- Major League Baseball (American League) rules will apply unless otherwise stated.
-Umpire fees must be paid in cash at the pre-game plate conference. Play shall not commence until all umpires have been compensated.
-Forfeit time is +10 minutes of the official start time as listed on the schedule (teams must start and can finish with 8 players). If a team forfeits, it is the responsibility of the forfeiting manager to pay BOTH umpires $60 (or $75 for 9 inning games) each prior to leaving the field. If the manager fails to do this, his team would be suspended until the umpire fees are covered.
- No new inning can begin after 3 hours. This applies to nights where there is only one game schedule with nothing scheduled for later that night. If there are two games scheduled for one night, a 2.5 hour rule will be observed (no new inning after 2.5 hours). Managers and umpires are encouraged to agree on a start time at the pre-game plate conference. Otherwise, the home plate umpire will have the 'official' watch. Any game which is called early due to the time limit will be considered completed at that point in the game, even if a tie is the result. It will be up to the managers to complete the game at a later date or simply accept a tie.
- Time limits will not be enforced on Playoff games, but we do ask that teams adhere to keeping a good pace with the game. See below.
-Each team is to supply two (2) new baseballs at the pre-game plate conference (3 for 9 inning games). The following baseballs have been approved for league use: RAWLINGS RO, RO-A, RO-N, RO-ML or Diamond D1 'Show' baseballs. Foul balls are to be hunted down by the team in the nearest dugout to the foul. Foul balls hit behind the basckstop behind homeplate should be rounded up by the hitting team... as well as foul balls off the backstop that land in play. Teams not complying with bringing the right type of baseballs to the plate conference or consistently does not retrieve foul balls will face the possibility of forfeit. Home teams are to provide more baseballs as necessary.
- Games will be played with wood bats. Use of illegal bat (corked) will result of ejection of player using the bat for the entire season as well as a forfeiture of the game.
-Regulation games are seven (7) or (9) innings in length as scheduled. Extra innings will be played in case of a tie at the end of regulation.
- SLAUGHTER RULE (7 innings): With each team receiving equal and necessary offensive opportunities, if at anytime after five (5) innings (four-and-a-half [4.5] if the home team is ahead) there is a difference of ten (10) or more runs, the game is considered complete and official.
- SLAUGHTER RULE (9 innings): With each team receiving equal and necessary offensive opportunities: 20 after 4, 15 after 5, 10 after 6.
- An official batting order must be submitted to the opposing team at the pre-game plate conference. Please use players' last names. Uniform numbers are not required since uniform numbers are typically duplicated or missing during the Fall season... although all teams are required to be properly uniformed with like dress.
- A team must consist of a minimum of eight (8) players at all times in order to avoid forfeit. If a team has eight (8) players present at the official start time, the game must begin immediately. Upon arrival, a ninth (9th) player must be immeadiately inserted defensively and must be added in the ninth batting order position.
- A team may field and bat eight (8) players only when exactly eight players are present. No 'automatic out' or other penalty will be imposed.
- A team must bat at least nine (9) players when at least nine (9) players are present, but can bat ten (10) or more players and can extend the batting order at any time. The batting order can only be contracted if a player a) leaves early, b) is injured, or c) is ejected.
- A team that starts wtih exactly (9) players may finish with eight (8) players if no other available players are present for any reason. A team that has available players must substitute for a departing player (due to any reason).
- Any player or manager ejected for any reason during a game is to leave the park grounds. Play will not resume until said player/manager has left. If the player/manager refuses to leave, his team will automatically suffer forfeit of the game. Likewise, the player/manager ejected is to serve an automatic one game suspension to be carried out at his team's next scheduled game. If the suspension is not carried out, that player/manager will be suspended another game. A third suspension under any circumstance will result in expulsion from the league for up to one full calendar year.
- It is the responsibility of the opposing team and/or the winning team to report ejections VIA EMAIL to gunpowderleague@verizon.net. The league secretary will notify all parties of actions taken and when suspensions are to be served.
- An ejected player must be replaced in the lineup by an available batter not already in the game. If this is not possible due to a team only starting with nine players, the result will be an automatic out for that players absence from the lineup. An ejection with a team starting with eight players will result in a forfeiture of the game.
- Offensive substitution shall follow strict American League rules. Offensive re-entry shall not be allowed.
- Courtesy runner for pitchers and/or catchers may be used (optionally) anytime after two (2) outs. The courtesy runner shall be the player who recorded the last batted out. If both the pitcher and catcher are on base, use the players who recorded the last two batted outs. Courtesy runners for other players must be agreed upon by both managers and can be used at anytime when necessary but must follow the 'most recent batted out' rule.
- Players rehabbing from leg, foot, or other injuries can request a courtesy runner on a game-by-game basis (if a rehabbing player reaches base, as long as the opposing team's manager is made aware of the situation at the plate conference, the last batted out can run for that player).
- Unlimited defensive substitution and re-entry is allowed.
- A pitcher may be re-entered exactly once. A pitcher can not re-enter in the same inning in which he was removed except in the case of relief pitcher injury.
- PLAYOFF ROSTERS: The use of players in fall playoffs that did not appear for your team during the regular fall season is not permissible. Any protest raised will be followed up by a league official looking into the matter referencing scorebooks from any teams involved in any question over a players eligibility.
- If a team has to back out of two or more games during the season (not enough players, etc.), they are at risk of being ejected from the league. This will be handled on a team-by-team basis.
