Tiverton Men’s Softball League

Local Rules

Uniform

Sponsor endorsed matching shirt and hat properly worn with the baseball pants or baseball shorts only. No sweat pants, nylon warm-up pants, gym trunks, jeans, etc. will be allowed. All uniform items must be in decent condition (i.e.no major rips, blood stains, etc.)

If a player does not have the proper hat or pants, they can pay a $ 5.00 fine before that game and still play.

Bats

There will be severe penalties for teams caught using unacceptable bats. First offense will be automatic forfeit of the game; second offense will be team ejection form the league. Bats must be accessible for umpire inspection for entire game. Click here for bat list.

Rosters

Minimum number of players:   14

Maximum number of players:  No limit

Final rosters are due by June 1st

League fee is $800.00 due before start of season.  Minimum team contract fee is $350.00 (14 players) plus $25.00 per player over 14.

Contracts and fees are due by the vacation break in July.

No players will be added after June 1st unless a team roster consists of 10 or fewer players due to injuries or players quitting.

In the event one or both of these events should occur the procedure is:

A new player may be added to the roster as long as an existing player is removed for the remainder of the season.(Subject to board approval)

Team 

Game must begin and end with a minimum of 9 players. If the game starts with 9 players the 10th player will be added at the end of the half inning upon arrival, to the respective batting order position. The 10th player must be added.

A team starting with 9, 10, 11 or 12 players must end the game with the same number. Failure to maintain the same number of players results in an automatic out call in the lineup position.

If a player is injured and unable to continue, his lineup spot will be skipped if the team has no replacement. However, a team must have 9 players to continue or game is forfeited.

Any player faking an injury and caught playing in another league that night will automatically be ejected from the league.

11 & 12th Player

The 12th man now can be added to the end of the lineup, before the first pitch of the 2nd inning. He will get credit for the game .He does not have to play, but has to be present for the entire game.

Coaches option

The coach has the option to play or sit the 11th and 12th man.

Playoff Eligibility

Players must play or be in attendance for a minimum of 12 regular season games. All eligible players must be in uniform (unless injured), in the dugout and reported on the official lineup card. Player must be there for the entire game to receive credit. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS to the rule. Before the first pitch of the 2nd inning.

Home Team

Home team will use the dugout closest to the scoreboard and will be responsible for the operating of the scoreboard. First game home team will set bases and retrieve scoreboard numbers from shed.

Last game home team will return bases and scoreboard numbers to the shed.

Lock shed and bathrooms, and turn off the lights.

Courtesy Runner

One per game, last out last inning. Or by mutual agreement.

Run Rule

15 runs after 5 innings, 12 runs after the 6th

Re-entry Rule

No limit, player must bat before leaving the game.

Home Runs and Foul Balls

Home team is responsible for balls hit out of play on the left side, and the visiting team is responsible for balls hit out of play on the right side. If either team does not have players available on the bench to retrieve an out of play ball, the other team will be responsible. Not an umpire responsibility.

Ejections

Anyone ejected from the game will be automatically suspended for the team’s next game. Swearing will result in an automatic ejection for the remainder of that game being played, plus the next game.

Teams with no replacement for an ejected player in the lineup, will have an automatic out called in that lineup position. Team still must have 9 players or forfeit the game. If a player gets suspended for multiple games, they have the right to an appeal. The appeal must be documented in the book that night by the coach of that team. That coach must contact a board member to let them know, the board will look at the appeal with in a week.

Weather

Regular season games called off during the game for any weather related situation will be replayed in its entirety if loosing team has not batted through 5 innings (15outs). Games called after the 5th inning will be official at the time the game was called.

Playoff games called off during the game for any weather related situation would be suspended at that point and continued from that point at a later date. Lineup will remain the same at the later date. In the event of some different player present at the re-start date then use the following lineup procedure:

All players in original lineup will move up in the lineup filling all gaps. The other players will be added after them in the re-start lineup.

Unless notified by a league official, teams are responsible to be at the field for scheduled game.

Game Time

Teams will be on the field and ready to play at their scheduled game time. In case of forfeit a 10-minute grace period will be allowed for the first game only. When the team has 9 players, they will take the field.

Unacceptable Conduct

Any violent or non violent physical contact, not routine to the game with any league official, umpire, scorer or other player will result in an immediate suspension for the remainder of the season. Player must go in front of the board for any possibility of his return. Verbal threats are subject to league suspension of the player and or the team.

When Playoffs are scheduled, there will be NO changes!!

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