LEAGUE STRUCTURE

 

The league will consist of 1 division for the 2014 season

 

 

 

ROSTER

 

·         Each team is allowed 22 players per roster

 

·         1/2 of the roster must consist of Catholic High School graduates

 

·         In order to be eligible for the playoffs players must have played 3 weeks (6 games) during the regular season.

 

·         Teams are not allowed to challenge rosters and if any player is found to be illegal that player will not be allowed to play in that game.

 

·         Rosters are to be filled out online via the link provided to all team captains

 

·         All rosters are LOCKED for the season at the end of week 2

 

 

 

WAIVERS

 

·         In order to participate in the league, each participant must electronically sign the team waiver.  This is done when filling out your roster online.

 

 

 

PLAYOFFS

 

·         The top 16 teams in the league will make the playoffs

 

·         The playoffs will be a single elimination tournament with the exception of the Championship series which will be a best of 3.

 

·         Playoff tie breakers will first be determined by head-to-head completion.  In the case of a 3 way tie, head-to-head is the first tie breaker and then it goes to total runs scored for the season.  If a tie is between 2 teams that have not faced each other then the tie breaker will be total runs scored

 

 

 

BEVERAGES

 

·         Alcohol is allowed for our league but that privilege can be revoked at any time by the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Police Department

 

·         Bottles are not allowed.  If a team brings bottles to the field they WILL FORFEIT their games for that week.

 

·         No beverage containers of any kind are allowed on or within four (4) feet of the field of play.

 

·         Clean up your mess after your games

 

·         We need to police ourselves and be aware of the neighbors around the park who allow us in to their neighborhood for 11 Sundays every summer.

 

 

 

GARBAGE

 

·         Please be considerate and show that you have some manners by cleaning up your area after every game. It is the Captains duty to oversee this.

 

·         There are garbage cans place around the park.  Leave them where they are…do not move them over by the fields.  In cases that they are moved closer to the field they will need to be brought back to their original home at the end of the day or the league runs the risk of not being allowed to bring alcohol to the games

 

·         SUGGESTION: Each team brings a garbage bang, hangs it on their dugout and at the end of the day they bring the garbage bag to the garbage can.

 

 

 

SPORTSMANSHIP

 

·         Unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated, especially when a player or players are fighting or instigating fights.

 

·         All reported incidence will be reviewed by the league Coordinators who will determine the disciplinary action taken, including possible ejection form the league.

 

·         The umpire involved and any captain from any team viewing such a situation should report it immediately to the league coordinators.

 

 

 

RAINOUTS

 

·         The league has established a rainout hotline.  The number is 708-277-9337

 

·         The rainout hotline will be updated every Sunday morning by 9:30am with the status of the days games

 

·         If games are cancelled mid day the rainout hotline will be updated

 

·         We will generally play in wet conditions, unless the fields have a lot of standing water.

 

·         In the event of multiple rain outs, the regular season may be shortened.

 

·         There will be no refund of any money due to a shortened season.

 

 

 

FORFEITS

 

·         If any team does not have at least 9 rostered players by 10 minutes after scheduled game time for the 10:00 games, that team will forfeit.  For all games with start time after 10:00 the time limit is 5 minutes

 

·         Any team that forfeits three games or more may not be allowed to play the following year.

 

 

 

SHOES

 

·         Metal spikes ARE NOT allowed.  This is a safety issue

 

·         If a player is seen wearing metal spikes at anytime during the game please let the umpire know and the umpire will make the player remove the spikes.

 

·         The player in questions cannot return to the game until the metal spikes are removed and proper shoes are being worn.  Players will not be allowed to play in bare feet, socks or flip flops.

 

·         If a team drops below the mandatory 9 players needed because a player doesn’t have proper shoes, that game shall result in a forfeit for that team.

 

 

 

GAMES

 

·         All games are 7 innings and 1hour 15 minutes in length. 

 

·         Now new inning can start after the end of the time limit unless it is extra innings

 

·         Completion of 5 innings in considered a complete game.

 

 

 

FIELD OF PLAY

 

·         The distance between bases is 60’

 

·         The distance from the pitching rubber to home plate is 38’

 

 

 

HOME TEAM

 

·         The Home Team gets to keep the game ball and should, but aren't required to, occupy the 3rd base side of the diamond

 

 

 

SLIDE RULE

 

·         Slide rule is in effect.  Base runner to defensive player contact will be closely watched by the ump.

 

·         Any excessive contact or collision will result in an “out” and/or ejection. This includes contact with the catcher. 

 

·         Any intentional (in the eyes of the monitor) interference with the defensive player, the runner and the batter will be called out.

 

 

 

 

SLAUGHTER RULE

 

·         Game called if home team is ahead by 12 runs after 4 1/2 innings.

