Torrey Hills Biotech Softball League Rules
(Fall 2008)

1. All games are either 7 innings or 50 minutes – no inning starts after 50 minutes but if you are in the middle of an inning, then you complete the inning.
2. Each team will field a maximum of 10 players, three of which must be women. If only two women are present, then only 9 players may take the field and every time the third woman would be due up, the team must take an out. The team may then bat another two men before batting another woman. The minimum number of players will be 8, of which 2 must be women.
3. The batting order can reflect that every third batter is a woman or that the teams can alternate man-woman-man-woman. The batting order that is chosen at the start of the game cannot be changed during the game.
4. The pitcher must be a member of the team at bat.
5. A batter is called out if he or she fails to make contact within 3 pitches. A foul ball on the last pitch is an out.
6. The pitcher shall not interfere with a ball. If the ball hits the pitcher it is a dead ball and the pitch is taken over. If the pitcher deliberately interferes with the ball, the batter is out.
7. No bunting – the batter must take a full swing.
8. At least three outfielders must be behind the outfield arc until the ball is hit.
9. No more than 6 players may play in the infield. For Division A they can play anywhere on the infield. For Divisions B & C, only one player may be in front of the baseline.
10. Each team must provide a catcher.
11. All plays at home are a force out. Runners must go to a secondary home plate while the catcher must touch the permanent home plate. The catcher cannot tag a runner. If the runner touches the wrong plate it is an automatic out. If the catcher tags the runner, the runner is safe. A commitment line one-half way between 3rd base and home plate will be drawn – once the runner crosses this line, they must proceed home.
12. Any runner missing any base including home, is an appeal play by the defensive team. Once a runner leaves the playing field (dugout) they may not come back on the field.
13. A base runner may not leave the base until the ball is hit.
14. Sliding is allowed at all bases except home – any player that deliberately takes out a fielder is out and may be ejected from the game.
15. On field #1 (south), a ball hit onto any bank or sidewalk in the air is considered a home run. A ball that rolls or bounces onto a sidewalk to the left of the center field light pole is a home run. A ball that rolls or bounces onto the sidewalk to the right of the center field light pole is a triple.
16. On field #2 (north) a ball hit onto any bank or sidewalk in the air is a home run. A ball that rolls or bounces onto sidewalk, left of the 3rd pole in center field is a triple. A ball that rolls or bounces onto sidewalk to the right of the 3rd pole in center field is a double. A ball that rolls or bounces onto sidewalk, left of the 4th pole is a HR.

 16A.-On the North Field there is a one-up HR rule--ie no team can be more than one HR ahead--if the team that is one up

          hits a HR it is a foul and an out on the 3rd pitch.         
17. If the bat is carried to first base the runner is automatically out. If the bat is thrown, the batter receives a warning. After 1 warning the batter is automatically out the next time the bat is thrown.
18. The first baseman must get out of the runners way, unless making a play. A collision may result in the runner being awarded 1st base.
19. Allowing a routine fly ball to drop, intentionally in order to get more outs is not permitted. This may result in the player being taken out of the game. In other words no trapping allowed.
20. No defensive position changes can be made during an inning unless an injury has occurred. This includes adding players as they arrive. They must go to an open position.
21. A bat restriction is in place. A list of restricted bats will be provided at the following link: http://www.asasoftball.com/about/certified_equipment.asp Scroll down and select Bats then GO. At the bottom of this page will be a list of the bats not approved. One link with photos and the other with text only.
22. Players can only sign one roster. Any player that is on the roster for Division B or Division C may not substitute for a team in a lower division. If you are on the roster for a Division C or Division D team, you may substitute for a team in an upper division. Any player caught playing down in a division will result in a forfeit for the team the player is playing on.
23. Women are allowed to play in a higher division game during the regular season and playoffs if the team in question is short women and the player substituting is playing for a team in a lower division. When this happens the substitute will not need to be on the upper division teams roster, providing she has signed the roster of her lower division team.

24.  In all regular season games there is a 7 run cap per inning except for the final inning which is an open inning in which a team may score an unlimited amount of runs.  No run cap in all playoff games.

Pitching Screen Rules--If a batted ball hits the screen, it is a dead ball and counts as a pitch except for the 3rd pitch-you cannot make an out by hitting the screen on the 3rd pitch.   The pitcher CANNOT move the screen to prevent a batted ball from striking it-penalty-the batter is out.  The screen must be lined up with the home plate--at least one edge must be lined up with the pitching rubber.   The pitcher must put the screen down on a thrown ball from any fielder--if the screen is up and a thrown ball hits the screen on a play at home, the runner is OUT.  If the screen is down and the ball hits the screen, it is a dead ball and all runners advance to the base they were advancing to.  On a throw by an infielder to home, if in the umpire's judgment, the pitcher did not have a reasonable amount of time to put the screen dow, it will be a dead ball and all runners cannot advance unless they were forced to advance