Northwest Ohio Amateur Baseball League (NWOABL)

NWOABL 9U Rules

9U Regular Season Games will follow Major League Baseball Rules with the following modifications:

1.    No Time Limit For Games

A)   Once game has started, the umpire has final call on when game is ended due to darkness, weather, etc.

B)   Official Game is 3 Innings (2 ½ innings if home team is winning)

2.    Playing Field Distances

A)   Pitching Rubber to Plate Distance - 46’

B)   Base to Base Distance - 65’

3.    Mercy Rules

A)   15 Runs after 3 Innings

B)   10 Runs after 4 innings

C)   8 Runs after 5 innings

There is no inning run limit – 3 outs ends the inning, unless home team reaches mercy rule total

4.    Pitching Limits

A)   Pitchers Can Throw A Maximum of 3 Innings Per Game

B)   1 Pitch = 1 Inning

5.    Pitcher Balks Will Be Enforced

                                                i.     Umpire Judgement Call

                                              ii.     Managers and Umpire are encouraged to determine how to handle balks prior to the game

6.    Base Runner Stealing / Advancement to Home

A)   No Hesitated Stealing to Any Base

                                                i.     Once the pitcher has received the ball from the catcher, stealing can occur (2^nd and 3^rd base only)

B)   Baserunner can advance home on the following:

                                           i.          During a batted ball play

                                          ii.          Bases Loaded Walk / Hit By Pitch

                                        iii.          Pick-off attempt by the pitcher or catcher to any base

                                        iv.          Dropped 3^rd Strike attempt to throw runner out at 1^st

                                         v.          Drop 3^rd Strike, 2 Outs and Bases Loaded

C)   Baserunner can not advance to home on the following:

                                           i.          No stealing home on any pitch

                                          ii.          Passed ball on a pitch

                                        iii.          Catcher throwing ball back to the pitcher after a pitch

Rule Interpretation on Specific Scenario’s

Situation #1 – Batter puts a ball in play and the defense makes throwing errors, can runners advance home?

Yes, the ball is live and base runners can advance until the play is stopped

Situation #2 – Runner at 3^rd, and the pitch is a passed ball but the batter swung and is a 3^rd strike. The catcher makes an attempt to throw out the runner at 1^st base, can the runner from 3^rd advance home?

Yes, the baserunner from 3^rd can advance (Rule 6.B.iv), however, the runner at 3^rd must wait for the catcher to make the attempted throw to throw the ball to 1^st base

Situation #3 – Runner at 3^rd, after the pitch, the catcher overthrows the return throw to the pitcher which results in the ball going past the pitcher, can the runner at 3^rd advance home?

No, (Rule 6.C.iii), the baserunner at 3^rd is not allowed to advance on a throw from the catcher to the pitcher.

 Situation #4 – Runner at 1^st and 3^rd , the pitch is completed and the catcher has the ball, the runner at 1^st takes off to 2^nd base, the catcher throws to 2^nd in an attempt to throw the runner out, can the runner at 3^rd advance to home?

No, both base runners must return to 1^st and 3^rd because this was a hesitated steal attempt (Rule 6.A.i).

Situation #5 – Bases Loaded, 2 Outs and the ball hits ground on strike 3. Can the runner at 3^rd advance home?

Yes, (Rule 3.B.v), the baserunner at 3^rd is allowed to advance to being forced by the other runners. All bases are force outs and the defense must make an out to complete the play and end the inning.