LEAGUE ORGANIZATION

**** For the purposes of clarification, the terms Harborcreek Modified Softball League, League, the League, the Harborcreek Modified League are identical terms and refer to the same organization.

1. Franchise fees will be determined by the Board of Directors based upon operating costs. Factors effecting costs include ASA fees, insurance, umpires, field usage, lights, and other miscellaneous expenses.

2. Franchise fees must be paid in full by the start of each season by each team. Teams that do not pay their franchise fee in full will not be allowed to play their games until the fee has been paid.

3. FRANCHISE FEES, ONCE PAID, ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

4. A deposit of $200.00 is due to the League from each team by the second re-organizational meeting each spring.

5. Only team managers or designated team representatives of the Harborcreek Modified Softball League can vote on issues concerning the League.

6. New teams cannot vote on League issues until a deposit has been paid to the League to reserve their participation.

7. Each team is required to have their manager or designated representative at each League meeting. Any team failing to have their manager or designated representative at any League meeting will subject to a fine of $25.00.

8. AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS AND RULES OF THE HARBORCREEK SOFTBALL LEAGUE WILL BE CONSIDERED AT THE REQUEST OF ANY MANAGER OR DESIGNATED TEAM REPRESENTATIVE DURING THE REORGANIZATION MEETINGS PRIOR TO THE START OF PLAY EACH SEASON.

9. To amend a bylaw or rule of the League a team manager or designated team representative must put forth a motion to have a change considered. The motion must be seconded by a team manager or designated team representative of another team in the League. Once the motion has been seconded, the change can be considered by the League as a whole and voted on. If the motion receives more votes in favor than against, the bylaw or rule will be changed.

10. In the event that the League should disband, any money remaining in the treasury will be donated to Harborcreek Township for the purpose of making improvements to Harborcreek Community Park.

ELECTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1. The Harborcreek Modified Softball League’s Board of Directors will consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant at Arms.

2. Nominations for, and the election of a new Board of Directors will occur at the second re-organizational meeting of the League each spring.

3. To be nominated for election to the Board of Directors you must be on the roster of a Harborcreek Modified Softball League team during the season you wish to serve on the Board.

4. You cannot be nominated to run for the Board of Directors by a member of your own team.

5. Only team managers or designated team representatives can nominate candidates and vote in the election of a new Board.

6. No team can elect more than one of its players to the Board of Directors.

7. To be elected to the Board of Directors you must receive more votes in favor of your election than votes against.

8. After their election, The Board of Directors is solely responsible for the interpretation and enforcement of all league rules.

9. The Board will serve as the Protest Committee. Teams can only protest plays where rules interpretations are in question. Plays involving the judgment of the umpire cannot be protested (this is an ASA rule). A team wishing to have their protest considered by the Committee must pay a fee of $25.00 to the League. The fee will not be refunded if the team filing the protest loses their appeal. IF A PROTEST INVOLVES THE TEAM OF ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THAT BOARD MEMBER MUST ABSTAIN FROM VOTING TO DECIDE THE ISSUE. IF THE VOTE OF THE BOARD IS TIED 2-2, THE PROTEST IS DEEMED TO HAVE FAILED.

10. A simple majority of the Board vote will be binding in all decisions.

11. All decisions made by the Board of Directors are final.

12. The authority to spend/not spend any funds in the Harborcreek Modified Softball League’s bank account, lies solely with the Board of Directors.

13. The league president will be paid $20 per team as compensation for his/her work as President of the league. Half of this fee will be paid out at the halfway point of the season. The remaining half will be paid at the conclusion of the playoffs.



ROSTERS

1. League rosters will consist of 20 players and 1 manager for each team. No player/manager can appear on two League rosters at the same time during the same season. Managers may also play for their respective team (Meaning a total of 21 people can play for any team)

2. ROSTERS MUST BE COMPLETED, SIGNED, AND TURNED INTO THE LEAGUE VICE-PRESIDENT BEFORE THE START OF EACH SEASON (Brian Dewey, bdewey@mercyhurst.edu). Any team failing to turn in their roster forms prior to their first game will not be allowed to play a League game until the roster is submitted. A $25.00 fine for turning in the roster late must also be paid by the offending team prior to beginning League play.

3. The last day to make any changes to a teams League roster is June 25 (a team can make as many changes to their roster as needed prior to the cutoff date). There can be no roster changes after June 25.

4. All roster changes must be reported to the League Vice-President (Brian Dewey, bdewey@mercyhurst.edu) VIA email. Two Board members will be notified of all roster changes to insure these changes are done properly.

5. Any player released from a roster and added to a new roster, must serve a 1-game probation before being eligible for his new team.


