Recreational Slo-Pitch League

(2009 - Final)

This is a mixed recreational slo-pitch league. Overly aggressive play, unsportsmanlike conduct and abuse of the umpire will not be tolerated. Unlimited substitution of players is allowed. Players do not have to work for your company, they can be neighbours, friends, relatives, kids or whatever.

The playing field is ours from 6:30pm to 8:00pm every Tuesday and Thursday. All players should be at the field by 6:15pm to ensure that the game begins promptly at 6:30pm sharp. Games will be a maximum of nine innings, unless tied. No new inning may begin after 7:50pm.

Each half-inning will be played until the batting team has scored seven runs, or has made three outs. The defensive team must field at least seven fielders, at most eleven fielders, and at most nine male fielders. Defensive positions are Catcher, Pitcher, Infielders (maximum 4) and Outfielders (maximum 5).

Rosters

During the preseason, and the first 2 round robins, ie from Tuesday May 5 through Thursday July 23, anyone may play on your team. Starting July 28, and until the end of the playoffs, you may use only players who have played at least four games with your team between May 5 and July 23. Players may not be borrowed from other teams starting July 28. This will hopefully prevent any perception that any team has or could use ringers in the more important late season games.

Preseason, Regular Season and Playoffs

The preseason will consist of 4 full games from Tuesday May 5, 2009 through Thursday May 14, 2009.

The regular season will run from Tuesday May 19 through Thursday August 27. Three 5-week round robin tournaments will be played. Each team will play every other team once in each round robin. No rainout dates will be scheduled. In the first round robin, teams will receive two points for a win. In the second round robin, teams will receive four points for a win. In the third, six points will be awarded for a win. In the event of a tie or a rainout, each team will receive half the points. Standings will be maintained throughout the regular season at www.phlip.ca/baseball.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the first place team (home) will play the second place team with the winner advancing directly to the championship. The loser of the 1st vs 2nd place game (home) will play the fifth place team, and the third place team (home) will play the fourth place team, in single-game elimination matches. The two winning teams will then play (home will be the higher placed team in regular season) with the winner advancing to the championship. The championship will be a best-of-3 series. The winner of 1st vs 2nd will be the home team for games 1 and 3 of the championship series.
Game date order will be Game 1 - 3rd vs 4th, Game 2 - 1st vs 2nd, Game 3 - Loser of game 2 vs 5th, Game 4 - Winner of game 1 vs Winner of game 3. Championship will be Winner of game 2 vs Winner of game 4. Rainouts will be rescheduled. The playoffs will start on Tuesday September 1, 2009.

Tournament

The annual tournament is set for Saturday August 8, 2009.

Rainouts

During the regular season, if a game is cancelled due to rain, the game will count as a complete game if either of the following is true

• 3 complete innings have been played
• 2 ½ innings have been played, and the home team is ahead in the score

If neither of the above is true, the game will be counted as a 0-0 tie.

In the playoffs, any rained-out game will be resumed at the next opportunity, with the same score, count and baserunners, if any.

Default by Team

A team will lose by default if it can not field 7 players by 6:30 pm. A default will count in the standings as a 10-0 victory by the opposing team. As well, the number of points for the defaulted game will be subtracted from the defaulting team's standings.

Captains are reminded that, before the 6-point games and the playoffs, they may borrow players from other teams when they are short of players for a game, so there is no reason to default a game. Captains are expected not to abuse this privilege. If a team is chronically short of players, they should go out and find more players of their own.

Umpires and Equipment

During the preseason and regular season, the batting team will supply the umpire for each half inning. For the playoffs, the two teams not playing in the game will each supply one umpire for game.

Please remember that the bye team is responsible for making sure that the equipment is picked up from Tuesday's game and dropped off for the Thursday game that week. One of the teams playing in Thursday's game will also be playing on the following Tuesday, take the equipment with you after Thursday's game.

A schedule and a washroom key will be kept in the equipment bag.

