2025 Motor City Classic — Guide for Coaches

July 16–20, 2025

Quick Contacts (text all scores to all four phone numbers as a group text)

• Email: Novisandles@aol.com

• Twitter: @MotorCityTourn

Print and carry these rules at all times.

Age Group Eligibility

• All age groups except 18U: Players must not turn the next age before May 1, unless they are in the same grade as that age group.

  • Example: 13U players can’t turn 14 before May 1, unless they’re in 7th grade.

• 18U: Follows American Legion rules, using a January 1 cutoff (allows more players).

• Questions? Contact Matt Sandles.

Essential Tournament Responsibilities

Score Reporting

• Text all game scores to the four contacts above after each game.

• Anyone (coach, parent, player) can send the score.

• Include: age group, scheduled time, field, both teams, and final score.

  • Example: July 16, 3:45 PM, 15U at Kyte Monroe #1, Team A 5, Team B 0.

Stay Informed

• Subscribe to Tourney Machine and Twitter (@MotorCityTourn) notifications.

• All updates, schedule changes, and rules are posted there.

• You do not need a Twitter account to view updates.

Baseballs

• Bring two new high school-quality baseballs per game (as stated on the Registration Form).

• Suggested brands: Rawlings MLB Gold Glove, Wilson A1010 HST SST, Spalding PRO NFHS, Diamond D1-Pro.

Gate & Parking Fees

• Some fields (Warrior Park, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Meijer Sports Complex, Liggett) may charge gate fees.

• Meijer Sports Complex parking: $10 per car.

Game Rules & Format

• No new inning after time limit.

• Pool play can end in a tie. Playoff games cannot.

• Sandles Shootout for non-championship playoff games after time expires:

  • Start with bases loaded, last three hitters on base, 3-2 count, 2 outs.

Mercy Rule

• 15 runs after 3 innings

• 10 runs after 4 innings

• 8 runs after 5 innings

Bat Rules

• 14U–18U: -3 BBCOR or wood bats only.

• 13U: BPF 1.15 or BBCOR, max -5.

• 12U & under: BPF 1.15 max, USSSA or USA stamp required.

• Baum Bats are legal.

Player Eligibility

• A player may only play for one team per age group.

• Players can play in multiple age groups if eligible (e.g., 12U and 13U).

• Violation = immediate team forfeit.

• Players must show ID if questioned.

Lineups & Substitutions

• Use one DH and unlimited EHs.

• Starters may re-enter once; subs are done after removal.

• Teams locked to players on the original lineup card.

• Lineup cards: include last name, position, jersey number, all subs.

Field & Equipment

• Turf Fields: No metal cleats (except Warrior Park large field), gum, seeds, or tobacco.

• Spring Arbor: Turfs/rubber cleats only, no gum/seeds—$500 fine for infractions.

• Bloomfield Hills: Molded cleats only, no food/drink except water, no pets/bikes.

Base Distances

Conduct & Sportsmanship

• No abuse (verbal/physical) of umpires, players, or fans.

• Ejections: Player/coach may return next game unless tournament director decides otherwise.

• Any threats or violence = permanent ban.

• Profanity or physical contact = immediate ejection.

• Baserunners must slide or avoid contact; no hurdling catchers.

Game Operations

• Arrive 15 minutes early; games may start early.

• No pre-game infield/batting practice on field (foul territory OK).

• Retrieve foul balls.

• Home team is official scorebook.

• Coin flip for home/visitor in pool play; see rules for playoff home team determination.

• Games with only one umpire will still count.

Tie-Breakers for Seeding

Tie-Breaker Order

Within Pools

1. Record (regardless of number of games played this is a tiebreaker)

2. Head-to-head

3. Run differential (max +8/game)

4. Runs allowed

5. Runs scored

6. Coin toss

Within Divisions (multiple pools)

1. Pool place

2. Record (regardless of number of games played this is a tiebreaker)

3. Head-to-head

4. Run differential (max +8/game)

5. Runs allowed

6. Runs scored

7. Coin toss

Winning % formula:
(Wins + 0.5 × Ties) ÷ (Wins + Ties + Losses)
Pool winners are always seeded above non-winners, regardless of record.

