Dunham Baseball Organization

Dunham Boys Baseball Organization Pinto Level Rules

2021 DBBO Rules Across Divisions

Uniform and Equipment

Uniforms are not to be worn prior to the start of the season, or at any time except for a game after the season’s start. Uniforms issued by D.B.B.O. are to be worn for all sanctioned games.

Uniforms issued by the Organization shall not be altered in any fashion. An exception may be made for the printing of players and/or sponsors names on the jersey as deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.

Spikes

No steel spikes will be allowed in any division, except the Colt and Palomino Divisions who will follow rules set by the CSYBA.

Equipment

Section 1. Inventory. Within one (1) week following the close of the season, a team inventory checklist must be submitted to the Commissioner. This checklist must be complete and accurate. Failure to submit the checklist will result in loss of new equipment for the following season.

Section 2. Equipment Responsibility. The Manager and Official Coach are personally responsible for reporting, gathering, collecting, storing, inventorying, and issuing all team equipment.

Section 3. Baseballs and Bats.

A.  Baseballs: Official League Baseball.

B.  Bats: All bats with a 1.15 BPF Stamp or a USA Stamp are allowed.  Wood bats are allowed as well.  Pony, Colt and Palomino will follow restrictions as provided by the Board of Directors and the CSYBA.

C.  It is the responsibility of the Head Coach to insure the bats used by players meet the requirements of the DBBO bat rules. A batter is in violation of the rules when they step in to the batter’s box with an illegal bat. An illegal bat must be pointed out to the umpire prior to the first pitch to the next batter, or before all defensive players leave fair territory. Penalty: The batter is out. All outs recorded during the time at bat count. Runner(s) will not be allowed to advance on a batted ball. If there are (2) infractions by the same team during a game will result in a forfeit.

Section 4. Mitts.

Pitcher may not use white or gray glove. Catchers must use a Catcher's glove, except for the Pinto Division.

Section 5. Protective Gear.

Every Catcher MUST wear a protective helmet. All players MUST wear a jock style protective cup. Any Manager who knowingly allows his catcher or other players to play without this equipment will automatically forfeit the game.

Conduct of Managers, Coaches, Players and Fans

Section 1. Only team managers may discuss a call with an umpire and only if the discussion is a question about a rules call. Judgment calls are final.

Section 2. Players Ejected will have an out recorded in their position in the batting order.

Section 3. Ejections: Any manager, coach, or player ejected from a game, the following penalties will be assessed:

■      1st Ejection: Will include a warning and up to a 1 game suspension

■      2nd Ejection: Minimum 3 Game suspensions

■      3rd Ejection: Subject to Board decision

Note: Any manager, coach, player, or family member ejected from a game for disciplinary reasons must be reported by both managers to the Commissioner within 24 hours.

Section 4. Team managers will be responsible for the conduct of their coaches, players and fans. Umpires are authorized to throw violators out of a game and ask them to leave the park or subject their team to a forfeit. (note: players may remain on the bench if not causing a disturbance)

Section 5. Players who throw a tantrum and toss their bat, helmet or any equipment in a dangerous manner will be ejected.

Section 6. All teams are asked to clean up their dugout and bleacher areas after each game.

Section 7. Home team will set up the diamond for play and will fill in all low spots on the diamond after the game by using the rakes provided in the boxes at each diamond.

General Rule of Play

D.B.B.O. will adhere to these rules for gameplay. When a rule is not addressed in the attached rules, the Rules of The Little League Baseball Association apply, except in Colt and Liberty Divisions.

Parent/League Contact Regarding Unfair Play

If a child is told to stay home from any game that is on the Official Schedule, or is asked or told to participate in action not in accordance with fair play and good sportsmanship, the parent(s) of the player is to contact one (1) of the Officers. Under no circumstance can a Manager suspend a player without approval of the Board. If the Commissioner is involved, it will be brought to the Executive Board.

General Rules applicable to all Divisions

A.       For Bronco and Mustang, when the umpire has determined that a player has thrown a bat, the team shall get a team warning. A subsequent thrown bat in the game by a player on that same team, whether or not it was the originally warned player, shall result in a dead play and an out of the player. As the play is dead, no runners may advance. In Pinto, we do individual warnings, however.

B.        No new inning may begin at the one hour forty-five minute mark of the game, except upon the unanimous agreement of the Managers and Umpire, unless there is a game scheduled to follow that game.

Substitute Players (replacement players for teams)

Section 1. Substitute players may be used for the following purpose:

A.    To absolutely prevent the non-weather related cancellation of regularly scheduled games, (only if team is unable to have nine players available because of injuries to or absence of one or more players) and scheduled make-up games in accordance with the rules of the Dunham Boys Baseball Organization.

B.    Commissioners will provide a "play up" list of players who request and are capable of playing in the division above their rostered/registered division.