-Umpire fees must be paid in cash at the pre-game plate conference. Play shall not commence until all umpires have been compensated.
-Forfeit time is +10 minutes of the official start time as listed on the schedule (teams must start and can finish with 8 players). If a team forfeits, it is the responsibility of the forfeiting manager to pay BOTH umpires $60 (or $75 for 9 inning games) each prior to leaving the field. If the manager fails to do this, his team would be suspended until the umpire fees are covered.
- No new inning can begin after 3 hours. This applies to nights where there is only one game schedule with nothing scheduled for later that night. If there are two games scheduled for one night, a 2.5 hour rule will be observed (no new inning after 2.5 hours). Managers and umpires are encouraged to agree on a start time at the pre-game plate conference. Otherwise, the home plate umpire will have the 'official' watch. Any game which is called early due to the time limit will be considered completed at that point in the game, even if a tie is the result. It will be up to the managers to complete the game at a later date or simply accept a tie.
- Time limits will not be enforced on Playoff games, but we do ask that teams adhere to keeping a good pace with the game. See below.
-Each team is to supply two (2) new baseballs at the pre-game plate conference (3 for 9 inning games). The following baseballs have been approved for league use: RAWLINGS RO, RO-A, RO-N, RO-ML or Diamond D1 'Show' baseballs. Foul balls are to be hunted down by the team in the nearest dugout to the foul. Foul balls hit behind the basckstop behind homeplate should be rounded up by the hitting team... as well as foul balls off the backstop that land in play. Teams not complying with bringing the right type of baseballs to the plate conference or consistently does not retrieve foul balls will face the possibility of forfeit. Home teams are to provide more baseballs as necessary.
- Games will be played with wood bats. Use of illegal bat (corked) will result of ejection of player using the bat for the entire season as well as a forfeiture of the game.
-Regulation games are seven (7) or (9) innings in length as scheduled. Extra innings will be played in case of a tie at the end of regulation.
- SLAUGHTER RULE (7 innings): With each team receiving equal and necessary offensive opportunities, if at anytime after five (5) innings (four-and-a-half [4.5] if the home team is ahead) there is a difference of ten (10) or more runs, the game is considered complete and official.
- SLAUGHTER RULE (9 innings): With each team receiving equal and necessary offensive opportunities: 20 after 4, 15 after 5, 10 after 6.
- An official batting order must be submitted to the opposing team at the pre-game plate conference. Please use players' last names. Uniform numbers are not required since uniform numbers are typically duplicated or missing during the Fall season... although all teams are required to be properly uniformed with like dress.
- A team must consist of a minimum of eight (8) players at all times in order to avoid forfeit. If a team has eight (8) players present at the official start time, the game must begin immediately. Upon arrival, a ninth (9th) player must be immeadiately inserted defensively and must be added in the ninth batting order position.
- A team may field and bat eight (8) players only when exactly eight players are present. No 'automatic out' or other penalty will be imposed.
- A team must bat at least nine (9) players when at least nine (9) players are present, but can bat ten (10) or more players and can extend the batting order at any time. The batting order can only be contracted if a player a) leaves early, b) is injured, or c) is ejected.
- A team that starts wtih exactly (9) players may finish with eight (8) players if no other available players are present for any reason. A team that has available players must substitute for a departing player (due to any reason).
- Any player or manager ejected for any reason during a game is to leave the park grounds. Play will not resume until said player/manager has left. If the player/manager refuses to leave, his team will automatically suffer forfeit of the game. Likewise, the player/manager ejected is to serve an automatic one game suspension to be carried out at his team's next scheduled game. If the suspension is not carried out, that player/manager will be suspended another game. A third suspension under any circumstance will result in expulsion from the league for up to one full calendar year.
- It is the responsibility of the opposing team and/or the winning team to report ejections VIA EMAIL to gunpowderleague@verizon.net. The league secretary will notify all parties of actions taken and when suspensions are to be served.
- An ejected player must be replaced in the lineup by an available batter not already in the game. If this is not possible due to a team only starting with nine players, the result will be an automatic out for that players absence from the lineup. An ejection with a team starting with eight players will result in a forfeiture of the game.
- Offensive substitution shall follow strict American League rules. Offensive re-entry shall not be allowed.
- Courtesy runner for pitchers and/or catchers may be used (optionally) anytime after two (2) outs. The courtesy runner shall be the player who recorded the last batted out. If both the pitcher and catcher are on base, use the players who recorded the last two batted outs. Courtesy runners for other players must be agreed upon by both managers and can be used at anytime when necessary but must follow the 'most recent batted out' rule.
- Players rehabbing from leg, foot, or other injuries can request a courtesy runner on a game-by-game basis (if a rehabbing player reaches base, as long as the opposing team's manager is made aware of the situation at the plate conference, the last batted out can run for that player).
- Unlimited defensive substitution and re-entry is allowed.
- A pitcher may be re-entered exactly once. A pitcher can not re-enter in the same inning in which he was removed except in the case of relief pitcher injury.
- PLAYOFF ROSTERS: The use of players in fall playoffs that did not appear for your team during the regular fall season is not permissible. Any protest raised will be followed up by a league official looking into the matter referencing scorebooks from any teams involved in any question over a players eligibility.
- If a team has to back out of two or more games during the season (not enough players, etc.), they are at risk of being ejected from the league. This will be handled on a team-by-team basis.