Important Note:

NOTE: Tie breakers within SportsEngine Tourney never go back to the top of the tie breaker list. For example, if three teams are tied with Head to Head as the first tie breaker, and all three teams have a 1-1 record against each other, the Head to Head rule doesn't break any ties. The system will then go to the next tie breaker. If the next tie breaker is Run Diff and Team 1 has a differential of 3, Team 2 has a differential of 2 and Team 3 a differential of 1, then Team 3 will be last, Team 2 second and Team 1 first, even if Team 2 beat Team 1 Head to Head because it was bypassed in the first step and does not go back to the top, even after Team 3 is eliminated by the differential rule.

Record - This is in part based on winning percentage (see below), but also favours the team with the greatest number of Wins, or the least number of Losses. For example, if Team A is 2-4-0, Team B is 1-3-2 and Team C is 0-2-4, they have the same winning percentage, but the Record would favour Team A, then Team B, then Team C due to the Wins.

Winning Percentage - This is computed as: (Wins + 0.5 * Ties) / (Wins + Ties + Losses).

Head to Head - This breaks ties based on the Record tie breaker (or Points, if points are used) against the tied teams. For example, 3 teams have the same overall record at 4-2 and all 3 of the teams played each other an equal number of times. If one team's record against the other two was 2-0 and another team's was 1-1 and the last was 0-2, this tie breaker would rank them accordingly. If all three teams had identical 1-1 records, this tie breaker would not be used.

It should be noted that this tie breaker is completely ignored if all of the teams tied do not play each other an equal number of times. For example if there are 3 teams tied and one team played the other two, but the other two did not play each other, this tie breaker will be ignored (regardless of the outcome of the two games played by the first team).

Run Diff - The differential tie breaker determines the total difference between a team's score versus their opponents'. The largest differential wins the tie breaker.

Runs Scored - The total of a team's score. The higher total wins the tie breaker.

Runs Allowed - The total of a team's opponent's score. The smallest total wins the tie breaker.

Pool Place - This tie breaker is only relevant when breaking ties across an entire division. For example, if you have the places set in your pools, within the divisional rankings, this tie breaker will determine that all first place teams in their respective pools should rank higher within the division then second place teams in the pools, and so on.

Weather & Delays

• Rainouts: Games will not be made up.

• Game is official:

  • 4.5 innings (7-inning game, home team ahead)

  • 3.5 innings (6-inning game, home team ahead)

• Lightning delays: minimum 30 minutes, do not extend time limits.

• If lights go out, score reverts to previous inning unless home team is ahead or tied while batting.

Special Rules & Notes

• Courtesy runners for pitcher/catcher only.

• No protests; umpire decisions are final.

• Teams must have at least 8 players to start/continue a game; 7 = forfeit.

• No refunds for forfeits, rainouts, or rule misunderstandings. Rained out games do not count towards record.

• Gate fees are non-refundable at the fields that have them.

• One mound visit per pitcher per inning; second visit = pitcher removed.

Facility-Specific Reminders

Bloomfield Hills

• No sharp objects, food, tobacco, sports drinks (water only), pets, or unapproved vehicles.

• No infield practice; fungos in foul/outfield only.

Safety & Compliance

• All teams/coaches/fans must follow tournament and facility rules.

• Managers are responsible for player and parent behavior at all times.

• Illegal bats: batter is out, runners do not advance; three infractions = coach ejected.

• Catchers may use two-piece helmets.

• “Skunk in the outfield” play is prohibited.

Final Reminders

• Print and carry these rules at all times.

• All teams are responsible for updates via Twitter and Tourney Machine.

• By registering, you agree to all rules and allow use of team likeness in promotional materials.

• Specific to 13U and under: If a team is hitting a continuous lineup or has no legal substitutions available and a player gets injured and cannot continue to play, their spot in the batting order will be skipped with no penalty. Once a player’s spot in the batting order is skipped, the player is out for the remainder of the game and cannot come back into play.

• Rules cannot be changed retroactively.

• Rain delays are decided on by field staff/umpires.

• Reminder: In the 18U Division only, the 17th seeded pool winner is eliminated.

• Tournament director may amend rules as needed. Rules changes must be unanimous vote of Matt, Donna, and Norm.

• Rained out playoff games have the higher seed advance. Teams still have an actual seed, even if they are listed as a Pool Winner.

• Questions? Contact Matt Sandles directly.

Let’s have a great tournament! Good luck to all teams and coaches.