1.                  Fewest Number of forfeit losses.

2.                  Head-to-Head Results

3.                  Fewest Runs Allowed in those head-to-head games.

4.                  Run Differential per game (Scored vs. Allowed)

5.                  Coin flip

 

 

Teams must supply the following:

 

Game times are listed on the schedule. Weeknight games (Monday - Friday) will begin at 5:45 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. No inning may begin after 2 hours and 15 minutes from the beginning of the game. However, no inning can start after 8:00pm during the 5:45pm game, if there is an 8:00pm game scheduled that evening. Weekend games will be limited to 2 hours (no inning may begin after 2 hours from the beginning of the game). If a team cannot field at least nine players within 15 minutes of the scheduled game time, that team will forfeit the game. The umpires, who have the sole authority to decide on game forfeiture, will designate the official time. Umpires also have the discretion to start the official game time if they feel teams are unnecessarily stalling the start of the game. All rescheduling of games must be done by calling the Tournament Official for your age division by noon the day before the game.

A regulation game will be 7 innings. Games should be able to be completed in the allowed time slot, however when necessary, evening games may be ended due to darkness and declared official by the umpire. If a game is tied at the end of an inning when the time limit is reached, the game will be declared official and will count as a tie during pool play. Playoff games must be continued until one team wins.

An official game is 5 complete innings or 4 1/2 innings if the home team is winning. If a game is stopped by the umpire for any reason and has reached the “official” status, the game will be over and existing score and outcome will be final if it cannot be restarted within the 2-hour time limit allotted for that game. If a game is stopped before it has reached “official” status, it will be resumed when possible at the point where it was stopped.

A 10-run rule will be in effect for all games except the Championships. If a team is ahead by 10 or more runs at the end of the 5th inning (or top of the 4th if home team is winning), the game is over.  

Pre-game infield practice will be allowed at the discretion of the umpire. Starting games on time takes precedence over pre-game practice. Pre-game practice is limited to 10 minutes per team, time permitting. Please be prepared to start your games up to 15 minutes early on weekends in the spirit of fitting all the games for that day in at a reasonable hour.

In order to complete all scheduled games, every attempt will be made to play games as scheduled. We will try to cancel games as early as possible before game time. Decisions on canceled games will be posted on our website at www.bridgewaterbaseball.com. Team managers will be notified when possible. If you have not been called by a tournament official and the game has not been postponed on the website, the game will be on until canceled at the field. We apologize if you must make an unnecessary trip to the field, but it is not always possible to make a final decision before game time.

After a rainout, managers should stay at the Prince Rodgers Complex if already there to arrange for the game to be re-scheduled. If not there, contact the Tournament Director within 24 hours to reschedule. Managers are responsible for checking their e-mail and other messages in a timely manner. Forfeits will apply if a message has been left and your team does not show up for a game or contact the Tournament Director to re-schedule. (We do not want any forfeits, so we will make reasonable efforts to contact you.)

 

Rules and procedures to promote safety at all times are of paramount importance. The league officials and umpires will have authority to enforce safety rules and to regulate activities on the field, dugout, and stands in order to promote a safe playing environment.

 

Only approved Babe Ruth or Senior Little League equipment is allowed. Uniforms must follow general Senior Little League / Babe Ruth rules. Each team must supply two game baseballs to the umpire at the start of the game.

 

All tournament umpires have completed official training courses and have experience in local leagues. Umpires are granted authority to regulate the game and activities on the field in order to promote safety and fair play. Ensuring a high level of quality umpiring is a high priority of the tournament officials and Bridgewater Baseball. Specific concerns may be directed to the tournament director.

Tournament officials will be present during all games. They are responsible for all tournament activities, including resolving any issues and assisting teams whenever possible.

Only rule interpretations may be protested. All decisions will be made by the tournament officials that are present at that game. All protests must be settled before the next pitch. No protests will be accepted after the next pitch or later in the tournament. Please make sure you ask the umpire to stop the game and call for a tournament official at the appropriate time or the protest may become null and void. A protest fee of $50 (refundable if protest is upheld) must be paid before protest will be considered.

