Chesapeake Regional Amateur Baseball League

MLB rules will be followed with the below modifications.

Field Dimensions:46'/65' with leading and stealing allowed. Teams should make best attempts to set up fields with these dimensions including the use of temporary bases and/or pitching rubber. If that is not possible, field can be set at 46’/60’ with no leads and steals after the ball crosses the front of the plate.

Host team should notify traveling team(s) one week ahead of time if field cannot be set at 65’ base paths

Umpires: One (1) umpire would be used per game. The HOME field location would be responsible for setting up or cancelling the umpires for ALL games played at that field. Teams would split the umpire costs in cash at game time. Umpire fees for each location will be posted on our website so you know what those fees are before showing up at the game.

Game Length: All games will be (6) innings with no new inning beginning after a 1 hr 50 minute time limit. Extra innings permitted if within time limit. If the score is even after the time limit is reach, game shall end in a tie. Four (4) innings shall constitute an official game or three and one half (3 1/2) innings if the home team is leading. If a game is stopped for any reason (weather, lightning, or darkness) and is unable to be resumed it will fall under one of two suspended game rules. Games that are stopped prior to (4) full innings or (3 1/2) innings with the home team ahead will be considered incomplete. An incomplete game will be rescheduled and resumed from the exact point that it was called. Any used pitchers cannot be reused and the batting order must stay the same. Games stopped at any time after completing (4) full innings will be considered complete. The final score will be determined by the following. If a game is stopped at any time in the 5th inning or beyond mid-inning the score will revert back to the score at the end of the previous full inning of play. FOR EXAMPLE: The visiting team is losing 4-2 after (4) full complete innings. In the top of the 5th inning the visiting team scores (5) runs and is leading 4-7. In the bottom of the 5th prior to the third out the game is called due to weather. The score reverts back to the completed 4th inning and the home team would be declared the winner at 4-2.

Bench Side:   In doubleheaders the home team will get their choice of bench side.  They will not switch sides between games of the doubleheader.

Protests:  Umpires decision will be final.

Lineup:  May bat 9, the entire lineup, or any number in between with free defensive substitutions. Once the number of batters has been established, it must remain the same for the duration of that particular game. If a guest player is playing that is not on the original roster turned in prior to the season start, the opposing coach should receive an explanation and must agree to the circumstances and the guest player must adhere to the age cutoff for 9u.

Pitching Limits: (3) inning max per game per pitcher or (6) inning total max per pitcher in any doubleheader or 3-team tri-meet[DA1] . One pitch constitutes an inning. Any pitcher withdrawn from the mound may not return to that position in the same game even if removed on a first visit. Any coach who goes onto the field of play (2) times in an inning to confer with a pitcher must make a pitching change on the second visit. Mound visits resets for each new pitcher. The only exception is due to injury or equipment damage. Pitch counts per pitcher are not policed (only 3 innings max per game), however, all coaches are strongly encouraged to abide by USA Baseball arm care guidelines.

Bats:  USSSA Bpf 1.15 or USA Baseball certified. No barrel or drop restrictions.

Bat Throwing: Each team will get their own warning when a bat is thrown from that team. After the warning, the second occurrence by any player on the team that already received a warning will be called out solely at the discretion of the umpire.

Baseballs - Each team will be responsible for one (1) new game ball per game then alternate a new or fairly new ball into the game if needed. Balls should be of game or tournament level construction, not practice balls (e.g. Diamond DCR/DCR-1, Rawlings RCAL/RCAL-1 or equivalent).

Bunting: Bunting is allowed. Fake bunting allowed but the player cannot show bunt and pull back then hit the ball (slash bunt).  In the event of a "slash bunt", the play is immediately declared a "dead ball", the batter is out, and all runners return to their original base.

Dropped Third Strike: Dropped third strike rules are in effect.

Leading/Stealing: If field dimensions are 65’ base paths, runner may lead-off (primary leads)

If the field has to be set at 60’ base paths, the runner cannot make an attempt to steal a base or lead off until the baseball breaks the plane of home plate or until the batter hits the ball. If the umpire determines that the runner left his base early, he will be declared out. Secondary leads and steals may occur after the ball crosses the front plane of the plate or the ball is batted into play.

Infield Fly: Infield fly rule IS IN effect.

Balks: Each pitcher will receive one warning before being called for a balk.

Mercy Rule: 12 run lead after 4 innings. 10 run lead after 5 innings.  The home team does not bat in the bottom of that inning if ahead by the run rule limit.

Courtesy Runner: For pitcher/catcher of record with two outs. Last batter out will be courtesy runner. Player that is being substituted MUST be pitching or catching that following inning. 

Forfeits: A team can start with and must finish with a minimum of (8) players. Players showing up late will be added to bottom of the lineup. Game time is Forfeit time. If a team forfeits within (2) hours of the game being played then the team forfeiting will be responsible for paying ALL umpire fees for that game. This does not include games that are cancelled in advance and communicated to the league and other teams involved. All cancellations due to weather should be communicated to all teams playing at your field and should be done at the minimum of at least (2) hours in advance. The final score of a forfeited game will be 10-0.

Ejections: If a player, parent, or coach is ejected from a game then the manager of the team with the ejection must immediately contact the 10u CRAB Commissioner.  An email from the manager must be emailed to the 10u CRAB Commissioner within 24 hrs. describing the circumstances of the ejection. Any ejected player, coach or manager who is ejected must sit out the next league game.  A second ejection in the same season by that individual for unsportsmanlike conduct will result in an automatic removal of that individual from attending any future games played in that season. Failure to abide will result in immediate removal of the team from the league.  If a player is ejected from a game, that spot will be recorded as an out each time until the game is completed. Head Coaches are responsible for ALL conduct from their team to include assistant coaches, players, parents and other spectators. Unsportsmanlike conduct, aggressive or uncivil behavior will NOT be tolerated by the league Commissioner.

Injury: If a player is injured and must leave the game then that spot in the lineup will be skipped with no penalty. If an injury occurs during an at-bat and the player can't continue the at-bat, the next batter will take over that at-bat and assume the count. If injury occurs while on the base-paths the last recorded out will take the place of the injured player on the bases. Once a player is removed from the game due to an injury, that player is not eligible to return to the game in any capacity once an at bat is skipped.

Sliding: Head first back to a bag only (the base must have been already achieved by the runner). All other slides must be feet first.

Contact: All runners must slide or otherwise attempt to avoid a fielder who has possession of the ball and is waiting to make a tag. If a runner does not slide and there is no collision and the umpire rules the runner safe, then the runner is safe. Umpire discretion. Players will only be ejected if the umpire rules that the contact was malicious in nature.  All others will simply be called out if the umpire rules that it was a must slide situation and the runner did not slide.

Necklaces/Equipment: Jewelry unless medically necessary should be removed. White/Gray sleeves, sunglasses or distractions worn by a pitcher must be removed. Molded cleats only.

Rosters: No more than a (15) man roster. Rosters will be submitted prior to league play. Rosters may be modified due to unforeseen circumstances at the discretion of the Age Group Commissioner and must be submitted prior to any new players playing in a league game. Birth documents shall be maintained by each team in case of a player protest. Rosters will include player name, DOB, and uniform number.

Insurance: All teams shall carry their own insurance.

Game Score Reporting: The winning coach should report the score on the league website within 24 hours of the game ending, preferably as soon as possible for timely reporting. If assistance is needed, scores can be texted or emailed to Doug Airel: 202-276-9587; doug@airel.org.