Welcome
Subscribe to our NewsletterWelcome the the Marlboro Coed Softball League website for 2022. As of May 16, team info and all schedule info has been entered onto the website.
Please send corrections or suggestions to the league email: marlborocoedsoftballleague@outlook.com
WELCOME TO THE MARLBORO COED SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2022 WEBSITE
Reporting Scores
Following games, it is recommended that BOTH coaches report scores within 24 hours. Last year there were at least four cases where coaches reported different scores. Since "Runs Against" is a criteria for tie breakers in final standings (and playoff seeding) it is in a team's interest to have accurate results. If only one team reports a score that result will be recorded without further checks.
Scores should be reported to the league email - marlborocoedsoftballleague@outlook.com
Rainouts/Rescheduled Games
As the season starts, we've noted that the City of Marlborough Recreation Department has been much more active in closing the town fields in situations with heavy rain so as to prevent damage to the fields. We'll try to alert affected teams when we get those warnings but if you have any doubts about field status, please email the league ( marlborocoedsoftballleague@outlook.com ). In the absence of official closure, obviously use your best judgement with regards to player safety and potential damage to the fields. The town has taken a dim view of field damage resulting from playing in muddy conditions and we don't want to jeopardize future league accessibility to the fields.
In the event of a rain out or a game being rescheduled for any reason, please inform the league via the score reporting process. Please use the league email address ( marlborocoedsoftballleague@outlook.com ).
The league has a number of available field slots for make-up games, available on a first come, first served basis. Please email the league to request fields for make-up games. We’ll attempt to keep this list of the available slots current as they are assigned.
Rescheduled Games
As of May 16, 2022 the following fields are available for make-up games.
Mon Aug. 15 - Ghiloni 6:00 PM
Mon Aug. 15 - Upper Stevens 6:00 PM
Wed Aug. 17 - Upper Stevens - 6:00 PM
One cautionary note on rescheduling. In the past teams have attempted to squeeze in make-up games as doubleheaders during the period following the regular schedule. Daylight fades earlier and can make it tough to get in two full games. Sunset on Aug 1 is at 8:07 and on 7:49 on Aug 15. The lighting can especially be a major problem on a cloudy day. So use your judgement. In a worst case, maybe agree to play two short games.
Marlboro Coed Softball League Specific Rules
1. The spirit of this league is a fun, coed, non-aggressive-play league. Teams receiving multiple complaints or determined (by the league official) to not be following this spirit may not be invited to return in the future or, in extreme cases, may be banned from further play.
2. A team must have 2 women in the field AND in the top 10 of the batting order at all times. If only 1 woman is present, then:
a. First girl must bat in the 1-9 spot and the 10th spot is an automatic out
b. Team may field 10 players, but the woman can NOT be the catcher
· If no women present, then:
1. It’s up to the other team to decide if still playing
2. 9th and 10th batters are automatic outs
3. Team can field 9 players (3 outfielders)
· If a team only has 8 players then the other team, if they so choose, can provide a catcher to the other team so the game can be played. The pitcher or any fielder MUST cover any plays at the plate. The 9th and 10th batters are automatic outs.
3. No more than 8 runs per team per inning can be scored, except for the 7th inning.
4. 7 inning games (extra innings if necessary).
5. Taking out people with an aggressive slide is an automatic out. Blocking the base is also illegal. You CAN NOT take out the catcher or any other player at ANY COST.
6. No stealing or leading, but tagging up on a caught fly ball is ok. Players cannot leave their base until the ball makes contact with the bat.
7. Slow pitch with an arc of about 10 feet. No line drive pitches (under 8’) will be called strikes. It must go at least 8 feet high but no higher than 12 feet and hit the mat to be called a strike. Please make sure your pitchers know this rule.
8. We will use a safety bag this year at first base. Please make sure that all team members know to run to the safety bag. If they use the other bag it will be an automatic out.
9. ALL games must start by 6:00pm.
10. Foul balls that are caught are an out. A foul tip that goes over the batter’s shoulder and is caught is an out.
11. Each team supplies 1 new game ball per game. (2 balls per game). Teams hitting a ball into the woods must make an attempt to retrieve the ball if possible.
12. Home team provides bases.
13. Players must play in 1/2 of a team’s regular season games (7 games) to be eligible for playoffs with the exception of the below exemption. Teams that violate this rule will be banned from the league. Teams may be asked to produce their score books if there is any dispute about a player’s eligibility. If the opposing team disputes any player in the lineup it must be brought up before play begins. There will be no disputes after the game has already commenced.
