Brantford Co-Ed Three Pitch League

Playing Rules 2017

Objective: To provide “Fun Softball” for all participants.

League Website: http://www.leaguelineup.com/brantfordcoedthreepitchleague

The Brantford Co-Ed Three Pitch League will follow the Slo Pitch Ontario (SPO) rules with the exceptions listed below:

General

1. The fielding team will have a minimum of 8 defensive players and a maximum of 9 defensive players. There must be at least 4 women in the field at all times. The team failing to meet these requirements will forfeit the game. A forfeit will be scored as a win in regular league play and playoff games. The game can then be played with no effect on the League Standings. The team at bat supplies the pitcher.

2. All games to be played to a maximum of 7 innings. No extra innings allowed

3. The Mercy Rule will apply if one team leads another by 15 runs after the 5th inning or any consecutive complete inning. The balance of the game may be played for fun until the end of the time limit. There will only be 7 runs allowed per inning per team, except in the last inning.

4. All Teams should wear team sweaters/shirts for each game.

5. Both teams will provide a ball, either new, or good quality as decided by the umps.

6. For the 2021 season the league will only use Worth Grey Dot balls

7. Jewelry should not be worn. If it is impossible to remove, players are asked to cover it. Exception to this rule is a medical alert.

Substitutions/Injuries

8. Unlimited substitution is allowed without scratching a player but the batting order (male, female, male, female) cannot be changed.

9. If a team no longer has sufficient number of women or no longer has sufficient number of players due to an injury during the game, the team will not forfeit the game. The team will play with one less player. If the team chooses the backstop to be the vacated position, you can use a spare person from either team to return the pitches but the back catcher will not be in play. When the person injured is due up to bat it will be considered an out.

Batting

10. In order for a bat to be used in any league or tournament game the bat must comply with the following:

The bat must have the following legible marking:

USSA BPF 1.20 (Or prior to 2004 BPF 1.20)

Bat cannot be altered.

Examples:

Bat is painted

End cap has been tampered with

Excessive amounts of tape on the handle

Large dents or cracks

11. If a player comes to bat in a league or tournament game with a bat without the USSA BPF 1.20 (Or prior to 2004 BPF 1.20) markings the following penalties will apply:

The bat will be removed from the team

The batter is out, if applicable the ball is dead the runners are reset to the base occupied before the at bat

First Offence – the player will be ejected from the game.

Second Offence by a Player - suspended from the league for one season and the Team Representative will be suspended for one game.

Second Offence by a Team - will result in immediate dismissal from the league and suspension from the league for one season.

12. The wearing of helmets is optional for batters and runners.

13. Pitcher must wait until the defending team is set as directed by the umpire before delivering the ball.

14. No bunting, the batter must make a full swing at the ball.

15. On any pitch the batter may step out of the batters’ box within reason.

16. If the ball hits the pitcher on the first or second pitch, the ball and the play are dead. If it hits the pitcher on the third pitch the batter is out and the play is dead. The pitcher is able to defend themselves within reason and at the umpires discretion. The Pitcher will pitch from a spot that is in line with second base and be a safe distance from home plate, at the pitcher’s discretion.

17. On foul tips, any ball that goes up off the bat may be caught as an out.

18. Home Run Rule – 1 for 1 (1up) Rule – A team is only allowed one more home run than the opposing team at any point in time. If a team hits a home run and is already up by one home run, the hit will be considered a ground rule double. (Home runs are balls hit over the fence).

Base Running

19. No stealing or sliding. Runners must maintain contact with the base until the ball is hit or runner is out. The infield fly rule applies. The batter is out if he/she hits an infield fly with less than 2 out and runners on first and second, or first, second and third. The umpire will announce the possibility of an infield fly. Requirements for an Infield Fly:  Runners on first and second base OR first, second and third base.  Less than 2 out.  Not a bunt.  Not a line drive.  Can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort this includes the, pitcher, catcher or any outfielder positioned in the infield. What should the umpire do?  In an infield fly situation, prior to the first pitch of the at bat, the umpires should give the infield fly signal to each other. When it becomes apparent that a batted ball is an infield fly (typically when the ball reaches its’ highest point and is just on its’ way down) the plate umpire shall declare “INFIELD FLY, IF FAIR - THE BATTER IS OUT” Once an Infield Fly is declared:  if the hit becomes a foul ball, no penalty, treat like any other foul ball  if the hit remains a fair ball  the batter is out regardless of whether the ball is caught or not  the ball remains alive  the runners may advance at their own risk  if the fly ball is caught, they must tag up  if the fly ball is not caught, they can choose to advance but as the batter has already been declared out there is no force play

20. Courtesy runners will be allowed providing the last person of the same gender out is used as the runner. If that person is on base then proceed to the next person of the same gender that was out. If a batter is due up but that batter is on base as a courtesy runner you can exchange the person on base with another courtesy runner. Batter must reach the first base before being allowed a courtesy runner.

21. Overrunning the bases is allowed unless the runner, on the decision of the umpire, makes an attempt to proceed to the next base, in which case he/she may be tagged out. Force out and tags will apply at all bases, except home plate, once the runner has passed the halfway point.