Headlines
Subscribe to our NewsletterSUSQUEHANNA SENIOR SOFTBALL LEAGUE
REVISED 2026 BY-LAWS
ASA/USA OF PA. SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Information that is UNDERLINED has either been added or revised for the 2026 season.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
WARNING: COVID has not gone away. If a player or manager has COVID or symptoms of COVID, DO NOT COME TO THE GAME. IF THAT PERSON ARRIVES AT THE GAME, HE WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE PREMISES. THE SAFETY OF THE PLAYERS AND FANS IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
1) A player is eligible to play if they have their 55th birthday anytime during that year. Proof of age is certified by driver’s license or proper ID. An ineligible player participating in any league game will result in the forfeiture of that game.
2) All players participating in the game shall wear shirts with numbers on the back. This rule can be modified to allow for some discretion. Managers must allow players to participate. A team hat may also be worn. Hats are optional.
3) Players being qualified to participate in league playoffs: To qualify to be a player in league playoffs, the player must participate in at least 8 regular season games Any game which is forfeited in the regular season will be counted as a game played by all rostered players for the winning team. Team managers and assistant managers are exempt from this rule.
4) Rosters are limited to 25 players.
5) Roster changes: No more than 2 players may leave one team and join another team the next calendar year.
6) No profanity, alcoholic beverages, or illegal drugs are permitted on the field, bench, or adjacent areas. All parks have specific rules regarding their uses.
7) The umpire has the right to eject any player for argumentative behavior. A report will be filed to the executive committee. Repeated offenses shall result in suspensions.
EQUIPMENT
1) This league shall use Dudley 52 core, 300 compression yellow 4A-068Y Thunder ZN softball.
2) Metal spikes are prohibited.
3) Wood bats must have the word “SOFTBALL” engraved, laser cut or painted on the barrel by the manufacturer. EXCEPTION: THE DEMARINI CORN DOG PRO MAPLE COMPOSITE BAT (CDS-[year]) CAN BE USED BY ANY PLAYER. If an illegal bat is used, the batter shall be declared out and is removed from the game. The word “SOFTBALL” applied to the bat by human hands is not acceptable.
4) Any player whose age is between 68-72 (inclusive) can use a metal bat that is NOT a composite bat and approved by ASA or USA. The bat must have a valid ‘ASA’ stamp or ’USA’ stamp embossed on the bat. EXCEPTION: a metal bat that was made before the advent of the USA and/or the ASA stamp is legal if it passes all the other criteria of a non-composite metal bat. Although the “STEEL” bat is a single wall bat, it can only be used by 73 and older players.
5) Any player who is 73 or above can use any bat except titanium and the original Miken Ultra.
GAME RULES
1) Games are seven innings. If the home team is ahead after four and a half innings and any subsequent half inning and the game is called, that is considered a complete game. If a team is leading after 4 innings by 15 or more runs, or after 5 innings by 10 or more runs, the game is declared officially over. If home team is behind, they will get their at bats. EXCEPTION: IN THE PLAYOFFS, A GAME MUST GO AT LEAST SIX AND A HALF INNINGS, BUT THE RUN MERCY RULES ARE STILL IN EFFECT. If the game is incomplete, it will be picked up at that point at a later date.
2. Starting time for games: All games will begin at 6:00 P.M. Forfeiture will occur fifteen minutes after the starting time.
3) A team will consist of eleven players. A game shall be started with a minimum of nine players. The tenth and/or the eleventh player may be added during any half inning break. Any additional players (the twelfth and so on) must be inserted as substitutes. Late players must be added to the bottom of the batting order. If a team has NINE OR TEN players, the opposing team may provide a DEFENSIVE CATCHER ONLY player. That player will continue to be in his original team’s batting order and when it is his turn to bat, another defensive catcher will be provided. This must be set up before a game starts. Once a game starts, the defensive catcher cannot be provided. A defensive catcher cannot be provided to a team with only eight players in order to avoid a forfeit. If an eleventh player arrives late to the game, the defensive catcher is no longer needed.
4) Unlimited extra hitters may be designated any place in the batting order. The extra hitters may substitute into the game on defense but remain in the same spot in the batting order.
5) Substitution or re-entry into the game is allowed. If a player re-enters a game, he must be re-entered in his original position in the batting order. Re-entry can only occur once per player per game.
6) Intentionally throwing a bat is an automatic ejection from the game.
7) Bases are 65 feet apart. Pitching distance is 50 feet (plus 6 feet behind the rubber) with a minimum of a 6-foot arc and a maximum of 12 feet. A mat will be placed behind home plate. Any legally pitched ball hitting home plate or the mat shall be declared a strike.