LEAGUE GAME RULES

1. All League games will be played under ASA rules except where League bi-laws apply.

2. League games will be played at the Harborcreek Community Park - Fields 3 and 4.

3. League games will start at 6:15 pm and 7:45 pm. Harborcreek Township closes the Park at 10:00 pm. There is no official curfew for our league. If the Park Security Officer says it is time to go at 10:00 pm, the remainder of the game will be rescheduled and started from the point of suspension. Teams must use the exact line up as possible if the game is suspended because the park closes. If the exact line up cannot be used, available roster players can be used to fill the line up.

4. Each year the League will split into divisions based on team strength and determines the numbers of regular season games based on the number of teams in the League.

5. A minimum of 7 players is needed to start a game. A 10-minute grace period will be granted for teams needing their 7th player. The grace period starts from the originally scheduled start time of the game. In the case of night games, the grace period starts when the umpires arrive for the managers meeting. You would have 10 minutes after that for your 7th player to arrive. After the grace period has ended, the game will be forfeited by the team needing an additional player. NOTE: If you play with less than 10 players, there is no auto out.

* NEW 2013)

6. Two ASA umpires are hired to officiate each game. The manager of the winning team must report any missing umpires to the League President to insure the League gets refunded for the umpires’ absence.

7. The winning team is responsible for reporting the score of each game and the record of each team to the League.

• Scores/Results can be emailed to Brian Dewey (bdewey@mercyhurst.edu)

8. All teams must wear matching uniforms (this only includes matching hats and shirts). Players cannot wear shorts or jeans during league play.

9. The EH (Extra Hitter) and the DP (Designated Player) are both permitted.

10. When a batter makes a motion that indicates he may bunt (shortening up, splitting his hands) he only has two options: (1) he can choose to attempt to bunt, or (2) he can choose to take the pitch. A BATTER MAY NOT ATTEMPT to pull the bat back and hit the ball. He may push bunt but cannot swing! It’s the umpires judgment if the batter swings. The penalty is “the batter is out and can be ejected from the game if someone is hurt”

11.Bats that have been banned by ASA cannot be used during League play. This includes any bat that is determined banned during the season.

12.No drinking of alcoholic beverages will be permitted on or around the playing fields by any players who are participating in a contest, or by a player who is a member of a team that is playing. Violation of this rule will result in an immediate two game suspension.

13. Any team forfeiting 2 games during the regular season will be expelled from the League for the remainder of the season. NO FRANCHISE FEES WILL BE REFUNDED IN THESE INSTANCES.

14. Assignment of dugouts for all regular season and playoff games are on a first come, first serve basis.

15. THE OPPOSING MANAGER MUST REPORT ALL EJECTIONS to the league president.

A. Any player or manager ejected twice throughout the season will receive a two game suspension from the Harborcreek Modified Softball League.

B. Any player or manager ejected a third time will be suspended for the season.

C. FIGHTING WITH OPPOSING PLAYERS OR UMPIRES IS PROHIBITED. ANY TEAM OR PLAYER(S) IN VIOLATION OF THIS RULE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDED FOR A LENGTH OF TIME TO BE DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ANY PLAYER(S) SUSPENDED IN ANY OTHER LEAGUE WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR THE SAME PENALTY IN THE HARBORCREEK MODIFIED LEAGUE.

D. Any suspension that cannot be completed in one season will be carried over to the next season.

E. If an entire team is ejected from a game, the League will only recognize the manager’s ejection only in regard to any possible suspension (see section A of rule 15 under League game rules). A player who is ejected in a game prior to the whole team being ejected, still has his ejection count toward him for possible future suspension.

16. The League will use the “straight 10-run rule” (you can score as many as you can get). The game will be deemed complete under the following conditions:

A. if after 4½ complete innings of play the home team is ahead by at least 10 runs.
B. if after 5 complete innings of play the visiting team is ahead by at least 10 runs.
C. The home team will always have a chance to bat even if the visiting team goes ahead by at least 10 runs in the top of the 5th, 6th, or 7th innings.
D. IN CASE OF RAIN games will not be suspended and resumed.

1. If enough innings have been completed to constitute a full game per ASA rules (5 full innings, or 4½ innings if the home team is ahead), the game will be deemed complete and the team ahead at the point when the game is called will be declared the winner.

2. In cases where not enough innings have been completed to constitute a complete game, the game will be considered a washout and the game will be restarted from the beginning at a later date.

3. If the game is stopped due to rain, fog, inclement weather, etc. in the 6th or 7th innings, the game reverts back to the last full completed inning and the game is considered final. Example, the visiting team scores 2 runs in the top of the sixth and the home team doesn’t get a chance to complete the bottom of the inning, the game reverts back to the completion of the fifth inning (nothing that happened in the sixth inning would count).

4. If a night game has to be suspended because the lights go out, the game will be picked up from the point of suspension and completed in full at a later date.

5. If a team is losing badly and chooses to quit before the game has been deemed complete, they will be assessed a fine equal to that of both umpires fees for that game (both umpires). THE OFFENDING TEAM WILL HAVE TWO GAMES THEREAFTER TO PAY THE FINE. IF THE FINE IS NOT PAID PRIOR TO START OF THEIR THIRD GAME THEREAFTER, THE TEAM WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE FIELD.


17. When games are cancelled due to rain, teams are not permitted to use the fields for practice or for a scrimmage.Any team that uses a field once the games have been cancelled will be assessed a $25.00 fine.

18. *New 2014) A Courtesy runner will be allowed for the pitcher and catcher. The following guidelines must be used when using a courtesy runner.

* Any courtesy runner must be someone who is a legal subsitute, and has not played in the game yet.

* Once a runner runs for the pitcher, he can ONLY run for the pitcher, the same rule applies for the runner who runs for the catcher.  

19. The ASA Rule regarding illegal pitches will be followed. If the umpire deems the pitcher is trying to conform, they will allow him to stay in the game. The umpire has the authority to remove the pitcher from the pitching position if they deem he is not trying to conform.

20. For a player to have been considered played in the game, he must do one of the following; Been on the field (as a batter, runner, or defensive player) for a plate appearance. If an out is made before the plate appearance is complete, that will still count as a game.


22. FOR THE PURPOSE OF RESCHEDULING GAMES, ALL RAINOUTS AND SUSPENSION OF GAMES MUST BE REPORTED TO THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT.

23. Section on Lineup cards removed Spring 2010

24. Harborcreek Modified will not use the home run rules established by the ASA. There is no limit to the number of homeruns a team can hit in a game.

25. Metal spikes can be used during league and championship play in the Harborcreek Modified League.


TIEBREAKERS

1. The following procedures will be used to break a tie between two teams.

A. Best head-to-head record against the other team involved in the tiebreak.
B. Least runs allowed in head-to-head competition against the other team involved in the tiebreak.
C. Best record against common opponents.
D. Least runs allowed against common opponents.
E. Least runs allowed throughout the entire regular season.
F. Coin-toss.


2. The following procedures will be used to break a tie between three or more teams.

A. Best head-to-head record against the other teams involved in the tiebreak.
B. Least runs allowed in head-to-head competition against the teams involved in the tiebreak.
C. Best record among all common opponents.
D. Least runs allowed against all common opponents.
E. Least runs allowed throughout the entire regular season.
F. Coin-toss.

3. In cases of a tie between three or more teams where a winner has been declared but two teams remain tied, the procedures for a two-team tiebreak will be used at that point to determine a winner




PLAYOFFS

1. All players, on any League roster (manager, position player, and pitchers) must appear in at least 6 regular season League games to be eligible for the playoffs. There are no exceptions to this rule. Any player, manager, or pitcher who switched rosters during the regular season must have played 6 regular season League games with their new team to be eligible for the playoffs. NOTE: If a team wins a game by forfeit, every player on the roster is counted as a game played

2. The number of teams, and the format for playoffs will be determined each year by the League based on the number of teams in the League. Playoff brackets will be set up for all rounds of the playoffs. For the first round, the highest seed will play the lowest seed. Following the first round, each team advances through their predetermined bracket. In both divisions, a double elimination style bracket will be used for playoffs. Teams will be seeded into the bracket based on regular season record. They hold that seed for the duration of the tournament.

4. All playoff games will be 7 innings unless extra innings are needed. Any playoff game suspended by rain will be picked up from the point of suspension no matter what inning the game is in. This rule also applies to darkness.

5. The 10-run rule will be in effect for the playoffs. If a team is losing badly and chooses to quit before the game has been deemed complete, they will be assessed a fine equal to that of the umpires fees for that game (both umpires). This fine must be paid prior to the start of the next season.


TROPHIES

1. The top two regular season, and top two playoff finishers in each division receive trophies.

OPERATION OF LIGHTS

1. HARBORCREEK TOWNSHIP HAS HIRED SECURITY TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF.

PARK SECURITY AND LITTER

1. The township has employed a part-time security officer to patrol the park during games. Please abide by all park rules before, during, and after each game. VACATE THE PARK BEFORE THE 10:00 PM CURFEW.

2. PUT ALL TRASH IN ITS PROPER PLACE. Once your game is complete, please clean your dugout area of any trash. Teams failing to clean the dugout will be assessed a $25.00 fine, they won’t be allowed to play until the fine is paid.

MISCELLANEOUS

3. Any violation of any rules could result in suspension of an individual or entire team from the League for ASA sanctioned play.

APPROVED AT THE April 30, 2018 LEAGUE MEETING.