Lehigh Valley Little Baseball League

ARTICLE

19.0

Playoff Guidelines 

Playoffs

19.0.1

No changes in the dates and times will be permitted unless by a unanimous vote from the executive Board.

19.0.2

No night game will be permitted unless by a unanimous vote from the Executive Board.

19.1

The top eight (8) teams in each conference, plus all teams with a .500 or better record qualifies for the Playoffs. In the event that not all eight (8) teams in a particular division have a .500 or better record, only those teams with a .500 record will be eligible for the Playoffs and brackets will be filled out in accordance to the tie-breaker rule. If more than eight (8) teams qualify, then a single elimination pigtail round will be held. Once the final eight (8) teams in each division have been determined, a double elimination playoff tournament will be held.

19.2

Tie Breaker for seeding shall be:

‑     The team with the best record in head-to-head competition.

-     Least number of runs allowed.

-     Best winning percentage of playoff teams.

-     Run differential head-to-head all tied teams.

            ‑     Coin flip.

In the event of a three-way tie, the tie will be broken following the above list. Once that tie is broken, the remaining teams are in a two-way tie and the tie-breaker returns to the top of the list.

19.3

Each Conference (Biddy, Midget, Knee‑Hi) will consist of one Division, but may be amended if the number of teams in an individual Conference deem it necessary to facilitate scheduling in accordance with Article 5.1.3.

19.4

When home field advantage applies and you are unable to make arrangements for use of your field, you must make arrangements to play the game on the designated date and time in accordance with the following:

            - Play at the opponent’s field as the home team.

            - Play at a neutral field approved by the league.

19.5

Both mercy rules apply, game considered complete of anyone is winning by 15 after 3 complete innings.

A 10 run rule applies if the home team is winning after 4.5 inning or the visiting team is winning by 10 after 5 complete innings. After 5 innings once either team takes a 10 run lead the game is complete and immediately over.

19.5.1

Failure to submit a score and pitching information within 12 hours will result in a twenty ($20.00) fine.

19.6

Any Playoff forfeit will result in a $100 fine per game. The forfeiting team will also be responsible for all umpire fees. The offending organization will be placed on a two (2) year probation. The offending organization will be subject to a yearly review by the league officers.

19.7

Biddy, Midget and Knee-Hi divisions shall have two (2) umpires for all playoff games.  Each team is responsible for paying one (1) umpire’s fee.

19.7.1

In the Biddy, Midget and Knee-Hi divisions, the winners’ bracket final, the loser’s bracket final and all championship games shall have three (3) umpires. Payment to the umpires will be as follows:

-       Home team pays home plate umpire.

-       Visiting team pays first base umpire.

-       League pays third base umpire.

19.8

The home team is responsible for supplying two (2) new game balls for each playoff game.

19.9

In the winner’s bracket, the home team shall be the team with the higher seed. In the loser’s bracket, the home team shall be the team with the higher seed. The winner’s bracket team shall be the home team in the Championship game. If the team from the winner’s bracket loses the first (1^st) game in the championship game, home team shall be determined by the team that is the higher seed.