALL CONTACTING THE GROUND BEFORE IT REACHES HOME PLATE WILL BE RULED A DEAD BALL AT THE TIME OF CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.      

8.6        PITCHERS MUST AVOID INTERFERING IN DEFENSIVE PLAYS.  ANY PITCHER DISRUPTING DEFENSIVE PLAYS WILL BE CALLED FOR INTERFERENCE AT THE UMPIRE’S DISCRETION.             

8.7        A HIT BALL CONTACTING THE PITCHER WILL RESULT IN THE PLAY BEING CALLED DEAD, THE BATTER BEING CALLED OUT AND ALL BASE RUNNERS RETURNING TO THEIR ORIGINAL BASES.

8.8        PITCHING CAGES – REFER TO RULE 3.13

8.9        PITCHERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 MUST WEAR A BATTING HELMET TO PITCH.

             


 

9. HITTING        

9.1        BATTERS WILL RECEIVE A MAXIMUM OF THREE (3) PITCHES.      

9.2        NO BUNTING IS ALLOWED.  A FULL SWING MUST BE EVIDENT. THE BATTER WILL BE GIVEN A STRIKE IF THE UMPIRE RULES AN ILLEGAL SWING.

9.3        IF A BATTER STEPS OUT OF THE BATTER'S BOX WHILE HITTING THE BALL, HE/SHE WILL BE CALLED OUT.  FOR CLARITY, IF ANY PART OF THE BATTERS FOOT STEPS IN FRONT OF THE PLATE, HE/SHE WILL BE CALLED OUT.     

9.4        ANY FOUL OR TICKED BALL THAT IS CAUGHT WILL BE CALLED AN OUT.  NO HEIGHT RESTRICTION WILL BE IN EFFECT.            

9.5        A BALL HIT OVER THE OUTFIELD FENCE (A HOME RUN) WILL BE CONSIDERED A STRIKE/PITCH, SAVE AND EXCEPT FOR A BALL HIT OVER THE FENCE BY A WOMAN.  IN THIS CASE, THE HIT SHALL BE CONSIDERED A HOME RUN.    

9.6        A HIT BALL BOUNCING OVER A FENCE FROM FAIR TERRITORY WILL BE CONSIDERED A DOUBLE.             

9.7        BALLS HIT OFF THE FENCE IN FAIR TERRITORY AND REMAINING IN THE FIELD OF PLAY ARE CONSIDERED LIVE BALLS.  BALLS CAUGHT OFF THE FENCE WILL BE CONSIDERED LIVE AND NOT AS AN OUT.            

9.8        BALLS BOUNCING OFF A FIELDER IN FAIR TERRITORY AND OVER THE FENCE WILL BE CONSIDERED A DOUBLE.            

9.9        BALLS IN FAIR TERRITORY BOUNCING OFF THE OUTFIELD FENCE ON THE FLY, AND OVER THE FENCE, WILL BE CONSIDERED A HOME RUN (THEREFORE A STRIKE/PITCH FOR MEN AND A HOMERUN FOR WOMEN).

             

10. BASE RUNNING       

10.1      BASE RUNNERS CANNOT LEAVE THEIR BASE UNTIL THE BATTER MAKES CONTACT WITH THE BALL.

-THE UMPIRE MAY MAKE THE LEADING OFF CALL EVEN IF THE DEFENSIVE TEAMS HAS NOT APPEALED.        

-THE RUNNER WILL BE CALLED OUT IF THE UMPIRE DETERMINES THAT THEY LEFT THE BASE PRIOR TO THE BATTER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE BALL.         

10.2      RUNNERS MAY TAG AND SCORE FROM THIRD (3RD) BASE ON A CAUGHT FLY BALL.      

10.3      IF A BASE RUNNER CROSSES THE COMMITMENT LINE BETWEEN THIRD (3RD) BASE AND HOME PLATE, HE/SHE CANNOT RETURN TO THIRD (3RD) BASE.  

10.4      IF A BASE RUNNER CROSSES THE COMMITMENT LINE BETWEEN THIRD (3RD) BASE AND HOME PLATE, HE/SHE WILL BE CALLED OUT IF THE HIT BALL IS CAUGHT AND THE BATTER IS OUT.      

10.5      IF THE DEFENDING TEAM BELIEVES A BASE RUNNER HAS MISSED TOUCHING A BASE, THE CAPTAIN OF THAT TEAM MAY APPEAL PRIOR TO THE NEXT PITCH BEING THROWN.     

10.6      BASE RUNNERS MAY TAG AND ADVANCE ON FLY BALLS CAUGHT IN FOUL TERRITORY.

10.7      ANY RUNS SCORED DURING A THIRD (3RD) OUT RUN DOWN WILL COUNT.

             

11. COURTESY RUNNERS           

11.1      TEAMS WILL BE ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF THREE (3) TOTAL COURTESY RUNNERS PER GAME (MEN AND WOMEN COMBINED).