 

·         " " " visiting " " " " " " " 5 " .

 

·         Slaughter rule  is not in effect during playoff games.

 

 

 

ENTRY AND RE-ENTRY

 

·         Whenever a player enters the game for the first time, that player will retain that batting order number in the lineup for the duration of the game.

 

·         Any substitute entering the game in a specific batting order position will retain that batting order

 

·         number.

 

·         An original lineup player may re-enter at any time providing that the player occupies his original batting order position.

 

·         Pitcher removal and re-entry is governed by the re entry into the same batting order.

 

·         Players with the same batting order number cannot be in the lineup at the same time.

 

·         This applies offensively and defensively.

 

 

 

A BALL IS OUT OF PLAY WHEN

 

·         The ball is thrown over the fence

 

·         The ball is thrown beyond the fence

 

·         The ball is thrown beyond the imaginary line extending from the end of the backstop (if there is no fence).

 

·         This imaginary line applies to overthrows and caught fly foul balls.

 

·         If the ball is overthrown and hits the fence behind the 1st or 3rd base lines but does not travel out of play, this is NOT considered out of play and the runner may advance, BUT at his/her own risk.

 

·         On overthrows out of play, the runner is granted the base he/she is going to (at the point of the throw)

 

·         If the base runner is more than half way to the next base the base runner will be awarded that base plus 1 more.  This is up to the umpire discretion.

 

·         Note: in cases where a base runner runs past first base, he must make a clearly aggressive turn towards second base to be granted 2^nd.

 

 

 

INFIELD FLY RULE

 

·         On an infield fly (any fly ball within the infield with significant arc and deemed an “easy catch”) with less than 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd or 1st, 2nd and 3rd, the batter is automatically out and runners can advance, BUT at their own risk

 

·         The umpires will call “Infield Fly” while the ball is in the air to let all the players know the rule is in effect.

 

 

 

BASE RUNNING

 

·         Base stealing is not permitted

 

·         A base runner is permitted to lead off the base but is subject to being picked off of that base.

 

·         If a pick-off delivery is made on a base runner off first, second, or third base, he/she may advance at his/her own risk to the next base if it is unoccupied.

 

 

 

EXTRA HITTER

 

·         Each team has the option of using two (2) Extra Hitters - you can bat 11 or 12 men but it is not required

 

·         Whatever decision the team makes at the start of the game must remain throughout the game.  Teams cannot start with 10 players then decide to add an EH after the game starts.

 

 

 

 

BATTER’S COUNT

 

·         Each batter starts their at bat with NO count (0 Balls, 0 strikes).

 

·         The league coordinators / umps reserve the right to institute a 1 and 1 count in the event of excessive heat/weather conditions, or other contributing factors.

 

·         A foul ball after a batter already has 2 strikes on them in considered strike 3 and the batter will be out.

 

 

 

PITCHING

 

·         A legal delivery shallbe delivered with an under handed motion.

 

·         The pitcher must present the ball to the batter while standing on the pitching rubber.

 

·         After presenting the ball for one (1) second, the pitcher may take one (1) step in any direction.

 

·         Once a pitcher has taken the step, the ball must be presented again before the ball is delivered.

 

·         NOTE: The non-pivot foot may be placed in any direction except in front of the pivot foot.

 

·         The minimum and maximum pitching arcs from the ground are six (6) feet and twelve (12) feet, respectively.

 

·         The pitcher shall be allowed two (2) fake delivery motions to either home plate or an occupied base. On the third motion, the ball must be delivered to home plate.

 

·         At no time may a pitcher use a windmill motion.

 

 

 

PINCH RUNNERS

 

·         Each team is allowed 2 pinch runners per game unless both team agree on more before the game starts

 

·         Pinch runners should be used only for players who are hurt and not for strategic reasons.

 

 

 

ARGUING CALLS

 

·         Any arguing on the judgment of balls and strikes will constitute a team warning.  Any repeat offense shall result in the ejection of that team member.

 

 

 

EJECTIONS

 

·         If a player is ejected because of sportsmanship, they will be suspended for the next league game. If they are ejected a second time they will be suspended, for a minimum, of the remainder of the season.

 

 

 

PROTESTS

 

·         All protests must be filed verbally at the time of the incident and submitted to the league coordinators via e-mail within 48 hours along with a $25 protest fee.  If the protest is allowed the protest fee will be refunded.  No protests based on judgment of umpires will be allowed

 

 

 

COMMENTS

 

·         The Marist Alumni Softball League has always been a great league to play in. It has always struck a good balance between good competition, and good friendship and fun. Let's not let one person or group ruin that environment for the rest of us.

 

·         We welcome feedback from all participants in the League regarding any relevant topic (i.e. Umpires, field conditions, opposing players, etc.). Team Captains should communicate these thoughts to the League Coordinators