13a) Medical Exemption: If a player on your team cannot participate in a certain number of games, due a legitimate medical reason, then those games will not count when calculating the total number of regular season games for that player. In order to avoid teams using this exemption to bring in “ringers” the player in question must present evidence justifying a legitimate medical exemption to the league prior to the playoffs. The decision of the league official will be final when evaluating this matter.
14. A pinch runner may be used for the batter after the batter reaches first base safely if the batter has an injury or medical reason requiring such. The pinch runner must be the person who made the last out (regardless of gender). If there are no outs and a pinch runner is needed the LAST BATTER in the lineup will be the pinch runner.
15. If a ball is overthrown to 1st or 3rd base and is ruled out of play (see rule 15)….the runner(s) get 2 bases, the one they are advancing to plus 1 no matter where they are in the base line as long as they have both feet off the base they are currently on.
16. Out of play balls for each field…. THE BACKSTOP ON ALL FIELDS IS STILL A LIVE BALL AND IS IN PLAY!
16a) WHITE-Ball is out of play when the ball goes behind the fences (both 1st and 3rd base side), into the dugout or into the soccer/lacrosse nets that are sometimes in foul ground. The ball is in play if it hits the fence and stays in front of it.
16b) WHITE-any ball that hits the tree above the fence is a Home Run even if it lands in the field of play. There may be a net this year in left field. Any ball that hits the net above the fence is a Home Run. If the ball rolls under the fence in center field it is a ground rule double. If the ball rolls into the woods in right field it’s all you can get. The fielder MUST go get the ball.
16c) RED-Ball is out of play when the ball goes behind the fences (both 1st and 3rd base side), into the dugouts or into the creek. The ball is in play if it hits the fence and stays in front of it.
16d) CC-Ball is out of play when the ball goes behind the fence on the 1st base side (including down the hill) and into the dugouts on the 3rd base side. The ball is in play if it hits the fence and stays in front of it.
16e) GHILONI FIELD-Ball is out of play when it goes beyond the line established by the light poles on both base lines, touches a tree in flight, or enters the dugout area through the fence.
17. Pitcher must pitch from the pitcher’s rubber or behind the rubber. The pitchers mound is 55 feet from home plate. You are allowed to pitch UP TO 6 feet behind but CAN NOT pitch any closer than the 55 feet.
18. The base paths are 65 feet apart, unless a field has base receivers embedded in the dirt, in which case this will be where the bases are placed for safety sake. Please make sure you abide by these lengths.
19. Base coaches make safe/out and fair/foul calls. Head Coaches ONLY will resolve any arguments (amicably). If an argument cannot be resolved amicably (then your team probably does not belong in this league) then the call will go in favor of the visiting team in the first dispute and then home team in the next dispute, etc.
20. No metal cleats.
21. No bunting.
22. Softball bats must not exceed 1.20 BPF (Bat Performance Factor). NO COMPOSITE BARREL or TRIPLE WALL bats are allowed. If a bat has a composite handle only it WILL BE ALLOWED. These are usually half and half bats. Please make sure this in enforced. We do not want any injuries and ONLY LEGAL BATS will be allowed. If an illegal bat is found to be used then the team will AUTOMATICALLY FORFEIT the game. If this happens TWICE then the team will be thrown out of the league with NO REFUND of money. Seeing you have the field you can still scrimmage with the team you were supposed to play but the game WILL NOT count in the standings. If there are any questions with regards to which bats are legal please contact the league.
23. Limit of 4 out-of-the-park HR’s per team per game. Any additional out-of-the-park HR’s will be outs. This only applies to fields that have fences. Any other fields the outfielders MUST go get the ball (see 15A1).
24. Teams must have 4 OF’s that are at least 85’ deep from the bases. Please make sure this is enforced.
25. Tiebreakers used to determine standings (and playoff seedings):
a. Head-to-Head record
b. Runs Against (per game avg)
26. Forfeited games will count as a 7-0 loss to the forfeiting team. This score will not be considered in determining a team’s “Runs Against (per game avg)” for purposes of playoff seeding tie breakers. This calculation will be performed only if/when the need for determining the tie breaker is performed at the end of the season.
27. Makeup games that are not played prior to the tournament will be counted as 7-7 tie in determining playoff seeding. All ties will count as a ½ win ½ loss for each team.