Baserunning

Safety Bag at First Base	An orange-and-white double safety bag will be used at first base in order to reduce the possibility of collision. For this reason, if there may be a play on the batter at first base, the batter must touch only the orange part of the bag. The white part of the bag is for the exclusive use of the first baseman for a play on the batter. On a multiple base hit, the first baseman shall stand well clear of both bags so as not to obstruct the baserunner, and the baserunner may touch either bag. If a 1st baseman touches the orange bag under any circumstances, the baserunner will be called safe. If a baserunner touches the white bag, except while rounding first base on a multiple base hit, the baserunner will be called out. If the 1^st baseman is occupying the white bag on any play, even when he should not be there, the baserunner must touch only the orange bag or must round outside of the orange bag. Any collision when the 1^st baseman is occupying the white bag will result in the baserunner being called out. The orange part of the safety bag is no longer used once the batter has made it safely to first base.
Rounding Bases	Since the bases are not anchored, when rounding any base, including first base, the baserunner may run near the base, within one foot approximately. If there is no potential for a play at 2nd or 3rd base, the baseman shall stand well clear of their bag so as not to obstruct the baserunner.
Safety Zone at Home Plate	A line will be drawn parallel to, and approx two feet foul from, the third baseline, to mark a safety zone for the catcher. Baserunners must run between the screen and this line when attempting to score. An orange marker will be placed in line with the first baseline, within the safety zone, ie no less than two feet from home plate. The marker will also be in foul territory on the first base side. A runner is safe if his foot touches any part of the marker, or touches the ground past the end of the marker, before a defensive player touches home plate with the ball in his possession. Any baserunner who touches the ground inside the safety zone will be called out by the umpire, whether or not there is a play at home plate. Even if a batter hits a home run, any baserunners that run inside the safety zone will be called out. The reason for this is to get all baserunners used to always running outside the safety zone, so they will not suffer a brain cramp on a close play and cause a collision.
Commit Line	A commit line will be drawn halfway between third base and home plate. When a baserunner advances past the commit line, he is now forced to continue home. This is a 'force play'. The runner may not retreat to third base.
Runner Tagged Out	A baserunner is out if he is tagged out by any defensive player except between the commit line and home plate. In this zone, the baserunner is out only if a defensive player touches home plate with the ball in his possession before the baserunner touches the orange marker or touches the ground past the orange marker.
Ball thrown out of bounds	If a ball thrown from the infield goes out of bounds, the baserunners will get the base they were heading towards (if not standing on a base) plus one more base. If a baserunner is between first and second base, but is running back towards first base, he will get the base he was heading for (first base) plus one (second). If a baserunner is between first and second base, but is running towards second base, he will get the base he was heading for (second base) plus one (third). Play continues if a ball thrown by an outfielder goes out of bounds.
Stealing	Base stealing is not allowed. Baserunners must maintain contact with the base until the ball is hit. Anticipation is allowed, meaning that if the baserunner loses contact with the base after having anticipated a hit, he is not automatically out.
NO Sliding	Sliding is no longer allowed! Base runners need to remember that our bases are not anchored. Players must remember that this league is strictly recreational and the rule change is for the safety of all players. If a fielder is obstructing the basepath, the runner should stop, and he will be called safe, except of course on a force play. If a baserunner makes contact with a fielder, the baserunner will be called out, whether or not the fielder is obstructing the basepath.
Other	Once a baserunner has touched a base, he may not retreat to an earlier base. For example, if runners are on second and third bases and the ball is hit, and the runner from second base touches third base, then the runner from third base is forced to advance to home. Another example, if a runner is on 2nd base and the batter hits a fly ball and the baserunner advances to 3rd base, and touches 3rd base, the baserunner may not return to 2nd base to 'tag up'.

Pitching

Legal Pitch

A legal pitch must have a visible arc. For male batters, the maximum height of the arc is the top of the backstop. For female batters, the maximum arc is 10 feet. The point of this rule is that we don’t want to see pitchers throwing very high pitches, or fastballs, to female batters. Too high or low an arc is an 'illegal pitch'. If the batter hits an illegal pitch, the ball is in play. If the batter swings at an illegal pitch and misses, the pitch counts as a strike. If the batter does not swing, the pitch will be a 'ball'. The pitcher must have one foot on the pitching rubber at some point during the pitching motion. The umpire will call 'illegal pitch' only if the batter does not swing at the pitch, and only after the ball lands on the ground or in the catcher's glove.

