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As of January 1, 2018, PONY Baseball will be following a pitch count instead of an innings limit, as recommended by MLB Pitch Smart Guidelines.
As stated in Section 10 “Pitching Rules” and T-8 “Tournament Pitching,” any team member may pitch, subject to the restrictions of the pitch count, as recommended by MLB Pitch Smart Guidelines, for age divisions Pinto 8U, Mustang 10U, Bronco 12U, Pony 14U, Colt 16U, Palomino 18U and Thorobred 23U. Players in the Shetland 6U age division are not permitted to pitch. Pitchers are to adhere to the chart below for league and sanction tournament play. These guidelines apply to players based on their actual age, not their league age.
*If a pitcher has the available pitches, a pitcher could pitch in two (2) games in a day.
Pitchers reaching their maximum number of pitches in a day, while pitching to a batter, may finish pitching to that batter before being removed. A pitcher is charged with the number of pitches in the specific calendar day and week in which they are pitched, regardless of whether they are local organization league games, the playoff of postponed games or suspended games, tie games, or exhibition games.
Rest is calculated as per calendar day.
The league should assign an official scorekeeper for each game to track pitch counts. In the absence of an official scorekeeper, the home team book shall be the official record of games statistics including pitch count. Electronic scoring devices are recommended at all levels of tournament play in order to ensure accurate pitch count.
In conjunction with USA Baseball and its other participating national member organizations, PONY Baseball adopted the USA Baseball bat standard (USABat) on January 1, 2018. Except for -3 (BBCOR certified), all other 2 1/4" and 2 5/8" barrel bats with a minus factor of (-5, -7, -9, etc.), must be USABat certified with the USABat licensing stamp on the bat in order to be used for league and tournament play.
Tee ball bats are not required to undergo lab testing to receive approval under the USABat program. However, to be approved for play, tee ball bats must carry the USA Baseball mark accompanied by the following text: "Only For Use With Approved Tee Ball Bats." If you already have a tee ball bat you would like to continue using, all you have to do is purchase a USA Bat sticker directly from USA Baseball and place it on your bat. You can purchase a USA Bat sticker, click here. Tee ball bats manufactured after the new rule was adopted will already include the USABat Baseball mark.
To find out more about the USABat standard click here. To find PONY's official approved bat list, which is in accordance with USABat, click here. You can access the complete 2019 USABat Guide here.
BAT TAMPERING IS CHEATING!!
For a list of decertified bats, click here.
MVBA 2020 Pinto Rules
RULES: Play by the official rule of the PONY Rules and Regulations Book, with the following exceptions.
GENERAL Coaches All coaches must wear a lanyard/badge stating their Name, Township and that
their State Police/Child Abuse Clearances have been verified by a member of their territory’s board. Any coach who forgets his badge will not be permitted to perform their duties on the field or in the dugout.
Cancellations
1. Canceling team must reschedule within 48 hours of cancellation or that team forfeits.
2. In the event of a rain out, the home team is responsible for rescheduling within 48 hours of the cancellation.
Umpires
1. The home team is responsible for the scheduling and paying of umpires. (It was agreed that Coaches know and understand the rules. Agree to coach with integrity and appropriate discernment to be fair and officiate their own games. Agree that play-offs should have paid officials.) See Miscellaneous Rules at below for who calls plays.
PINTO
Rosters
1. Children ages 5-8 are eligible to play, 5 & 6 year olds to play the outfield only – no exceptions
2. Roster Size – Unlimited. Must have at least 8 players or game is forfeited.
Playing Fields
1. Bases – 60 ft. apart
2. Pitching Rubber – 38 ft. from home plate enclosed in an 18 foot pitcher’s circle.
3. Must line entire diamond and a 5 foot pushback (parallel) line to the bases on each field. The pushback line indicates the “infield boundary”.
Offensive Rules
1. All players are put in to a continuous batting order. If a player leaves a game for any reason, other than injury, the team is given an out for that batting position.
2. Coaches pitch to their batters – no tee.
3. 3 full swings or 7 pitches, batter is out unless 7th and pitches thereafter continue to be foul.
a. No leading off of a base. Player remains on the base until batter hits the ball.
b. One warning will be given per TEAM. After one warning, runner will be called out.
4. Any ball not leaving the infield boundary is a (1) base max.
5. Batting helmets must be worn at all times.
Defensive Rules
1. Once infield possession is made by an infield player, if runner has both feet off of the base, he proceeds at his own risk. Player can be safe or out, but can only take (1) base.
2. Five outfielders are permitted (must be positioned in the grass).
a. 9th fielder must be catcher.
b. A catcher is required to be in full equipment.
i. Player may catch pitches if he or she shows the ability to do so. Otherwise, they are there for plays at the plate only and a coach will catch.
3. Defensive coaches are permitted to stand in the outfield BEHIND their outfielders. Do NOT stop the ball unless a player is in danger of being injured – never pick up a batted ball.
4. Mandatory Heart guard for 1st and 3rd basemen. Heart guard and helmet for pitcher. (Face guard optional)
Miscellaneous (Pinto continued)
1. Length of Game – 6 innings. No extra innings in regular season games.
2. 5 runs per inning, except for the last inning which is unlimited.
3. Mercy Rule – A game is over if a team is winning by 15 or more runs after the 4th inning.
4. If a game is halted due to weather or darkness it is considered a complete game after 3 ½ innings are played. (PONY rules)
5. Umpires = Coaches
a. Base coaches call 1st and 3rd.
b. Outfield coach calls 2nd.
c. Pitching or catching coach (if used) calls plays at the plate.
6. No shorts – baseball pants only
7. Cushioned cork center, leather wrapped baseballs are to be used. Home team must provide at least 2 new balls/game.
8. 4 “coaches” in dug-out/on field at any time, includes Team Mom. Alternate/additional
coaches must stay out of dug-out/off field. Must be wearing a clearance badge!
2020 Mustang/Bronco Rules:
Play by the official rule of the PONY Rules and Regulations Book, with the following exceptions.
MUSTANG
No metal spikes.
5 Run Rule 5 Run Rule per inning, except the last inning.
Sliding Rule at Home Plate
1. Runner’s responsibility to avoid contact. Umpires discretion.
2. Runner is out.
Head-First Slides
1. No head-first slides advancing to a base. Head-first sliding IS allowed going back to a base.
2. Runner is out.
Walk Rule
1. Pitcher may have unlimited walks.
2. A pitcher who has walked 4 batters in an inning, twice in a game, must be removed from the mound immediately.
Two Hit Batsman Pitcher must be removed after hitting 2 batters in an inning.
Dropped Third Strike If 3rd strike is dropped, batter is out.
Third Base Runner If there is a base runner on 3rd, he is locked on third unless the catcher makes a play to
third after a pitched ball.
PONY Rule Book Base Running Rule #9N(3) To be enforced.
Catcher to Pitcher Throw On a pitched ball, the return throw is a dead ball.
Walked Batter Batter being walked can only take 1st base.
BRONCO (Official Pony Rule Book Rules w/ the following exceptions.)
No metal spikes.
Sliding Rule at Home Plate
1. Runner’s responsibility to avoid contact. Umpire’s discretion.
2. Runner is out.
Continue Play after 10 Run Rule
1. Game is official. Continue playing remainder of game as an exhibition with Coaches’ Agreement.
2. Pitcher’s innings count.
Balk Rule Enforced starting on May 15, before then, umpire to issue warning.
