These rules are designed to make the sport
of baseball fun for our Mustang players and to help ensure their safety and
healthy growth. Please follow them faithfully. The Board of Directors is asking
the umpires to take the leading role in enforcing these rules. Please also
review the League Wide Rules. These general rules are designed to help maintain
the condition of our playing fields, to help ensure everyone's safety, and to
supplement the League's "Good Neighbor" Policy.
All other playing rules are governed by the PONY Baseball 2008 Rules &
Regulations and the Official Rules of Major League Baseball.
1. PLAYERS: Each team must field a minimum of 8
players or forfeit the game. If a team is playing with 8 players and one of
those players must leave the game due to an injury, that team will forfeit the
game, but can continue playing with less than 8 players. Only team roster-listed
players may play, except for substitutes from one age group younger SYA league.
All players will bat. Each team may only have 9 defensive players on the field
at any one time. All players will bat in the lineup. No player may sit out more
than 2 innings per game. Sitting out 1 pitch counts as sitting out the entire
inning. The innings a player misses arriving late to the game, or leaving early,
do not count as sitting out. If an injury keeps a player from being able to bat,
the team must choose to either a) take an out but keep the player in the game,
or b) remove the player from the rest of the game and not take an out. Players
who show up to the game after their listed turn in the batting order are placed
at the bottom of the batting order. If due to injury a player can not run the
bases, a pinch runner may be used. All tournament subs must be approved by the
SYA Boy’s Baseball Committee, prior to the start of the tournament.
2. LENGTH OF GAMES: No inning shall start after 2
hours from the scheduled start time. Time is judged at
the end of the previous inning. Games must start within 10 minutes of the
scheduled start time. If a prior game is running late, the next game must start
within 10 minutes from the end of the previous game, and will be that games
official start time. Games may end in a tie; however, extra innings will be
played until a winner is determined or the time limit is met. The umpire will be
the official timekeeper, announcing the start time after the first pitch. Number
of innings per game: Mustang 6 innings, Bronco 7 innings, Pony 7 innings, Colt 7
innings.
3. 10-RUN RULE: (Mustang only) The 10-run forfeit
rule may be imposed at the sole discretion of the losing manager at the
completion of the fifth inning.
4. 7-RUN RULE: (Mustang & Bronco) The most runs a
team can score is seven runs per inning.
5. BALKS: (Mustang) For the first half of the
season, balk warnings will be issued for instructional purposes. Balks will not
be enforced. During the second half of the season, balks will be enforced.
(Bronco) During the first two weeks, each pitcher will be issued one balk
warning per game.
6. PITCHING THROWS: (Mustang & Bronco) These are
the formative years for our players’ arms and wrists. Pitchers are only allowed
to throw fast balls and change-ups. Curve balls and other breaking pitches are
not permitted.
7. PITCHING DURATION: We recommend that each team
develops a 5 or 6 player pitching. For pitchers, a single pitch is considered to
be an inning. The week runs from 12:00am Monday to 11:59pm Sunday. These
pitching limits apply for all regular season and make-up games.
League
Innings per game Innings per week
Mustang
3
8
Bronco
4
10
Pony
6
10
Colt
6
10
8. STEALING BASES: (Mustang) During the first
half of the season, runners may not leave a base until the ball crosses home
plate. After a single warning per team, runners will be called out for leaving
early. Stealing home is NOT permitted (including on passed balls) unless a play
is made stealing third. At mid-season, Mustang will follow Bronco rules. Runners
will not be allowed to steal home for any reason. (Bronco) Runners may lead-off
of all bases (3rd Base lead-off is limited to 10 feet) and steal at will. The
“dropped third strike” rule applies. Stealing home is NOT permitted (including
on passed balls) unless a play is made (tag or throw) on any runner.The "dropped
third strike" rule will not apply in the Mustang Division, all season.
9. SLIDING: (Mustang) Because of the concern for
player safety, sliding is mandatory on any close play (umpire’s judgment) at
second, third, and home. Head first sliding is not permitted. Sliding with the
apparent intention of injuring or threatening the fielding player is not
permitted (umpire’s judgement).
10. COACHES: The home-team will occupy the
third-base dugout.
11. EQUIPMENT: (Mustang, Bronco, Pony) Shoes with
metal cleats are prohibited. All male catchers must wear a protective cup. A
protective cup is recommended for all male players.