Strikes, Balls & Outs

Male Batters A pitch is a strike if it has the correct arc and if the ball hits the mat or anywhere on home plate, flat part or beveled edges. Batter is out after two strikes. Batter has the option to walk after three consecutive balls. Foul ball counts as strike one, but not as strike two. Female Batters A pitch is a strike if it has the correct arc and if the ball hits the mat. Batter is out after three strikes. Batter has the option to walk after any three balls. Foul ball counts as strike one or two, but not as strike three. All Batters Batter may decline to walk, in which case balls are no longer counted for that at-bat only.

Fielding

Number of Fielders	5 outfielders + 4 infielders + pitcher + catcher minimum 7 fielders, maximum 9 male fielders, maximum 11 fielders
Other	Outfielders must remain on the outfield grass until the ball is hit. Infielders, except pitcher and catcher, must remain behind the baseline until the ball is hit. 'Fake' play by baseplayers is NOT allowed. See Canadian Softball Rules if you are unsure of the meaning of this rule. Play continues if any fielder runs out of bounds with the ball in his possession. or if an outfielder throws the ball out of bounds. If an infielder throws the ball out of bounds, the baserunners get the base they were advancing towards plus one. See Baserunning.
No Out of Bounds	Until a couple years ago, the rule was that if the fielder goes beyond the extension of the backstop screen to catch a foul ball, the catch would be ruled out-of-bounds, and the batter would still be alive. In order to simplify things for the umpire, this rule was deleted. A catch is a catch, and in such a case, the batter is out.
No Foul Tip Out	It has always been a point of uncertainty how high a caught foul tip should go before the batter would be called out. To simplify the process, any foul ball caught by the catcher will be just a foul ball, and the batter will remain alive. If any foul ball is caught by any other fielder, the batter will be out.

Batting

Batting Order	The batting order must contain spots for at least three female batters. If less than three female batters are playing, an automatic out will be recorded when the unused spot is reached in the batting order. Teams will go through the entire batting order in turn, as we have played in prior years. This is not official slo-pitch with 9 batting spots.
Legal Swing	Batter may leave the batter's box to swing at a pitch. Bunting is not allowed. If a batter bunts, it will count as a strike. Swinging bunt is allowed.
Pinch Runner	The last same-sex out may pinch-run for the batter. The pinch-runner may line up at the backstop screen or may substitute in at any base. There is no requirement for the batter to be injured in order to be eligible for a pinch runner. Teams are expected not to abuse this rule.
Mercy Rule	Maximum 7 runs per half-inning. This rule applies in every inning, including the last inning.
Legal Bats	Bats are supplied by the league. If a batter wants to use his own bat in a game, the bat must be available for all batters to use for the entire game. The bat must be placed inside the screen, with the league bats, before the game starts. The League is not responsible for any damage to personal bats.
Home Runs	For the purposes of this rule, a home run is a ball hit over the fence, in fair territory. A maximum differential of one home run will be allowed. That is, each team may hit no more than one more home run than the other team has already hit. If a home run is hit which puts the batting team more than one home run ahead of the opposing team, the play will count as a ground rule single, all baserunners will advance one base, and the home run will not count for the purposes of this rule. Inside the park home runs do not count for the purposes of this rule. Teams may hit as many inside-the-park home runs as they can.

Umpire's and Team Captain's Responsibilities

• Please inform the scorekeepers loud and clear whenever a runner who has crossed the orange marker near home plate has not scored.

• For example, if the final out of the inning is made on a force play, no runners may score.

• If the baserunner ran inside the safety zone, he is out and his run does not count, even if there was no play at home.

• The umpire may not reverse his call. Make sure your call is heard, and never change it. If any players whine excessively about your calls, feel free to point out that this is not a competitive league, and that such behaviour is not tolerated.

• Call each pitch a ball, strike or 'illegal pitch', and keep the count.

• If three balls are thrown, offer the batter the option to walk or hit.

• Call fair, foul or out when the ball is hit.

• Call safe or out at all bases.

• Scorekeeper must notify the umpire when 7 runs have been scored or 3 outs have been made.

• Call a default if either team does not have enough players by 6:30pm.

• Call a rainout if field is not playable by 6:30pm.

• Ensure no new inning begins after 7:50pm.

• Unlock washroom doors before the game, lock up after the game.

• The slo-pitch mat and the 2 orange strips belong to us, not to the park. Don’t forget to pack these up in the equipment bag after the game.

• Don't forget to lock up the washrooms and equipment box after the game.

• E-mail the game result to phlip@phlip.ca. Standings will be kept at www.phlip.ca/baseball.