CWL Rule Book

Batting:
1. If the ball goes over the fence on a bounce, goes under the fence, or goes through one of the openings- it is a ground-rule double.
2. If you are thrown 4 balls, you must take the walk.
3. Three strikes for an out.
4. A batter can get hit by a pitch but not hit by the ball off a bounce.
5. If you are hit by a pitch, it is ruled as 2 balls.
6. You may not switch batters boxes in your at bat.
7. If you use a bat that is illegal and you hit the ball fair it will be ruled an automatic out.
8. You need to hold each bat by the handle.
9. If a team bats out of order and the other team finds out in the middle of the at bat the right player will go up with the same count but if they find out after the player's at bat is over they are ruled out automatically.
10. There is intentional walks.
11. A player may use any legal bat (commissioner's ruling) in their at bat, and are not allowed to switch bats during the AB however you may switch if the bat is damaged.
12. If a player hits one of the foul poles in the air and is over the height of the most nearby fence it is a homerun.
13. A player cannot lean in on the plate intentionally to get hit by the pitch.
14. There is pinch hitting and pinch running if a player were to show up late to a game.
 
Boundaries/Field Rules:
1. If a player hits a ball into the trees and the ball is brought back onto the field, it is ruled a home run if it is was hit hard enough to clear the fence if there was no tree, but it is ruled playable if it wasn't hit hard enough. (Majority of players' rulings to decide call)
2. A player must have their feet in bounds for it to be an out (not behind the fence)
3. If a player catches a ball and then falls over a fence it will be judged on when they caught the ball.
4. If a player throws the ball out of play each runner will be awarded one base.
5. If the foul lines are worn out, it will be judged by instant replay (if caught on video), or by the majority of each of the players' rulings.
 
League Rules:
1. The ball has to reach the pitchers mound dirt on its own speed for it to be a fair ball. Pitcher can come up and get the ball in front of the mound if it is assumed the ball would reach the mound on its own speed.
2. The mercy rule is 6 runs for an inning, except the third inning.
3. Each team can score an unlimited amount of runs in the third inning.
4. There are 3 innings in regulation, unlimited amount for extras.
5. If the ball hits the strikezone on a bounce- it is a ball, if it hits it in the air it is a strike, if there is a controversial call on if it bounced or not, it will be looked at if caught on video or it will be called by the majority of the players thoughts.
6. The age limit as of 2018 is 17 and under. After each year the age limit goes up one year (in 2018 it will be 18)
7. A team may trade a player during the allowed trade period however each player being traded, as well as the commissioner, has to agree with it.
8. There are force outs at every base when they are possible.
9. There is pegging at every base except 1st.(Throwing the ball at the runner) Only if there is 3 or less players in the field.
9. Ghost runners are allowed but if there is an available runner they will have to go on to a base. If there is a ghost runner running to 2nd, 3rd, or home and someone throws the ball to that base it will be decided on the runner running to first base unless there is a runner going to that base.
10. If a runner is trying to run home, a fielder may throw the ball at the strikezone or backstop for an out if the runner is halfway there (it can hit ANYWHERE on the strikezone or backstop). If the runner touches home plate before the ball hits the strikezone or backstop they are safe. Only if there are 3 or less players in the field.
11. 3 outs per inning.
12. There are extra innings if the game is tied.

Baserunning:
1. There is no stealing.
2. There is no leading off.
3. If a player runs more than 3 steps out of the baseline they are ruled out.
4. You are allowed to tag up. If someone thinks that the runner tagged up too early they can touch the base they tagged up from.
5. You can get doubled up.
6. If you get pegged but the ball hits the ground first , the runner is SAFE.
7. There is sliding but at home plate you are NOT allowed to plow over the catcher.
8. If a fielder is in a runner's baseline the runner can plow through them.
9. If a player hits a walk-off hit they do need to run the bases, if they don't they will be ruled out. 
10. If a batter hits the ball and hits a runner in the air or on bounce the runner is out.
11. There is no pinch running

Fielding:
1. The limit is 5 players in the field.
2. Everyone present from the team must bat, however, the team can decide who plays in the field. Minimum 4 if available
3. If someone throws the ball to another player for a force out at a base but that player drops the ball and the runner gets to the base before the fielder picks the ball up the runner is safe.
4. There needs to be at least 3 players in the field.
5. There is no infield fly rule.
6. If a player catches the ball in the air it is an out.
7. If a runner gets in the way or interferes with the fielder the runner is out.
8. If a player comes out of the game for any reason they can't come back in.
9. If a player comes late to a game they can bat only if the other players have batted once, otherwise they can pinch hit or pinch run.
10. If there is a fly ball and it hits the fielder and then goes over the fence it is a home run.

Pitching:
1. The pitcher needs to be touching the pitching rubber with their foot on his/her motion. 
2. There are no balks.
3. If a pitcher comes out in the game they can't come back later in the game.
4. 4 balls for a walk.
5. 3 strikes for an out.
6. If a ball hits a batter on the pitch (it can not be bounced), it is ruled as 2 balls
7. If a pitcher hits an excessive amount of batters in a game, they have to be taken out of the game.
8. Medium-Fast pitches only.

No gloves for fielders and no batting gloves for batters. Unless approved by the commissioner

Carthy Caswell

Commissioner

All rules subject to change.

June 11, 2017

Thanks to MLW for some rules.