11.2      THE COURTESY RUNNER MUST BE THE LAST AVAILABLE PLAYER AND OF THE SAME SEX AS THE PLAYER BEING REPLACED.  

11.3      THE 'INJURED' PLAYER MUST MAKE IT SAFELY TO FIRST (1ST) BASE BEFORE THE COURTESY RUNNER CAN REPLACE THEM.   

11.4      IF A BASERUNNER TAKES A COURTESY RUNNER, HE OR SHE MAY NOT RE-ENTER THE GAME IN ANY CAPACITY, INCLUDING PITCHING, UNTIL THE COURTESY RUNNER IS NO LONGER ON BASE.

             


 

12. SLIDING      

12.1      SLIDING IS ALLOWED PROVIDED IT IS DONE IN A SAFE MANNER.           

12.2      A BASE RUNNER WHO SLIDES WITH THE INTENT OF 'TAKING OUT' A FIELDER OR DELIBERATELY DISRUPTING THE PLAY WILL IMMEDIATELY BE EJECTED FROM THE GAME.  A SECOND (2ND) INFRACTION BY THE SAME TEAM WILL RESULT IN A REVIEW BY THE EXECUTIVE.

             

13. FIELDING    

13.1      NO INFIELDER SHALL BE ALLOWED INSIDE THE BASELINES PRIOR TO THE BALL BEING HIT.             

13.2      NO OUTFIELDERS/ROVERS ARE ALLOWED INSIDE THE INFIELD UNTIL THE BATTER MAKES CONTACT WITH THE BALL.  BOTH FEET MUST BE ON THE GRASS UNTIL THE BATTER MAKES CONTACT.

13.3      PLAYERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SWITCH FIELDING POSITIONS DURING AN INNING (SAVE AND EXCEPT IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS AN INJURED PLAYER OR THE HITTING TEAM ALLOWS IT).        

13.4      TAGGING A BASE RUNNER BETWEEN THE COMMITMENT LINE AND HOME PLATE IS NOT PERMITTED.  THE RUNNER WILL BE CALLED SAFE IF TAGGED BETWEEN THE COMMITMENT LINE AND HOME PLATE.              

13.5       ANY FIELDER BLOCKING A BASE RUNNER'S SLIDE WILL BE CALLED FOR INTERFERENCE.         

13.6      NO INFIELD FLY RULE SINCE THE PITCHER IS NOT A DEFENSIVE POSITION. THE UMPIRES RETAIN THE RIGHT TO CALL AN INTENTIONAL DROPPED BALL WHICH WOULD RESULT IN ALL RUNNERS  ADVANCING.

             

14. OVER THROWN BALLS         

14.1      OVERTHROWN BALLS LEAVING THE FIELD OF PLAY WILL RESULT IN THE BASE RUNNERS BEING AWARDED TWO BASES FROM THE TIME OF THE THROW.             

14.2      THE DETERMINATION OF THE BASE RUNNERS' POSITIONS WILL BE MADE AT THE TIME THE THROW IS MADE.          

 

15. MERCY RULE            

15.1      A GAME WILL BE CONSIDERED A MERCY IF A TEAM IS LOSING BY TEN (10) RUNS OR MORE AFTER THE 5TH INNING (4 ˝ IF THE HOME TEAM IS WINNING).  THE MERCY RULE APPLIES IN THE PLAYOFFS. 

 

16. PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY

16.1      PLAYERS MUST BE CREDITTED WITH PLAYING A MINIMUM OF FIVE (5) GAMES IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY IN THE PLAYOFFS.  

16.2      A PLAYER WILL RECEIVE CREDIT FOR A GAME IF HE/SHE HAS PLAYED A MINIMUM OF 4 INNINGS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE (1) INNING FIELDING AND ONE (1) AT BAT. 

 

17. PLAYOFFS   

17.1      PLAYOFFS WILL BE RUN IN A TOURNAMENT FORMAT.  THE PLAYOFFS WILL BE HELD OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK AND WEEKEND (TUESDAY TO SUNDAY) FOLLOWING THE 2ND RAINOUT WEEK.  THE PLAYOFF WEEKEND WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN VARS AND NAVAN. IN 2023, THE PLAYOFF WEEKEND WILL BE HELD IN VARS.

17.2      IF A DIVISION CONTAINS AN ODD NUMBER OF TEAMS, THE TWO (2) LAST PLACE TEAMS WILL PLAY A NINE (9) INNING GAME TO DETERMINE WHICH TEAM WILL BE ENTERED IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT.  IF THIS GAME IS NECESSARY, IT WILL BE THE FIRST GAME PLAYED DURING THE PLAYOFF WEEK.

