PINELLAS PARK PONY BASEBALL

PINTO AMERICAN RULES

 

 

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.

 

B.               SELECTION OF PLAYERS

1.                 See PPPB Pinto Draft Rules.

 

C.               THE GAME

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 2 innings of kid pitch followed by 4 innings of coach pitch.

a.     Both the coach and the Pinto league age kid pitcher will pitch from the pitcher’s rubber 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.

7.                 All players will be in the batting order.

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.  This rule does not apply in the sixth or extra innings.

10.            There is no infield fly rule.

11.            When the ball is in the possession of an infielder, no play is being made on a runner, and the runners are not actively advancing, the ball is dead and the umpire will call time.  A player leading off a base and baiting the defender is not actively advancing.

 

D.      THE BATTER/RUNNER

1.                 A batter shall be declared out after failing to hit a fair or foul ball on the fifth or any subsequent pitch.

a.     The batter is out if there are three strikes before the fifth pitch.  Missed swings are counted as strikes, as are foul balls and foul tips.  The catcher may catch a third strike foul tip for an out.

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 fake-bunt.  Penalty:  The batter shall be called out.

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.

 

E.               THE PITCHER

1.                 Pitchers shall not pitch in more than one inning on the same calendar day.

2.                 Pitchers shall not pitch in more than two innings in the same calendar week (12:01 AM Monday to 12 Midnight the following Sunday).

a.     A pitcher is charged with the number of innings pitched in the specific calendar day and week in which they were pitched, regardless of whether they are local league games, the playoff of postponed games or suspended games, tie games, exhibition games.

3.                 Any pitcher withdrawn from the mound and/or lineup, or a pitcher who is withdrawn from the mound and stays in the game at another position, shall not be permitted to pitch again in the same game.

4.                 If a relief pitcher comes in cold, the umpire shall allow the pitcher to warm up properly with at least six warm-up pitches.

5.                 If a manager/coach calls time and talks to his defensive players more than once while the same player is pitching, a pitching change must be made.

 

A.               THE COACH

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.

 

B.               THE SCOREKEEPERS

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.

 

C.               INJURIES

1.                 Please report any injuries to a Board Member as soon as possible.

2.                 In case of any injuries, all play will cease immediately.

 

D.               CONDITION OF THE FIELD

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 end of the game.

 

E.               GENERAL

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 from fields 6 and 7, 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.

7.                 The board will select an all star manager and coach.  The manager and coach will determine who their two assistants will be.  The four coaching staff members will determine the composition of the all-star team, with the manager having the final say.

 

 

F.                THE UMPIRES WILL NOT TOLERATE UNSPORTSMAN LIKE CONDUCT.  STIFF PENALTIES WILL BE IMPOSED BY THE UMPIRES AND ENFORCED BY THE BOARD.  THE CONDUCT WILL INCLUDE COACHES, PLAYERS, TEAM MOMS, ETC., DOING SUCH THINGS AS THROWING EQUIPMENT, USING FOUL LANGUAGE, OR ANY CONDUCT DEEMED DETRIMENTAL BY THE UMPIRE.  WHEN A MANAGER, COACH, OR PLAYER IS EJECTED FROM A GAME, HE/SHE SHALL LEAVE THE FIELD IMMEDIATELY AND TAKE NO FURTHER PART IN THAT GAME.  ANYONE EJECTED FOR ANY REASON FROM A GAME WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE ADDITIONAL GAME.  THE BOARD MAY IMPOSE STIFFER SUSPENSIONS.

 

G.              PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS IS AN INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL.  OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO TEACH THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BASEBALL.  WINNING IS NOT OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE.