BALTIMORE PIKE SOFTBALL LEAGUE RULES 2024 SPRING SEASON

- PLAYER AGE RESTRICTIONS – The age restriction date will be January 1. Whatever age your player is on January 1 2024 that is the age group they will play.

8u – Cannot turn 9 before January 1 2024 10u – Cannot turn 11 before January 1 2024 12u – Cannot turn 13 before January 1 2024

AGE RESTRICTIONS CAN BE OVERRIDDEN BY BPL BOARD SPORTSMANSHIP RULES

• -  Each team is responsible for their own fans. Please make sure we are providing the best environment for the players at all times.

• -  Foul language from players, coaches or fans will NOT be tolerated. Any player, coach or fan that uses foul language during a game will be removed from the game and suspended from the next game.

  ROSTERS

• -  A roster for each team will be submitted to the league board prior to the start of the season.

• -  For regular season games teams will be allowed to pull players from other teams with in their organization within their own age group. Call up players from the lower level should only be used in emergency situations (you have 9 players and need a 10thfor that specific game)

• -  In specific circumstances a team will be allowed to bring a player from the older age group down to fill out a needed roster spot for a specific game during the regular season only.

• -  There is no limit on how many players you have per team. But keep in mind the continuous batting order and playing time rules.

PLAYING RULES

• -  A continuous batting order will be used. If you have 13 players all 13 bat. There will be NO out awarded if a team skips a player for any reason. The spot will be skipped with no penalty. Regular season and playoffs.

• -  All players must play a minimum of 2 innings in the field.

• -  All infielders must wear a protective facemask.

• -  NO metal cleats will be permitted.

• -  All catchers must be fully protected. Only one-piece helmets will be permitted (no mask or two piece helmets). Throat guards are requested but not required. Shin guards will cover from above the knee to the top of the shoe.

• -  First base will be a doublewide base.

• -  Curtosy runner for the catcher and pitcher is allowed at any time.

• -  Bats must have ASA, ISF, NSA or USA stamp to be used. Can be aluminum or composite but must have current certification.

• -  Pitcher warm up time will be at the discretion of the umpire.

• -  Games for 8u and 10u will be 6 innings with a time limit of 1 hour 45 minutes. Games for 12u will be 7 innings with a time limit of 1 hour 45 minutes. No new inning will be started after the time limit. Once last inning is declared by the umpire that will be the last inning of the game.

• -  A game is official after 41⁄2 innings played or once time limit is reached.

• -  Run Rule Per Inning: 8u – 5 runs per inning, 10u & 12u – 5 runs per inning (if agreed by both coaches)

• -  Mercy Rule: 8u – 10 runs after 4 1⁄2 innings, 10u & 12u – 15 runs after 4 1⁄2 innings

• -  Each team will be issued one warning about bat throwing. After the warning any bat thrown will result in the batter being called out

• -  A protest must be made before the next pitch is thrown. Protests will go to the BPL Board for decision. Please keep in mind this is an instructional style league, yes we all want to win games, but protest should only come up in a gross misuse or abuse of rules of the game. (JUDGEMENT CALLS CANNOT BE PROTESTED)

• -  11” ball to be used for 8u and 10u , 12” ball to be used for 12u

• -  Regular season games can end in a tie. Extra innings can be played with in the time limit and at the discretion of the umpire. All extra innings will start with International Tie Breaker rules. The last batter from the previous inning will be placed at second base. In the case the last batter was a pitcher or a catcher the batter before them can be used.

• -  Playoffs must have a winner. International Tie Breaker will be used for all extra innings until we declare a winner. If time limit is approaching it is the umpires discretion to start ITB before the 6th inning has completed.

  8U SPECIFIC RULES

• -  First half of the season will be pitching machine/coach pitch, which ever is decided by both teams during ground rules. Remember we want the kids hitting the ball and the fielders making plays, use whichever method will allow for the most hits.

• -  Second half of the season pitchers can be used at the coaches’ discretion. Pitchers may only throw 4 pitches per batter. If the batter is not out on strikes, by batted ball or gets on base the coach will come in to finish pitching the at bat. Coach/Machine pitch can continue to be used at coaches’ discretion.

• -  Coaches will umpire games, unless a volunteer umpire can be acquired for regular season games. BPL will provide umpires for the playoffs.

• -  There are NO walks at this level.

• -  Batters must swing at the third strike to be stuck out.

• -  6 pitches per at bat. If the batter fouls off the 6th pitch they are not out.

• -  Leads are permitted after the pitch is released.

• -  No steals

• -  No base advancement on overthrows.

• -  One base at a time on infield hits.

• -  On a ball hit into the outfield, base runners can take more then one base. The ball is dead once it is back into the infield, it does not need to be possessed by a player. If a player is more then half way to the next base they are awarded that

base. If they are less then half way they will be returned to the previous base. Umpire discretion on this call.

• -  No bunting.

• -  No pickoffs.

• -  No dropped third strike.

• -  A batter hit by a player pitching will take their base. A batter hit by a coach pitching will not.

• -  Pitching rubber will be set at 32’ and bases at 60’

• -  Rules can be altered game to game if both coaches are in agreement, however once a rule is agreed upon in ground rules it cannot be changed during the game.

  10U SPECIFIC RULES

• -  Pitchers can use windmill or slingshot delivery.

• -  3 walks max per inning. After a pitcher has walked 3 batters in an inning, a coach will come into pitch once the pitcher has reached a 3 ball count.

• -  Pitchers may only throw 3 innings per game.

• -  Leads and steals are permitted only after the pitch is released.

• -  3 steals per team per inning. NO STEALING HOME. If a runner is on first and third and the catcher makes a throw attempt to get the runner stealing second base and the ball is over thrown into the outfield the runner from third CANNOT advance home. Runners on third can only score on a batted ball or when forced in by walks. If a runner on first and second base steal simultaneously (DOUBLE STEAL) that counts as two steals. If a team only has one steal remaining and a double steal happens the umpire will call dead ball and return one of the players.

• -  Play will become dead when the pitcher is in possession of the ball with in 8 feet of the pitching rubber. A base runner that is more then halfway to the next base will be awarded that base if they are less then half way they will be returned to the previous base. The defensive team can attempt to make a play on the runner however if the ball is over thrown again the runners can progress to the next base.

• -  Batters are allowed to take extra bases on any batted ball. The ball is dead once the pitcher is in possession of the ball within 8 feet of the pitching rubber.

• -  Bunting is allowed

• -  No pickoffs.

• -  No dropped third strike.

• -  No infield fly

• -  Pitching rubber will be set at 35’ and bases at 60’

• -  Rules can be altered game to game if both coaches are in agreement, however once a rule is agreed upon in ground rules it cannot be changed during the game.

• -  Specific playoff rules will be distributed prior to the start of the playoffs.

  12U SPECIFIC RULES

• -  Windmill or slingshot delivery.

• -  Pitchers may only throw 4 innings per game.

• -  Stealing is allowed.

• -  Play will become dead when the pitcher is in possession of the ball with in 8 feet of the pitching rubber. Look back rule is in effect at 12u.

• -  Bunting is allowed

• -  Pick offs are allowed at 12u.

• -  Dropped third strike is in effect.

• -  Infield fly is in effect.

• -  Pitching rubber will be set at 40’ and bases at 60’

• -  Rules can be altered game to game if both coaches are in agreement, however once a rule is agreed upon in ground rules it cannot be changed during the game.

• -  Specific playoff rules will be distributed prior to the start of the playoffs.

SCORE REPORTING

• -  Scores will be reported by the winning team after each game using TeamSnap.

• -  The home team will keep the official score book. It is the job of the visiting team coach to check for accuracy during the game.

  OTHER RULES

• -  Line up cards are optional. Exchange of line up is mandatory.

• -  Rain outs/cancellations will be decided by the home team. While the weather is not always predictable please try to cancel games at least one hour in advance when possible.

  2024 PLAYOFF STRUCTURE

  -Top 4 teams at each age group will make the playoffs. Single elimination.

  -All game results MUST be entered in TeamSnap to and approved by both coaches for official standings. It is important for tie breaker rules to have the correct score entered.

  -In the case of a tie in record, tie breakers will be – Head to head , run differential, total runs against , total runs for.

  -1 seed will play 4 seed , 2 seed will play 3 seed with the higher seed being the home team. Winners of those games will meet in a single game championship.

  -NO CALL UP PLAYERS or PLAYERS FROM OTHER TEAMS CAN PLAY IN THE PLAYOFFS! All players must be officially rostered to that specific team / age group. If you do not have enough players to play, it will be a forfeit.

  -Umpires will be provided at all levels, cost of umpires will be paid by hosting organization.

  -Awards will be presented to 1st and 2nd place teams.

BPL CONTACTS

Cabrina Stanek – Media Softball – cabrina.stanek@gmail.com 

Boo Hurlock – Springfield Softball – booman55@yahoo.com 

Sean Fullerton – Clifton Softball – sfullerton2187@gmail.com