17.3      PLAYOFF GAMES, INCLUDING THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, WILL CONSIST OF SEVEN (7) INNINGS, UNLESS THERE IS A MERCY.  IN THE DOUBLE-KNOCKOUT FORMAT ONLY, IF A GAME REMAINS TIED AFER 7 INNINGS, EXTRA INNINGS WILL BE PLAYED.  EACH TEAM WILL START THE INNING WITH A RUNNER ON SECOND (THE LAST AVAILABLE PLAYER) AND ONE OUT.  THE GAME WILL CONTINUE UNTIL A WINNER IS DETERMINED.             

17.4      TIES IN THE FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS WILL BE RESOLVED USING THE FOLLOWING TIEBREAKERS IN THE ORDER THEY APPEAR:            

              1- WINS COLUMN          

              2- REGULAR SEASON HEAD TO HEAD     

              3- +/- (RUNS FOR/AGAINST) IN HEAD TO HEAD GAMES

              4- +/- (RUNS FOR/AGAINST) IN ALL GAMES             

              5- COIN TOSS

             

TIES IN PLAYOFFS, WHERE A ROUND ROBIN IS IN EFFECT WILL BE RESOLVED USING THE FOLLOWING TIEBREAKERS, IN THE ORDER THEY APPEAR:

1-      IF THERE ARE ONLY TWO TEAMS TIED AFTER THE ROUND ROBIN:

a.       HEAD-TO-HEAD

b.       +/- (RUNS FOR/AGAINST) IN HEAD TO HEAD GAMES

c.       +/- (RUNS FOR/AGAINST) IN ALL GAMES

d.       COIN TOSS

2-      IF THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO TEAMS TIED AFTER THE ROUND ROBIN:

a.       +/- (RUNS FOR/AGAINST) IN ALL GAMES

b.       IF TWO TEAMS ARE STILL TIED, THEN HEAD TO HEAD

c.       IF ALL THREE TEAMS STILL TIED, +/- (RUNS FOR/AGAINST) IN HEAD TO HEAD GAMES    

17.5      HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE FOR PLAYOFF GAMES WILL BE DETERMINED BY REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.      

17.6      HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WILL BE GIVEN TO THE TEAM MAKING IT TO THE FINAL WITHOUT LOSING A GAME, EXCEPT FOR ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENT WHERE THERE ARE FOUR TEAMS.  HOME FIELD FOR ROUND ROBIN CHAMPIONSHIP BASED ON PLAYOFFS.

17.7      THE MERCY RULE WILL APPLY TO PLAYOFFS IN ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENTS.             

17.8      THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WILL BE A SINGLE, SUDDEN DEATH GAME.

17.9      PLAYOFF EXTRA INNINGS; THERE IS NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF RUNS A TEAM MAY SCORE.             

 

18. RULE AMENDMENTS            

18.1      SUGGESTED RULE CHANGES MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE LEAGUE EMAIL ADDRESS PRIOR TO APRIL 1ST EVERY YEAR OR PRIOR TO ANY DEADLINE SET BY THE PRESIDENT.  

18.2      ANY RULES CHANGES OR PROPOSED RULE CHANGE CANNOT BE REVOTED ON FOR A MINIMUM OF TWO (2) YEARS.  

 

19. RAIN OUTS 

19.1      IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UMPIRE TO CALL A RAIN OUT.  TEAMS MUST SHOW UP AT THE FIELD AT GAME TIME OR FACE FORFEITING THE GAME.

19.2      THE LEAGUE MAY DECIDE TO CANCEL A GAME(S) IF THE WEATHER HAS BEEN INCLIMATE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF IMPROVING OR IF THE FIELDS ARE UNPLAYABLE DUE TO EHAVY RAINFALL.  AT THIS POINT, THE LEAGUE WILL NOTIFY ALL TEAMS AND UMPIRES AFFECTED BY THE CANCELLATION.

19.3      TEAMS MUST NOTIFY THE PRESIDENT BY EMAIL (info@3pitch.ca) OR TEXT IF THEY MUTUALLY AGREE TO POSTPONE A GAME BECAUSE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS.     

 

20. POSTPONED GAMES            

20.1      THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE REASONS FOR POSTPONING A GAME ARE INCLIMATE WEATHER AND/OR DANGEROUS FIELD CONDITIONS.    

- IF A TEAM IS UNABLE TO FIELD A TEAM FOR ANY OTHER REASON, THEY MUST FORFEIT THE GAME. 

