| 2023 - MINORS DIVISION RULES | SHORT ANSWER | COMMENTS |
Regular Season Games per Week
Regular Season Practices per Week | 2
1 (upon coach request) | Games will be scheduled Monday through Saturday
Due to # of games, practices will be limited to Friday, Saturday or Sunday
Make-up games supersede practice with notice by 10pm on prior night. |
| Scheduled Innings per Game | 6 | 4 innings batting with Home Team having 3. Since the consensus was to allow for TIES, these comments need to be clarified.
Losing coach has the option for MERCY @ 15 at any point during the 4th or 5th innings
Coaches can mutually agree to fewer innings but no fewer than 4 innings constitutes a complete game if the Home Team is winning when the game is called. If a game is called prior to 4 completed innings, or if the game is tied with 4 innings completed the game willend in a tie.
Umpire can call 'last inning' prior to the inning starting due to weather (unlimited run rule applies). |
| Scheduled Start Time | 6:15 PM | Home team bats last and occupies 3rd base dugout
A new inning cannot begin after 8:30 PM |
| Umpires | Yes - 1 | s |
| Pitcher warm-up by coach | Yes | 5 - 7 pitches |
| Pitchers may re-enter a game | Yes | Only the starting pitcher may re-enter a game but is still subject to the pitch count cap. |
| Pitching Restrictions | 1-30 pitches Zero days rest
31-44 pitches One day rest
45-55 pitches Two days rest
56-70 pitches Three days rest
71-80 pitches Four days rest | 80 pitches in one game is the cap. The pitcher is only permitted to exceed 80 in order to finish a batter.
There is NO 80 pitch cap within 24 hours. For example, a pitcher can throw 30 pitches on Monday and come back to throw an additional80 pitches on a Tuesday game. |
| Hit batter limit | Yes | Replace pitcher on 3rd hit batter |
| Intentional walk | Yes | Advance runner, don't pitch |
| Balk | No | Doesnt Apply |
| Hit Batsman | Yes | A pitch that hits the ground (dirt) and then hits the batter is ruled as a HIT BATSMAN. It is a DEAD BALL and the batter takes first base. Also to note is that a batter may get a base hit off a ball that hits the ground first |
| Catchers permitted to pitch | Yes | |
| Catchers required equipment | Yes | Complete set of Catchers Equipment and Cup - extras in the concession stand. Catchers can use their own baseball mitts in this division; catchers mitts are not required. If preferred, the league will provide. |
| Minimum # of players to start game | 8 | During the regular season, coaches with fewer than 10 players (1-9) can borrow players from the opposing team, another Minor's team or can work with the Mighty Mites or Hybrid Commissioner to promote a player for one game. The borrowed players must play outfield and bat last. |
| # of outfielders | Maximum of 4 | |
| Mandatory Play Time | 9 defensive outs / 3 defensive innings | Coaches are encouraged to rotate players but there is no minimum or maximum number of innings a player can / must play in a specific position (other than Pitcher who is subject to a pitch count). |
| Game balls | Rawlings 12U | Each HC will receive a bucket of 30 game balls and 12 practice. |
| Bat restrictions | Yes | Max. 2 3/4" diameter w/"official" baseball marking |
| Pitching mound distance (raised or flat) | 46' | |
| Base distance | 65' | |
| Fence distance | 200 feet from apex of Home Plate | |
| Run Limit per Inning | 5 runs per but unlimited 6th | UNLIMITED RUNS LAST INNING: A game may end in a tie if there is a tie after the unlimited 6th. |
| Visits to mound | Yes | 1/inning, pitcher must be replaced on 2nd visit in same inning |
| Catchers - # of defensive innings | Unlimited | |
| Continuous batting order | Yes | |
| On-deck batter | Permitted along baseline to the back of the batter. | |
| Bunts | Yes | |
| Lead offs | No | |
| Stealing | Yes | Runners may not advance on a wild throw from catcher to pitcher.Runner may advance after the ball crosses the plate NOT when ball leaves pitchers hand. |
| Dropped 3rd strike | No | No dropped third strikes. However, this is a "live ball" situation, and runner(s) may advance at their own risk to another base. |
| Head-first sliding | No (dive-back permitted) | |
| Restricted Gear | Metal Spikes | |
| Courtesy runner | Only if baserunner is injured | |
| Infield fly rule | Yes | A fly ball that an infielder can 'get under' with runners on 1st AND 2nd, or bases loaded with less than 2 outs is considered infield fly rule. Consensus was line drives, 'bloops', ball lands in outfield are NOT infield fly rule. |
| Scoring | Home Team Owns the Score | Home team has the game book and texts the score to the commissioner and the away coach after the game |
| End-of-season playoffs** | Yes | Eight teams with the best record will advance - single elimination. Run Differential is tiebreaker for seeding based on the regular season record. 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5. Winner of 1/8 v 3/6 and 2/7 v 4/5 |
| All-star Game | Yes | Yes - HC of each team will nominate 3 players. |