Tournament Rules

TEAM:

• Entry Fee $150
• Pay at Plate $40 (Each team will pay the plate umpire $40)

GENERAL ADMISSION:

• DAILY PASS:  $10.00 
• Players with a uniform and all children 13 and under are free
• Team coaches are free (Please sign in at the gate)

 NFHS rules shall apply to this event, unless specified in the listed rules below.

Field Dimensions 

50ft pitchers plate to home 

70ft base paths

210 foot outfield fence

Balk Rule

The MLB balk rule will be enforced. When a balk is called it is NOT a dead ball. A called balk will remain a LIVE ball. The balk is not considered an automatic dead ball.

Situational, Runners on first and third.  Pitcher can fake to third and throw to first.  However, if a fake is made towards third base they HAVE to throw to first base otherwise it is considered a balk.  This move would be legal without disengaging from the rubber.  If the Pitcher disengages from the rubber a fake throw can be made to any base without penalty.

Pitching Limitations

• Daily max is 18 outs OR 85 pitches.
• Pitchers can pitch 3 innings or 9 outs and still be considered eligible to pitch in bracket play.  
• If a player records more than 9 outs in pool play they are ineligible to pitch in bracket play.
• Players can pitch in multiple pool play games.  However, it is not advised to allow a player to perform high intensity pitching; cool down and pitch again.  This can risk injury to the player.  This is not a rule but shall be at the discretion of the coach and parent to maintain safe pitching assignments for their players.
• The Pitcher cannot finish the batter, the pitcher must immediately be replaced at the 85 pitch limit for the daily maximum.

Pitching Violations

The penalty for committing a pitching violation listed above will award the current batter first base as an intentional walk and the pitcher will be replaced immediately upon discovery. 

 Game Rules

• Pool Play Games are 1 hour 30 minutes
• TIME STARTS AT THE UMPIRES DISCRETION AT THE PLATE MEETING 
• The umpires will keep the official time, if the umpire calls the ball game because of time there is no appeal, the game has been called
• A coin flip will determine visitor or home
• A tie is equal to a ½ win and ½ loss for each team
• There will be a 10 run limit per half inning of pool play
• Mercy rule will be 10 runs after 2 completed innings.  If the bottom of the 2nd inning finishes and a team has a 10 run lead, the game is over.

Game Rules

• The home team will be the higher seed from pool play
• All Bracket Play games will be 5 innings in length
• There will be no time limits for bracket play games
• See Mercy Rules below
• There is no run rule limit per half inning in bracket play

Extra Innings

• Texas Tie Breaker, last 3 hitters on base with 1 out.
• The base runners will be placed as follows:
  • Last hitter from previous inning @ 1st Base
  • Hitter before him in the lineup @ 2nd Base
  • Hitter before that in the lineup @ 3rd Base
  • Normal substitution rules apply to these runners.
  • The hitting team will start the inning with one out.
  • Play continues until one team is ahead at the end of an inning

SPECIAL BALK RULE

ONLY IN EXTRA INNINGS, a runner on 3rd base CANNOT advance home with a balk.  A ball will be awarded to the hitter instead.  However, If the current count has 3 balls and the pitcher commits a balk, the base on balls can force a runner home to score a run.  If third base is unoccupied, normal procedure applies for a balk, all runners advance one base.

Metal/Composite bat must be a minimum weight of -10

All bats must have a branding, label, or stamp proving BPF 1.15.

USABat, BBCOR and Wood bats are also allowed.

Pool Play

• 10 after 2

Bracket Play

• 12 after 3
• 10 after 4

All rain out games may not be made up depending on time constraints. In case of scheduling changes, it is the team’s responsibility, not the tournament committee, to make sure they are aware of the new schedule or any scheduling changes. This information will be posted on the tournament web site when it becomes available. 

Note: No special requests will be honored if rescheduling becomes necessary. Tournament format is subject to change at any time if deemed necessary and will be determined based on the fairest outcome for all teams. All coaches should make sure the tournament committee has current contact info. If games are cancelled and cannot be rescheduled; there will be no refunds and awards will be given based upon pool play results if all teams completed all pool play games.

Please keep in mind this is a fundraiser tournament and refunds won't be given as it defeats the nature of the event.

If a game is stopped, and cannot be resumed due to weather or time, they will be called official. Games will be official if 3 innings or more have been completed.  The tournament director has final say on completed games, schedule and resumption of games.

All players must be listed on the official roster prior to the teams first scheduled game. 

• The team’s manager is responsible for all aspects of the eligibility of the players on his team and that they meet the requirements.
•  A player who is in violation of the age eligibility shall be considered an illegal player.
• If anytime during a tournament game, a player is discovered illegal due to an age violation the team is subject to forfeit. 

We recommend that all teams (home and visitor) keep a scorebook.  The home team will keep the official scorebook.  To eliminate scoring disputes scorekeepers should check with the official scorer during and after the game.

• Lineup cards must be swapped before each game with the players name and accurate jersey numbers. All substitutes should be listed with accurate jerseys numbers. Failure to produce a complete lineup card can result in games not starting on time. Lineup cards are to be given to the official scorekeeper before the home plate meeting.

1. Pool play overall record (winning percentage)
2. If teams have the same winning percentage, the following tie breakers apply
3. Least total runs allowed in pool play
4. If still tied – Total runs scored in pool play
5. If still tied – The tournament director will perform a coin flip to determine seeding