 

21. RESCHEDULING OF RAINED OUT GAMES     

21.1      THE LEAGUE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RESCHEDULING ALL RAINED OUT GAMES.           

 

22. SUBMISSION OF SCORE SHEETS       

22.1      TEAMS MUST SUBMIT (EMAIL AT info@3pitch.ca) THEIR SCORE SHEET WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS OF THE END OF THEIR GAME.  NO SCORE SHEETS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE MONDAY OF THE LAST WEEK OF THE REGULAR SEASON, SAVE AND EXCEPT FOR THE SCORE SHEET FOR THAT WEEK’S GAME.  IF A TEAM DOES NOT SUBMIT ENOUGH SCORE SHEETS TO QUALIFY ITS PLAYERS FOR PLAYOFFS, THEIR SEASON WILL END AT THE END OF ITS LAST REGULAR SEASON GAME.

22.2      SCORESHEETS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN THE FOLLOWIN FORMAT:

              - IN THE SUBJECT LINE: WEEK #, DATE, WINNER, SCORE

              - SCORESHEET ATTACHED

 

23. UMPIRES    

23.1      THE LEAGUE WILL PROVIDE PAID UMPIRES.             

 

24. APPEALED CALLS     

24.1      ONLY AN INTERPRETATION OF A RULE CAN BE APPEALED.        

24.2      JUDGEMENT CALLS CANNOT BE APPEALED.             

24.3      ONLY TEAM MANAGERS OR DESIGNATED TEAM CAPTAINS MAY APPEAL CALLS.  ANY NON-DESIGNATED PLAYER QUESTIONING ANY CALL WILL RESULT IN A WARNING.  SUBSEQUENT INFRACTIONS WILL RESULT IN EJECTION FROM THE GAME.      

 

25. GAME PLAYED UNDER PROTEST      

25.1      THE TEAM MANAGER MAY ASK FOR AN APPEAL ON A RULE INTERPRETATION WHEN HE/SHE IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DECISION ON THE FIELD.  

25.2      THE GAME WILL BE PLAYED UNDER PROTEST FROM THE POINT OF THE CONTESTED EVENT.    

25.3      THE MANAGER MUST CONTACT THE PRESIDENT TO EXPLAIN HIS/HER CONCERN.       

25.4      ANY EXECUTIVE MEMBER INVOLVED IN THE CONTESTED EVENT WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE APPEAL PROCESS IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.            

25.5      THE EXECUTIVE MUST HAVE A MAJORITY DECISION IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.      

25.6      THE EXECUTIVE MUST SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT TO BE KEPT ON FILE.      

25.7      IF THE MANAGER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DECISION OF THE EXECUTIVE, HE MAY ASK THE PRESIDENT TO ARBITRATE.         

25.8      THE PRESIDENT WILL RENDER A DECISION ON THE CONTESTED EVENT AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE TEAMS INVOLVED, THE UMPIRE AND THE EXECUTIVE.

25.9      THE PRESIDENT WILL NAME THE EXECUTIVE ONCE AN EXECUTIVE DECISION IS REQUIRED.     

 

 

26. TREATMENT OF UMPIRES   

26.1      ANY VERBAL ABUSE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE UMPIRE OR OPPOSING PLAYERS WILL RESULT IN A WARNING FOR THE OFFENDING PLAYER.  THE UMPIRE HAS THE RIGHT TO EJECT THE PLAYER FROM THE GAME IF THE ABUSE WARRANTS OR IF THE ABUSE CONTINUES.             

26.2      ANY ACTUAL THREAT OR CONTACT BETWEEN PLAYERS AND/OR UMPIRES WILL RESULT IN AN IMMEDIATE GAME EJECTION FOR THE OFFENDING THE PLAYER.  THE OFFENDING PLAYER WILL BE SUSPENDED UNTIL THE LEAGUE EXECUTIVE REVIEWS THE INCIDENT.             

26.3      THE LEAGUE WILL BE NOTIFIED OF ANY MISTREATMENT OF THE UMPIRES SO THAT THEY CAN MONITOR THE TEAM IN FUTURE GAMES.

 

27. ALCOHOL    

27.1      NO ALCOHOL IS PERMITTED IN THE DUG OUT (BENCH) OR ON THE FIELD.  PLAYERS CAUGHT CONTRAVENING THIS RULE, AND THEIR TEAM, WILL RECEIVE A BENCH WARNING BY THE UMPIRE.  THE NEXT PLAYER CAUGHT FROM THAT TEAM WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE GAME. 

27.2      ANY INTOXICATED PLAYER WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE GAME BY THE UMPIRE.  THIS DECISION IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE UMPIRE.            

 

28. OTHER RULES          

28.1      ANY RULE NOT COVERED BY THIS RULE BOOK WILL BE COVERED BY SLOW PITCH NATIONAL (SPN) RULES.     

 

Modified September 14th, 2023 - Phil Grandmaitre