RULES:
Rules will be the same as Bermuda Triangle Rules during the regular season except no new inning will start after 1hr 30 mins (LDBA Mosquito HL Rule #5) and there will be no curfew for any and all games.
There is 5 runs max./inning, max 6 inning game with a 10 run mercy after 4 innings.
Home Team for each game will be the higher ranked team from the final standings.
If there is a tie at the end of the game, one extra inning shall be played. If the game is still tied after the extra inning, the winner will be declared as the team with a lead latest in the game after the latest complete inning. If the game is tied completely through the game, a coin toss will decide the winner. This does not apply for semi-final or final games - they will keep playing extra innings until a winner is declared.
There will be NO infield practice before any games.
Pitching rules will be as shown under LDBA HL Rule #25, (see below).
For example: you can have a Mosquito pitcher throw 45 pitches on Friday night and then the same pitcher can throw 70 pitches on Saturday (all in one game or across all games) but then no pitches may be thrown from that same pitcher on Sunday.
The visiting team will be Official Pitch Counter for both teams (2 pitch count tracking sheets will be handed out).
The home team will be the Official Scorekeeper (1 scoresheet will be handed out).
Have both head coaches sign all 3 official sheets before handing back to game official.
It is recommended that coaches check the Pitch Count of a pitcher as recorded with the Official Pitch Counter at the end of each inning.
***In fairness to all teams, all seven Round 1 games (Thursday night and Friday night games) Pitch Counts will be officially scored as if all Round 1 games are being played on Friday.***
In the case that rain occurs causing scheduling problems, the tournament Committee reserves the right to alter the tournament format.
Team officials are responsible for the behaviour of their parent group. This includes the rules against consumption of alcohol in City parks.
LDBA HL Rule #25
Baseball Ontario Section P2.1 PITCHING RULES (adapted for Houseleague play)
a) Any player advancing to play in a higher series shall be restricted to the pitching rule of the series in which he/she is registered.
b) In Mosquito games, the number of trips to the mound by manager/coach shall not be limited except when the umpire rules that the purpose of the trip is to delay the game.
c) In Peewee games, a 3rd trip by a manager/coach to the same pitcher in the same inning shall result in the pitcher’s automatic removal from the pitching position.
d) In Mosquito and Peewee games, a pitcher once removed from pitching, regardless of the number of trips to the mound by the manager/coach, may continue in the game at another position, but shall not be permitted to return to pitch in that game.
e) From Bantam to Jr2 Houseleague a 2nd trip by a manager/coach to the same pitcher in the same inning shall result in the pitcher’s automatic removal from the pitching position. The pitcher, once removed after the 2nd trip in an inning, may continue in the game at another position but shall not be permitted to return to pitch in that game.
Pitch Count Limitations
f) A pitcher may not pitch more than the following limits in a calendar day. If the limit is reached while facing a batter, the pitcher may pitch to the earlier of: (i) the completion of that batter or (ii) the end of the inning
Mosquito 70 pitches
Peewee 80 pitches
Bantam, 90 pitches
Midget and Jr2 Houseleague 100 pitches (Jr 2 only…maximum 5 innings in a single game)
g) If a pitcher throws more than the following limits in a calendar day he/she cannot pitch the next day – the player must have 2 nights rest.
Mosquito 45 pitches
Peewee, 55 pitches
Bantam, 65 pitches
Midget and Jr2 Houseleague 75 pitches
h) Where a team has multiple games on the same day, if a pitcher throws more than the following limits during a game or in combination of one or more games, the pitcher may not pitch again in a subsequent game that day:
Mosquito 45 pitches
Peewee 55 pitches
Bantam 65 pitches
Midget and Jr2 Houseleague 75 pitches
i) If a balk is called but the pitcher throws the ball it will count as a pitch thrown, even if it is not counted as a pitch for ball/strike purposes.
j) The official scorekeeper shall be designated the official pitch count recorder.
k) The official pitch count recorder must provide the current pitch count for any pitcher when requested by either manager or the umpire.
l) The official pitch count recorder shall inform the home plate umpire when a pitcher has delivered his/her limit of pitches for the game. The home plate umpire will then notify the pitcher’s manager that the pitcher must be removed.
Note: It is the responsibility of the manager to remove a pitcher when that pitcher is no longer eligible, even if the pitch count recorder and/or the umpire fail to notify the manager.
m) If a team has no remaining players eligible to pitch in a game, the opposing coach may designate a player who has yet to pitch in the game. This pitcher may not throw more than 30 pitches. If the limit is reached while facing a batter, the pitcher may pitch to the earlier of (i) the completion of that batter, or (ii) the end of the inning.
n) Illegal pitching penalty: where a player throws more pitches than is permitted under f); or pitches without the rest required by P2.10 g); or pitches on 3 consecutive days in violation of n); or pitches and catches in the same game in violation of o), the penalty shall be the immediate ejection of the Head Coach and removal of the pitcher from the pitching positions. Such ejection shall be reported to the LDBA Disciplinary Committee. A second violation by a team will result in the manager/head coach’s indefinite suspension.
o)
i. At Mosquito, Peewee and Bantam pitchers may not pitch on 3 consecutive calendar days
ii. At Midget pitchers may not pitch on 3 consecutive calendar days unless:
1. the pitcher threw 30 pitches or less on each of the first two days.
2. the maximum number of pitches which may be thrown on the third day is 50.
iii. At Jr 2 Houseleague there is no restriction on pitchers pitching on 3 consecutive calendar days.
p) At Mosquito, Peewee and Bantam a player may not be a pitcher and a catcher in the same game.
q) Pitches shall count on the calendar day on which the pitch is thrown. An exception shall be made where a game commences on one day and is played continuously past midnight. In that case, the pitches shall count as being thrown on the day on which the game commenced. In the case where a game is suspended, for whatever reason, on one day and resumed on a second day, pitches shall count on the calendar day on which the pitch is thrown (i.e. both parts of the game shall be considered on separate days). Where weather or other reasons cause the delay or postponement of a game or games, the time of the delay can count towards the nights rest required under g) and can constitute a break in the 3 consecutive day rule under n).
r) The pitching limits apply to every pitcher. For an ambidextrous pitcher, the limits and restrictions of P2.10 apply to the pitcher and not to each individual arm. For clarity, the pitches thrown with the right arm and left arm on a calendar day are added together to determine whether a pitch limit has been reached.
s) 8.06 c) of the Official Rules of Baseball does not apply where a coach/manager goes to the mound to remove a pitcher in order not to exceed the pitch limits of P2.10 g)” Note: For this to apply, the second trip must be after the last pitch which could be thrown without exceeding the particular pitch count limit of P2.10g). For example, after the 55th pitch but before the 56th pitch at Peewee or Minor Peewee.