TOURNAMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS
The highest seed in each game will be the Home team.
All games will be 6 innings or no new inning after 1 hour and 30 minutes. There will be no time limit for Championship game. In the event there is a tie and the time limit has expired we will use the “International Tie Breaker” to break the tie. A runner will be placed on second base (last out the previous inning) at the start of the top and bottom half of the inning. If the tie is not broken that inning the runner will be placed on third base the next inning and subsequent innings until tie is broken.
A 10 run rule applies after 4 innings.
4 innings constitutes a complete game when delayed or called because of inclement weather.
Starters may re-enter one time and in the same spot in the batting order.
Home team will be official scorer. Make sure you write the starting time in the scorebook. Each scorebook must also show the number of innings pitched during the week for each pitcher. This book can be checked by any Umpire and/or League Director.
Protests are discouraged! Protests will be handled at the time of protest and protests will not be allowed after the game. The umpire can confer with the AF Youth Baseball officials for help on rulings. The State Cal Ripken umpire consultant will also be used if necessary.
We will enforce the no contact or must slide rule at all bases. Malicious contact-runner will be ejected. A must slide rule will be in effect when an infielder is attempting to turn a double-play at second base. This rule is for the protection of the base runner.
Teams must hustle on and off the field. We need to keep the games on schedule. Eliminate long defensive huddles prior to your team taking the field in between innings.
Show respect to the umpires, your opponents and most of all to this great game.
PITCHING RULES
A player may not pitch more than his allowed number of pitches below.
Age 9-10: Maximum of 75 pitches for the tournament
There will be no required rest days as part of the tournament. This means you can pitch one player in as many games you want, as long as you don’t go over the above pitch count guidelines and more than 3 innings in a game.
Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until that batter reaches base or is put out.
The home team book will be designated as the official pitch count scorekeeper. The home team book scorekeeper must provide the current pitch count for any pitcher when requested by either manager or any umpire. However, the manager is responsible for knowing when his/her pitcher must be removed.
The official pitch count scorekeeper should inform the umpire when a pitcher has delivered his/her maximum limit of pitches for the game. The umpire will inform the pitcher’s manager that the pitcher must be removed from the game under the pitch count rule. Violation of this pitch count guideline can result in protest of the game in which it occurs. Protest shall be made in accordance with the Babe Ruth Rule Book.
Each team will keep and be responsible for their pitching record. The team’s scorebook needs to be signed by the opposing coach and umpire. Pitch counts need to be emailed to info@afbaseball.com at the conclusion of each game.
If a coach has a question about the opposing team's pitching log. He can bring it to the attention of an AF Youth Baseball League official at the field. A coach may not request the pitching affidavit from the opposing coach.
Teams will need to pitch a “young pitcher” at least 3 innings in 12. A young pitcher is any player younger than 9 years old in the Minors. In the event that a game is shortened for any reason, the young pitcher requirement will be shortened to ¼ the outs played for the tournament.
**Violation of any of the above rules is a protest-able offense, which could result in forfeiture of the game.**
