A.
Play is governed by Official Baseball Rules with exceptions as noted in
the PONY Baseball Pinto Rules & Regulations as well as this document. When there is a discrepancy in the rules,
this document takes precedence over PONY rules and official baseball rules.
1.
See
PPPB Pinto Draft Rules.
1.
Games shall consist of
six innings, but a game will not exceed eight innings. If the score is tied after eight innings, it
will be called a tie.
2.
No inning shall start
after one hour and forty-five minutes from the start of the game. When the time limit is reached, the current
inning will be completed and the game will be called.
3.
The game will consist
of 6 innings of coach pitch.
a.
The coach pitcher will
pitch from between 25 and 38 feet from home plate.
b.
The player fielding
the pitcher position when the coach is pitching shall always be to the rear and
to the right or left of the coach-pitcher, with at least one foot in the clay.
c.
If a batted ball hits
the coach-pitcher, the ball is dead, the pitch counts and no runners may
advance. If in the umpires judgment the
coach-pitcher intentionally interferes with the fielder or the batted ball, the
batter will be called out and no runners may advance.
d.
The coach-pitcher
should leave the field after the ball is hit and should not interfere with the
defense.
e.
The defensive team
shall place a coach behind the catcher at the backstop to retrieve passed
balls.
4.
If a game is called
for any reason, it is a complete game if four innings have been completed, or
if the home team is leading after three and one half innings.
a.
If a game is called
with a tie score, it will be considered a suspended game and will be completed
from the point it was called at a later date.
5.
15 RUN RULE: If a team is leading its opponent by at
least FIFTEEN runs after four or more completed innings, three and one half
innings if the home team is leading, the game shall be ended and the leading
team declared the winner.
6.
Each team may field a
maximum of ten players (four outfielders).
a.
The outfielders must
start with both feet in the outfield grass.
No outfielder will be permitted to routinely cover any base.
b.
The infielders may
play with both feet in the grass, but not more than 12 inches in front of the
clay.
c.
Eight players must be
available to start the game or the team will be forced to forfeit the game.
d.
A team has 15 minutes
from the scheduled start time to field the minimum number of players or a
forfeit will be called.
e.
The ninth player and
any subsequent players to arrive after the game has started will be placed at
the end of the batting order in the order in which they arrive.
8.
No
player should sit out more than two defensive innings in a game. Free defensive substitution is allowed, but
the original batting order must be preserved.
9.
No
team shall score more than 5 runs in one inning. If there are less than three outs when five runs are scored, the
teams shall change sides.
10.
There
is no infield fly rule.
D. THE BATTER/RUNNER
1.
A
batter shall be declared out after failing to hit a fair or foul ball on the
sixth or any subsequent pitch.
2.
Umpires
shall not permit more than one offensive time out per one half inning.
3.
Baserunners
are not permitted to steal or lead off and shall remain in contact with the
base until the ball is hit.
Penalty: Runner is out.
4.
Batters
are not permitted to bunt or swing easy at the ball. Penalty: If the ball is
hit, it will be called a foul ball and the batter shall bat again. No runner may advance.
a.
A
10-foot diameter arc will placed in front of home plate. Any ball, which does not travel to or past
the arc, will be considered a foul ball.
5.
Runners may
advance at will until the ball is returned to the infield. On overthrows, runners may advance a maximum
of one base.
1. The first and third base coaches must stay in the coaching boxes.
2. Base coaches will not touch baserunners. If runners are touched, the runner will be called out. It is the discretion of the umpire if the coach is pushing/holding a player or congratulating him/her.
3. Players are not permitted to be base coaches.
1. The HOME TEAM must supply an official scorekeeper who is familiar with baseball and scorekeeping.
2. The official scorekeeper should use the official scorebook in the concession stand.
3. The HOME TEAM is also responsible for keeping the scoreboard.
1. Please report any injuries to a Board Member as soon as possible.
2. In case of any injuries, all play will cease immediately.
1. It is the responsibility of both teams to make sure the field/dugouts are free of any trash or debris after each game.
2. It will be up to the Umpire and the Board to determine when a game will be called due to weather.
3. Both teams’ coaches and managers should arrive at the field early if it has been raining to help prepare the field for play.
4. It is the HOME TEAM’S responsibility to line the field, place the bases, provide game balls, and remove the bases at the conclusion of the game.
1. Protests may be filed for $50.00 and is non-refundable if the protest is lost. Judgment calls by the umpire are not protestable.
2. The managers/coaches will be required to umpire during the season. A schedule will be made and distributed. If you cannot umpire the assigned game, it is your responsibility to find a replacement.
3. The HOME TEAM must supply one (two on weekends) adult(s) (over age 16) to run the concession stand during the game. The game should not begin until the concession stand is properly manned. Failure to supply a worker will result in a forfeit. The team mom should assign games to the parent volunteers so there is no confusion when the game arrives.
4. The HOME TEAM is also responsible for trash patrol. All trash, including the concession stand area, should be placed in the appropriate containers at the conclusion of the game, and the trash cans should be emptied into the dumpster.
5. Equipment should be kept inside the dugout so it does not interfere with play.
6. No tobacco or alcohol will be allowed on the field or in the dugouts at any time.