8) Courtesy runners may be used at any base at any time but before the first pitch is thrown to the next batter. The courtesy runner must be a uniformed roster player. A team may have unlimited courtesy runners per inning, but a player can only be a courtesy runner once per inning. If a courtesy runner is on base when their position to bat is up, that courtesy runner is out.
9) No crash rule is in effect at all bases, including home plate. All incidents will be an automatic out. A second first base bag (orange) and a second home plate will be used to avoid collisions. The second home plate will be placed 8 feet from the original home plate. Base runners must touch the second home plate to score. If a runner touches the original home plate, he is automatically out. The catcher must tag the original home plate. All plays at home plate are force outs. The mat is not part of home plate.
10) Once a player crosses the twenty-foot commitment line from home plate, he cannot return to third base. If he does, he is automatically out.
11) The batter will start with a one and one count. The batter is out on any foul ball after two strikes.
12) The runner may not run through second or third base safely. If he does, he is liable to be put out. Runners intentionally interfering with defensive players can be called out and ejected from the game.
13) Base runners can slide into second or third base only. Runners may slide or dive back into a base they are returning to.
14) If a player injury occurs, the team can continue with less players. No out is recorded when his turn at bat occurs. The injured player cannot return to the game.
15) Our league has elected to use the international rules for extra inning games for the season. Any game which enters the 8th inning tied will start with the player who batted last in the previous inning at second base. If he cannot run, the batter who preceded him in the lineup will run for him. If the runner advances to third base, he may be substituted with a courtesy or pinch runner. Each inning will start the same way until a team wins. If a game is called, all other rules are in effect.
16) The ‘Quinny’ Rule: If a game has gone beyond the required innings (4 1/2 or five) to be a legitimate game and is called on account of darkness, it will be treated like a rainout. The score reverts back to the last full inning. If the game is tied, the game will be picked up from where the game stopped.
MANAGERS AND ASSISTANT MANAGERS RESPONSIBILITIES:
1) Final team rosters will be entered into the website by NAME ONLY. Please enter them by June 15th and give the paper rosters to the league secretary by the same date.
2) Official line-ups will be exchanged by teams prior to the game. Team will update the opposing team of any changes during the game. Score changes should be confirmed as often as possible. The home team is the official score keeper.
3) A representative from each team must attend league meetings. Failure to attend is a twenty-five dollar fine.
4) Each manager is responsible for field conditions and set up before games. Any field conditions that require cancellation or postponement of games is the responsibility of the home team’s manager.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN ON GAME DAY
1) If the games are cancelled, contact the manager of the other team ASAP. Call all players on the team to make them aware of the cancellation.
2) If the field becomes unplayable during the game, the umpires will be payed their normal fee.
3) if the umpire is late for the game, you have the option to use him or send him home without paying him. If the umpire is a no-show, a volunteer may be selected to umpire if both managers are agreeable. Payment is subject to agreement by both managers.
4) Check or cash must be paid to the umpire at game time.
5) The home team is required to call, email, or text the scores to Doug Quinn. Leave your name and the teams with their respective scores. If rained out, let Doug be aware of it. Doug’s email address and cell phone number can be found on the master list.
6) A team representative is required to contact the umpire coordinator when rainouts occur.
7) All teams which forfeit a league game are required to pay a league fine of $25.00. In addition, the team which forfeits will be responsible for paying the umpire fees for said game(s). This fine must be paid as promptly as possible to the secretary-treasurer.
Playoffs for the 2026 season will be as follows:
League final standings will be used to determine each team’s opponent at the beginning of the playoffs. Seedings will be based on WINS. If there is a tie, it will be based on head-to-head competition. If there is still a tie, it will be decided by coin flip. The higher seed will be home team for each game until the championship round. In the championship round, the undefeated team will be home the first game. If there is an ‘if’ game, the team that won the first game will have the choice of home or away. Whenever possible, the higher seed will have the HOME FIELD advantage. The home team will keep the OFFICIAL SCORE, but both teams should be aware that their scores match.
The league for 2026 consists of:
1. HOPE (nee Rogele)
2. STRIKE FORCE
3. LINGLESTOWN FIREHOUSE BAR (LFB) (nee Gingerbread Man)
4. A.L. POST 974
5. DIAMOND DOGS
6. DECKS UNLIMITED
7. A.L. POST 272
UMPIRES TO CONTACT FOR RAINOUTS:
EAST SHORE – DAVE MOORELAND (717-673-9461) – NATHAN STERNER (717-919-8295)
damblues32@gmail.com nathan.sterner308@gmail.com
WEST SHORE – MIKE PEHANICH (717-903-6594) mdp508@aol.com