28. Strike Zone mats will be used. If a legal pitch (see #6) hits any part of the mat (not the plate), the batter will have a strike called on them. The mat will be placed about 3 inches BEHIND the plate. If the ball falls in between the mat and the plate it IS A STRIKE. If it hits ANY part of the plate then IT IS A BALL. The BLACK part of the plate is considered part of the plate and will be called a ball. Please make sure this is enforced. This will allow the pitchers and batters to get used to the strike zone as the mat WILL NOT be used in the playoffs and the umpires will be calling balls and strikes. Catchers will be the authority as to whether a ball hit the mat or not.
29. EVERY BATTER will start with a 1 ball and 1 strike count. 6 pitched balls that miss the mat is a walk (ie Ball 7). 2 strikes (swinging or looking) will be a strike out. Foul balls do not count as a 3rd strike.
30. Pitchers must TRY and hit the mat. We don’t want intentional walks. Coaches, please try and keep your pitchers honest on this one!
31. Teams must establish and utilize a consecutive batting order. If requested, the Batting Order will be supplied to the opposing team’s coach and/or umpire. The batting order must contain a spot for all players in the field. It may also contain any unlimited number of Extra Hitters (EH’s). The field positions and EH’s, may bat at any spot in the lineup but batters may not change their spot in the lineup once it has been established.
Additional batters (Bench players, late arrivals, etc.) not previously in the game may be added to the end of the lineup at any time or may be substituted into an existing lineup spot by removing that existing player from the game.
Rule Number 2 regarding the number of female players in the top 10 batting spots must be adhered to in all situations or the appropriate penalties under that rule will apply at the appropriate spots in the lineup.
32. Teams may substitute in the field freely. A player who plays in the field must appear in the batting order.
33. A player must participate in at least 2 innings of a game for it to count as eligible towards the playoff count.
34. Teams that forfeit 3 games during the season will be put on suspension for the remainder of the season and not eligible for the playoffs. All games past and future will be scored as 7-0. Suspended teams will be counted as a last seed and any teams seeded below them will move up in position.
35. Playoff seedings will be determined based on the final season standings of those teams that commit to participating in the tournament up to 48 hours in advance of the first game. In other words, if 8 out of 10 teams commit to playing then the bracket will be an 8-team bracket. Teams that cancel their commitment to play within 48 hours of the tournament will be considered a forfeit of that particular game in the tournament due to the logistics of having to notify all teams of time changes at such a late hour.
36. Umpires will be provided for the playoffs as part of league fees. They will be responsible for calling out/safe, fair/foul, strikes/balls, etc.
37. Make-up games will be rescheduled by the home team. Visiting team MUST be able to attend any make-up re-scheduled for a Mon or Wed. If make-up is on another day you must make sure the visiting team can field a team.
38. In the case of rain DURING the game BOTH coaches will reach a decision as to whether or not the game should continue. If a decision is made to cancel the game once it has started but prior to completing 4 innings, then the game will be NULL AND VOID AND MUST BE RESCHEDULED.
39. Softballs to be supplied by the league.
40. Batters must be in the batters box before the pitch is thrown.
41. If a rule is not covered then we will abide by the ASA official rule book for the ruling of a certain play or call.
42. Dispute Procedure. All disputes should try to be settled during the game by adhering to our league rules, ASA rules, and the spirit of the league as described in Rule 1. Any rulings that cannot be settled during the game can be referred to the league for clarification. All official protests will be heard and decided by the three-member League Board. If any member of the Board is not available or must recuse themselves due to their involvement in the protest, the remaining Board members may hear the case themselves or choose to elect temporary substitute members from the coaching ranks of other teams within the league.
Pitch Count
The pitch count starts at -1 ball and 1 strike for each batter(i.e. it takes 6 balls to walk and only 2 to strike out)
Base Paths!
All base paths should be 65 feet in distance.
No Metal Cleats!
No metal cleats!!!!!!!
Additional Bat Information!
Additional bat info from an email from the League Commish:
I was just asked about the approved bat list and I wanted to make sure everyone was clear on what bats we could and could not use. The list I sent out was from my men’s Sunday morning league and they DO NOT ALLOW COMPOSITE BATS. As you will see on the list all the major brands were not on there because they are all composite. If you have a composite bat you CAN NOT use it in this league. This is a fun league and those bats are VERY dangerous. Especially for the pitchers. Please let me know if you have any questions.
