Official Rules for Punta Gorda 55+ Morning Softball League
Fall 2024
1. Length of Game/Choosing Dugouts: One 7 inning game will be played. Dugouts will be chosen by whichever teams arrives first and choses their dugout.
2. Defensive Positions: Teams will field 11 fielders as follows: Pitcher, catcher, 5 infielders and 4 outfielders. All infielders, including the middle fielder, must be positioned on the infield dirt until the pitcher’s release of the ball. All outfielders must be behind the white line in the outfield. They may move in only on the pitcher’s release of the pitch.
3. Replacing Players: Teams must be able to field a minimum of 8 players from their roster and can pick up 2 - 3 players as substitutes including players from the opposing team, and must field a minimum of 10 players, if not they forfeit the game. Defensive players can play any position as determined by the Manager of the team in the Field. When teams only have 11 players, they are allowed to rest one player defensively each inning and ask the opposing team to provide a defensive player.
Players from the SUB LIST must be the same or lower draft number(s) as the missing player(s). Example: If a team is missing their #3 draft pick, they can only substitute with a #3 or lower draft pick. If a team is missing their #3 and #5 draft picks, one substitute must be a #3 or lower and the other substitute must be a #5 or lower, and so on. You can ONLY replace a player when you get below 11 players, no matter who is missing.
Any player(s) picked up from the opposing team for the entire game (because they have extra player(s) available, must bat at the bottom of the lineup. This applies when the player is put "on" that team for the entire game. If the defensive team just needs a fielder each inning, the opposing team will provide a fielder(s) but they don't bat.
4. Starting Count: The at bat begins with a one ball - one strike count.
5. Runs per Inning: Teams will be allowed to score 5 runs per inning until the last inning, and extra innings, which is unlimited.
6. Pitching Arc Rule: There is no official upper arc limit, but Pitchers must attempt to keep the arc below 12 feet from the ground. Please use discretion and don't violate the spirit of the game. The lower arc of a pitched ball must go higher than the batter’s head, while in his normal stance, at the high point of the arc. A “flat” pitch that doesn’t go higher than the batter’s head is an illegal pitch and shall be called “flat” by the Umpire. Such “flat” pitches are a “ball” for purposes of the count, unless the batter chooses to swing at it. If so, then the pitched ball is in play. If the batter swings and misses, then it is a strike.
7. Pitching Screen: The pitching screen is mandatory. The pitcher will be required to get behind the screen after releasing the ball and remain there until the ball is struck.
Ÿ A ball thrown by a fielder that makes contact with the pitcher’s screen will be considered “live” and in play, same as if it hit a base or an umpire. A batted ball that hits the screen will result in a dead ball and automatic strike on the batter.
Ÿ If a batter has two strikes and hits a foul ball the batter will be called out on strikes. If the batter has two strikes and hits the pitching screen it will be considered a dead ball and the count will remain the same. If during the same at bat, if the batter hits the pitching screen a second time with two strikes on him, the batter will be called out on strikes.
8. Alternate First Base: When running to first base, players must use the outside base on any potential defensive play at that base. Also, to avoid collisions and injuries, if there is no potential play at first, the First Baseman shouldn’t remain on the bag.
9. Running the Bases: Umpires and runners are cautioned that when runners are going into 2nd or 3rd base on a force out at that bag, any runner who interferes with the fielder covering the bag, or goes hard into that fielder causing a collision, can be called OUT by the umpire for Interference, if the runner's action resulted in the fielder not being able to make the play. Furthermore, the umpire can call a double play if the umpire thinks that the interference with the fielder or the failure to get out of the base path on a thrown ball, prevented an obvious double play from being made. Even if the collision doesn't prevent the fielder from making the play, going into the fielder hard can result in Unsportsmanlike Conduct and the runner can be called out or ejected from the game by the Umpire. Remember, this is a Recreational league and we want to have Fun and prevent Injuries from happening.
10. Umpire Authority/Disputed Calls: The umpire will have the FINAL say on any call, with exceptions noted below. ONLY a Manager is allowed to talk to the umpire to question a call or an interpretation of the rules.
NOTE: However, in the spirit of good sportsmanship, the Managers of both teams can confer and “overrule” the Umpire’s call, especially if the Umpire failed to make an obvious call that is spelled out in the rules or when the Umpire’s call was just incorrect. An example is when an Umpire fails to make an obvious Infield Fly Rule call. Remember, an Infield Fly is not automatic on a popup to the infield. It must “catchable”, in that it must be hit in the vicinity of a defensive player.
Please respect the players who volunteer to umpire by not arguing with them. Any misconduct on the part of any player is subject to review by the League and the imposition of sanctions, from a warning up to, and including, a lifetime ban. Fielders and players in the dugouts are cautioned NOT to call an “infield fly” or any other call, until after the Umpire makes that call. Doing so when the call has not been made by the Umpire made be considered unsportsmanlike conduct by the Umpire, and could result in baserunners being awarded the next base or not being tagged or forced out, if it causes confusion with the runners.
11. Alternate Home Plate: To score, the runners must touch the alternate home plate. Touching the plate at the batter's box will result in the runner being called out. The Home Plate line is NOT being used.
12. Commit Line: Runners must go home after touching or crossing the commit line and cannot be tagged out after touching or crossing the commit line. After the runner touches or crosses the commit line, the player covering home plate must catch and control the ball while touching the home plate by the batter's box for the runner to be called out.
13. Sliding: No sliding into 1st base or home plate. Penalty: Dead ball and runner out.
14. Stepping Off: If a player wants to step off the corner bases into foul territory he must notify the umpire. The runner must be perpendicular to the base and retouch the base before advancing.
15. Minimum Play: All players must play a minimum of 3 innings defensively per game, if they choose to.
16. Mercy Rule: If either team is behind by 15 runs or more after batting in 6 innings, the game is over.
17. Extra Innings: If the game is tied after the 7th inning, the 8th inning with start (and 9th if necessary) with the last batter on 2nd base. This runner may not be pinch run for until he reaches 3rd base. If he cannot physically run for any reason, he will be declared out, and the 2nd to last batter from the previous inning will take his place. Games will be called a tie after 9 complete innings.
18. Overthrown Balls: If a ball is thrown and goes out of the area of play (into a dugout or over the fence) the base runners automatically get to advance to the bass they are going to plus one extra base. If the gate on the dugout of the team batting is not closed, the team batting will gain no advantage (no player advancement) for a ball that goes thru the gate area into the dugout. Instead it will be considered a dead ball.
19. Courtesy Runners: A designated pinch runner may run pinch run there times during regulation play, but only ONCE per inning. Players may pinch run ONCE per extra inning regardless of how many times they pinched ran during regulation play. There is NO pinch running for another Pinch Runner except if a pinch runner is on base and it’s his turn to bat. He can then can be pinched run for and he will be allowed to bat. If a player is pinch run for, it is NOT required that he be pinch run from that point on. It is the Manager’s discretion to determine if and when pinch runners will be used.
20. Silver Alert: When an 80+ player comes up to bat, the umpire will announce “Silver Alert”, meaning an 80+ player cannot be doubled up at 1st base.
21. Throwing to First Base: Outfielders may not throw to first base on a batted ball (includes any relays to first base). The only time they may throw to first base 'is if the batter has safely reached first base and has made an attempt to advance to 2nd base.
22. Fake Tags: Fake tags are prohibited. Penalty: All runners advance one base.
23. Age Requirement: For purposes of joining the league (minimum age 55) or players benefitting from 80+ rules, age is determined on a calendar year basis. For example, if he will be 80 on November 21, he is considered to be 80 on January 1.