 

The overall playing rules will follow Official High School Rules except where specifically noted below or as determined by tournament officials. Rulings by umpires may be appealed to tournament officials, however, it should be noted that umpires will generally be given significant authority by officials and will only rarely be overruled and only under extraordinary circumstances.

Each team must maintain a game scorebook and supply a team lineup that indicates pitcher availability to the opposing team manager and umpire prior to the start of the game. Scorekeepers should reconcile results periodically throughout the game, and should inform opposing scorekeeper of any changes in the lineup as they are put into effect.

Teams must start the game with a minimum of 9 players. Pitchers may not re-enter the pitching position once removed from this position during the game. If for any reason a team is forced to go down to eight players, the game may continue. The first time this unoccupied spot in the batting order comes up, an out shall be declared. After that, the batting order will shrink as if the spot was never there. Any player withdrawals that leave fewer than 8 players will result in an immediate forfeit.

Teams may add as many extra hitters (EH) to the batting order as their desire, in any location in the order. If a team decides to bat the entire line-up, it doesn’t mean the opposing Manager must do the same.  If used, the EH must be included in the original batting order submitted prior to the start of the game and must remain in the order for the entire game. If a player must leave the game for any reason, that spot in the batting order shall be skipped. Spots may not be added to the batting order once the game has started. Minus 3 and minus 5 bats are allowed (or less of a differential). 

There will be free defensive substitutions. Non-starting players may be substituted in the batting order. The starter must re-enter in the same spot in the batting order. (NOTE: A pitcher cannot re-enter and pitch again, as stated above.) Once removed, a non-starting player may not re-enter the batting order unless there is an injury or illness to another player which would result in fewer than 9 players available to bat. No minimum playing time is required for any player.

All bases may be stolen, including home.  Metal spikes are allowed.

All runners must slide OR avoid contact at any base, and especially at home, whenever there is a play or throw to the base. Runners who do not slide will be called out for interference. Umpires are given authority for determining player‘s intention to slide or avoid contact.

 

Runners may slide head-first into any base except home. Runners sliding head-first into home plate will be called out. Pitchers and catchers can be run for, regardless of the number of outs. That runner will be the last batted out, or a player that is not in the current lineup. 

The infield fly rule will be enforced.

A pitcher may pitch up to 7 total innings, in consecutive games (1-6, 2-5, 3-4 etc).

One pitch to a batter counts as an inning pitched.  Any pitching rules contained herein that are violated will result in a game forfeit.

One trip to the mound per pitcher in an inning is allowed. A second trip per pitcher in an inning will result in the removal of the pitcher. A coach must ask the umpire for time before crossing the foul line. (There is no limit on number of trips to the mound per game.)

Balks will be called.

There will not be a time limit in playoff games. If there are two divisions in an age bracket, the top 2 teams in each division will move onto the playoffs. If there is one division in an age bracket, the top 4 teams will move on to the playoffs. Playoffs are single elimination.

In each playoff game, the home team is the higher seed. If there is any discrepancy, a coin flip will be used.

 

 

An adult coach must be used at 3rd base. Either an adult or player may coach 1st base, but players must wear a batting helmet while on the field.

Only the team manager can discuss calls with any umpire. Managers are expected to treat umpires respectfully. Questions of rule application may be discussed calmly with the umpire.

The team manager is responsible for the conduct of his players, coaches, scorekeeper, and spectators. The use of foul language or abusive treatment of umpires or the opposing team will not be tolerated and the team manager is expected to take appropriate action. Team managers, coaches, and players may be ejected by the umpire without warning for:

 

 Continued violation of these rules following a manager, coach, or player ejection will result in a game forfeit. All unsportsmanlike conduct-related ejections carry a mandatory one game suspension pending a decision by the tournament director for further disciplinary action.

Smoking is not allowed on our fields at any time. No alcoholic beverages are allowed at any of the fields.