| 2024 - 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.
If a regulation game is terminated early due to weather:
A complete game is when 3.5 innings have been played (3 outs) and the home team is winning. If after a completed top of 4th is played and the away team is winning, then it is NOT a complete game because the Home team did not receive their last at bat. Furthermore the Home team needs to complete their last at bat (3 outs) for a complete game when losing. Unless, coaches agree on a game being complete AFTER 3.5 innings have been played due to a blowout. A incomplete game needs to be continued where the play stops (outs, runners, pitch counts) to the best of the 2 teams ability.
Moreover, teams can only use pitchers that were active for the original date the game was played. This includes the pitch counts. EXAMPLE: Little Bobby was ineligible to play on Tuesdays game due to pitching on Monday. Tuesdays game needs to be continued due to lightning. They reschedule the game for Saturday AM, Little Bobby still cannot pitch.
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 |
|
| 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 | 1-20 pitches Zero days rest
21-35 pitches One day rest
36-45 pitches Two days rest
46-60 pitches Three days rest
61-75 pitches Four days rest | 75 pitches in one game is the cap. The pitcher is only permitted to exceed 75 in order to finish a batter.
For example, a pitcher can throw 19 pitches on Monday and come back to throw an additional 75 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 | Does Not 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. |