Rules for the 2022 EAST COAST CLASSIC

HOME RUN:

1) All games have a 7-over the fence homerun limit. Inside the park is not considered in the home run total.

2)Any additional ball hit as a homerun will be considered a single out for the batting team..

3)Any ball touched by a defensive player that then goes over the fence will be considered a 4-base error and not count in the HR total.

Should a defensive player touch a ball that is already over the fence, or, in the umpire’s judgement, would have been a HR anyway, it will be counted as a HR.

BATTER

1) All batters take their turn at bat with a count of 1 ball and 1 strike.

2) All foul balls are strikes.

3) A caught foul tip to the catcher is a caught foul ball regardless of height.

4) No base stealing on the pitcher. Runners must remain in contact with the base until the ball is swung at or until it reaches the mat.

BATS

All Bats are to be tested and sticker placed on bats from the person doing the test.

If at anytime a sticker falls off the bat, the bat is to be tested again. If an umpire notices that a sticker is missing during a game the bat is removed from game. And can be retested after game.

All teams are expected to have 20 bats presented at the bat testing. If any of the 20 bats fail, they will be able to replace failed bat with another passing bat.

When the bats are placed against fence before the game Ump will check for stickers. If a sticker looks to be modified the bat is taken out of the game until retested can occur.

At no time can a player take a bat off the fence and replace it with a bat in his or her bag. The 20 bats you start with are the 20 you begin with. If the Ump or coach from the opposing team sees that a player has switched a bat out. The bat is removed.

PITCHING

1) Pitching arc is 5 – 10 ft

2) Once the ball has been released, he may move side to side or back, to prepare defensively.  They may not charge the batter.

3) Should a ball touch a legally discarded piece of protective equipment (ex. face mask), the ball is alive and in play. 

4) When the pitcher becomes a runner and there are 2 outs, he may be replaced by the second out of the inning. This is to permit him to don his protective equipment and not delay the game. This will not apply if the pitcher is only wearing a facemask.

5) Juking is allowed.

6) PITCHING MASK ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

* All other rules follow the SPN guidelines.

GAME:

ALL GAMES ARE SUBJECT TO A 1HR TIME LIMIT. with. Home team if losing getting there last at bat.  (so 4th inning and the home team is down 5 and they hit the 1hr mark during the inning the home team gets to bat their turn after they get the 3 outs of visiting team) this inning is not open inning.  Unless the Ump calls last inning prior to both teams taking the field.

All games will be 7 innings (unless 1hr limit is before the 7th) with a mercy rule of 12 runs being enforced after 4 1/2 -5 innings.

7 run innings max unless open inning.

3 courtesy runners allowed. Cannot be the same runner.

Tie breaker rule – refer to SPN guidelines.

Double substitutions are allowed.

Any game halted for safety reasons, before being a legal game, will be continued at the first opportunity with the exact same game conditions as were in force at the time of game stoppage, if possible.

The management of the East Coast Classic are the sole arbiters of the event and may make any and all changes as required for the safe completion of the event.

Standing – SPN TIE Breaker rule will be used during ties in round robin standings

PLAYERS

10 players defensively at all times. Should a team decide to use an extra hitter, failure to finish the game with the extra hitter is an out, each time it is his turn to bat.

No D.H.

Any player suspended by a Nationally recognized Softball Association may not participate.

BASES:

Men’s bases are set at 70 feet

Ladies’ bases are set at 65 feet.

HOME PLATE:

A mat will serve as home plate. Every inch of the mat is available to pitch a strike.

Any legally pitched ball that touches any part of the mat is a strike.

On a force play all the mat is good for an out.

Scoring line will be used.

Commitment line will be used.

“A” BALL LEVEL (MENS) Live Plate. If a Catcher blocks the plate from a player scoring, the play will be interference and run is allowed.

SHOES:

All forms of metal cleats are prohibited.
Should a player be found wearing metal cleats, they will  be ejected at the moment of discovery.

EJECTIONS:

Anyone ejected from a game has 2 minutes to leave the area. Should he not do so, his team could forfeit the game.

Anyone who is ejected is automatically suspended for the following game, minimum.

Any deliberate contact with an official, the player is suspended for the remainder of the tournament and is immediately referred to the police for legal action.

PROMOTION:

 If your team wins a division of the tournament, they will be moved up to a higher division for the following year. For example, if you win the c/d/e men’s tournament (c champions, you will be moving up to A the following year). This rule is in affect if higher divisions are offered. If they are not offered the following year you will continue to play in the mixed pool. Another example is the winner of women’s rec will be moved up to comp/ open the following year. If the separation for round robin play is offered.