C.    To add a 9th or 10th player to the roster.

Section 2. The player selected (from the division below) must Have the consent of his parents and cannot have a scheduled game in his actual division at the same time as the substitute game.

Section 3. Usage of a Substitute

A.    The player selected will be an official member of the team for that game. The player must be utilized during the game in accordance with the rules of the Dunham Boys Baseball Organization.

B.    The substitute player selected may not pitch or catch for the team for which he is substituting, and the substitute player must bat last in the batting order. Failure to follow these rules will result in automatic forfeit.

C.     If a substitute player is called and the regular team member shows, the substitute player is to play a minimum of two (2) innings in that game.

D.    No player from a division may substitute for another team in that same division. The substitute must be a move up.

Home Team Responsibilities

Section 1. The Home Team automatically has the third (3rd) Base Line Bench.

Section 2. The Home Team is responsible for the following:

A.          Install bases and pitchers’ mound on diamond and chalk the foul lines (as needed).

B.          Provide two (2) new game balls.

C.           Clean up diamond (raking in low spots on diamond, bases, dug-outs and gang box.)

Failure to observe above regulations by Home Team will result in forfeiture of game.

Field Nine (9) Players, Exception to Injured

Teams are nine (9) players, wearing complete uniforms. All uniformed players must play the minimum amount of innings required if they arrived prior to the first pitch of the third inning. If a team can only field 8 players, then the 9^th spot in the lineup is an automatic out each time it comes up during the game. Exception: If a player gets injured during the course of play and cannot continue, leaving his team short on the number of players in the batting order, because the team has no substitute players, the team WILL NOT be charged an automatic out in that injured player’s spot in the batting order.

Offense

Section 1. All players must wear a protective helmet authorized by the D.B.B.O. while batting and as a base runner. The Batter-Runner and all other runners will be called out immediately if in the judgment of the umpire said player intentionally lost his helmet. This applies to all divisions.

Section 2. Courtesy Runners will be allowed for the pitcher and catcher scheduled to pitch in the next half-inning when there are two (2) outs. The courtesy runner must be the last batted out, and the Manager must announce the courtesy runner to the Umpire.

Section 3. Avoid Contact Rule. Runners must slide or otherwise attempt to avoid contact at any base where the defensive player has or is about to receive the ball to make a play. Runners do not have to slide if no play is being made at the base. If there is contact, and in the umpire’s judgment, the contact interfered with the fielder making the play, the runner shall be called out. The ball is dead and no other runners may advance. If there is contact away from the play, which in the umpire's judgment was deliberate or malicious, the runner, if at fault, shall be called out. At the umpire’s discretion, the runner may also be ejected from the game. If there is deliberate or malicious contact away from the play, which the umpire determined to be the fault of the fielder, the runner shall be awarded a minimum of one base. At the umpire’s discretion, additional bases may be awarded to the runner, and the fielder may be subject to ejection. If the umpire judges any contact to have been incidental and did not ultimately interfere with the play, no call shall be made.

Section 4. Fake bunting prohibited. Batters who show bunt must either bunt or take the pitch. The batter may not swing the bat at the ball after showing bunt. Batters will be called out whether they make contact with the ball or not and ejected from the game and that position in the batting order will be an automatic out in the lineup.

Section 5. No drop third strike in Bronco or Pinto divisions.

Section 6. No head-first sliding when advancing to a base in any division. No warnings will be issued, the player shall be called out. Safety is our primary concern here.

Infield Fly Rule

 Mustang Division and above

“An INFIELD FLY is a fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) in fair territory which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second, and third bases are occupied, before there are two outs. The pitcher, catcher, and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the Umpire shall immediately declare “Infield Fly” for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baselines, the Umpire shall declare “Infield Fly, if Fair.” Although the batter is ruled "out" as soon as the Umpire declares an "Infield Fly", the ball is still live and the runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul. NOTE: If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield Fly falls to the ground untouched outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an “Infield Fly.”

Umpire Responsibility, Forfeit

Section 1. In case of rain during a game, the Umpire’s decision will be final.

Section 2. The Umpire may declare a game forfeited in favor of the opposing team before play begins if:

A.      A team fails to appear upon the field within five (5) minutes of the time appointed for the game to begin.

B.      The team fails to field eight (8) eligible players.

C.      An ineligible player is used during the course of the game.

D.      A forfeited game must be as a result of a written rule in the D.B.B.O. Rules only.

E.       If an ejected Coach/Fan does not exit the park.

Section 3. Regulation Game. If the game must be called due to weather, darkness, or any other causes which make further play impossible, the following applies:

A.       Bronco and Mustang (6 inning game): If after 3½ innings the Home Team is ahead, this constitutes a regulation game. If after 3½ innings the Home Team is behind, a full 4 innings must be played to constitute a regulation game.

B.        Pony and Colt: follow the rules set by the NSYBA.

C.        Any game that is called before it becomes an official regulation game will be replayed in its entirety.