E-MINORS, E-MAJORS, SENIORS DIVISIONS
The North Miami Valley Baseball League is made up of E-Minors, E-Majors, and Seniors Division teams from Bradford, Brookville, Covington, Northmont, Northriverdale, Piqua, Tri County North, Tipp City, Vandalia, and West Milton. Rules for the 2009 season are as shown below.
GENERAL RULES
Base Rules
All baseball games shall be played under Ohio High School Athletic Association rules, except where noted.
Equipment
Baseballs must have the NFHS Stamp, and must have raised seams. (NO FLAT SEAMS).
Bats for the E-Minors, shall not weigh, numerically, more than five (5) ounces less than the length of the bat (e.g., a 35-inch long bat cannot weigh less than 30 ounces). Bats must be 36-inches long or less and the diameter at the thickest part must be 2-5/8 inches or less. Bats for the E-Majors and Seniors must follow the Ohio High School Baseball Rule.Bats do not need to have the BERS certification mark to be used in this League.
Home Team Responsibility
a. Two (2) baseballs and two (2) umpires will be furnished by the home team.
b. The home team is the official scorebook keeper, and must keep correct records.
Team Rosters
Team rosters signed by the league representative will be exchanged at the initial meeting of teams. Information regarding disciplinary action or roster changes will be explained and exchanged between managers before the start of the game.
The season will begin on May 5th for the E-Minor Division and May 12th for the E-Major and Seniors Divisions and an official team roster must be turned in to the league president by June 14.
Designated Batter
No designated batter will be used.
Complete Game
a. Seven (7) innings will constitute a complete game unless the game is tied.
b. A game is also complete if five (5) innings have been played and a team is ahead by ten (10) or more runs.
c. An umpire may call any game because of darkness or weather after consulting a facility representative.
Start Time
a. Games will start at 6:00 PM unless otherwise scheduled with the home team being able to take the field at 5:30 PM.
b. There will be a 15-minute grace period if a team has a problem getting to the field.
c. Games scheduled for 8:00 PM will start promptly after the previous game has ended.
d. The time limit on all games is two hours and 15 minutes, unless there is a follow-on game in which case it would be two hours.
e. No new inning will be started after the time limit has expired.
Minimum Players
a. A game may be played with a minimum of eight (8) players.
b. The ninth spot in the batting order when using only eight (8) players is an automatic out.
c. Players from lower leagues may be used to make nine (9) players only, but may never take playing time from a roster player.
d. A "brought up" player cannot pitch or catch.
e. There is no limit of "brought up" players per game.
Game Speedup Rule
a. The pitcher and catcher may be substituted by another player while on base with two (2) outs.
b. A benched player not in the present batting order must be used first.
c. If no players are on the bench, then the last player which made the last out, will become the substituted base runner.
Division Tournament
a. There will be one division.
b. Trophies for League and Tournament (1st and 2nd places) will be suplied by the league.
c. A single elimination tournament will be held at the end of the season.The week of July 7th-11th.Weather permitting
d. Tournament brackets will be set up by seed from the season standings.
Protests
In the event of a call that a manager feels is in conflict with High School Baseball Rules which cannot be resolved with a minimum of discussion, he should declare that the game is being played under protest to the umpire and continue the game. This is to avoid arguments on the field and long delays. The conditions at the time of the protest should be noted on both scorebooks and checked by the umpire. JUDGEMENT RULINGS CANNOT BE PROTESTED. Protests must be received in writing by the league representative within twenty-four (24) hours along with $50.00. This money will be refunded if the ruling is in favor of the protesting team. If the protest is not upheld, the money will go toward the league expenses. Decisions on all protests will depend on a majority vote of the commissioners. Each city will supply one (1) commissioner and at least three (3) commissioners must be present for a ruling.
Conduct
Baiting, profanity, and unsportsmanlike conduct of any kind will not be tolerated at any time. The umpire may forfeit the game to the non-offending team. This is an umpire judgement call; however, he should warn players and managers first. Also a facility representative must also be notified of the warning issued.
Sliding
Crashing into a defensive player who is holding or waiting on the ball to make a tag is not permitted. Rule 8-4-2-k states that the runner is out when he does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag, or if he maliciously runs into a fielder. Rule 3-3-1-g also states that the player will be ejected from the game for maliciously charging a fielder. (See: Making a legal slide, below.)
"The two acceptable forms of sliding are:
1) foot first slide with one leg extended and buttocks down; and
2) head first slide with arms extended.
Roll blocks, football blocks, slashing of legs,etc. are illegal. An illegal slide is not penalized unless contact is made or interference is called. When contact is made and it is malicious or flagrant, the runner shall be ejected from the game."
Rain Outs
The home team manager will notify the visiting team by 5:00 PM if the game is rained out. Scheduled games that cannot be played because of weather will be rescheduled for the next available date.
E-MINORS DIVISION RULES
Player's Age
No player may turn fourteen (14) before June 1st of the current year.
Playing Field
The pitching distance may be fifty-five (55) feet and the baseline eighty-three (83) feet or sixty feet, six inches (60'6") pitching distance with ninety (90) baseline.Tournament games will be fifty five foot (55) pitching distance and eighty three feet (83) baseline.
Pitching Limits
a. No pitcher may pitch more than five (5) innings in any day, and no more than nine (9) innings in a five (5) day period. PENALTY: game forfeited.
b. The five (5) day period for counting purposes includes all performances, even games that are rained out after they have started.
c. A single pitch will count as an inning pitched.
d. No pitcher may return to the mound after being removed for another pitcher.
e. Pitchers must be listed in the scorebook by opposing manager at completion of the game.
f. During the end of the season tournament, there will be no pitching restrictions. (no returning to the mound after being removed is still in effect.)
Player Participation
a. If a team has fifteen (15) or less players, it is mandatory that all players play at least two (2) innings.
b. If a team has more than fifteen (15) players, it is mandatory that at least fifteen (15) play two innings of a seven (7) inning game.
c. Starters may re-enter the game one (1) time. (Penalty - forfeiture of the game.)
d. All players will be in a continuous batting order.
E-MAJORS DIVISION RULES
Player's Age
No player may turn sixteen (16) before June 1st of the current year.
Playing Field
The pitching distance will be sixty feet six inches (60' 6") and the baseline ninety (90) feet.
Pitching Limits
a. No pitcher may pitch more than ten (10) innings in a five (5) day period. PENALTY: game forfeited.
b. The five (5) day period for counting purposes includes all performances, even games that are rained out after they have started.
c. A single pitch will count as an inning pitched.
d. No pitcher may return to the mound after being removed for another pitcher.
e. Pitchers must be listed in the scorebook by opposing manager at completion of the game.
f. During the end of the season tournament, there will be no pitching restrictions. (No returning to the mound after being removed is still in effect.)
Player Participation
a. Starters may re-enter the game one (1) time, but must be put in the same place in the batting order.
b. A starter may return in the game a second time if a player is taken out of the game because of injury or illness. The returning player, for the second time, will be placed in the batting order of the injured or ill player's spot in the roster. This rule does not apply to players ejected from the game.
SENIORS DIVISION RULES
Player's Age
No player may turn nineteen (19) before June 1st of the current year.
Playing Field
The pitching distance will be sixty feet six inches (60' 6") and the baseline ninety (90) feet.
Pitching Limits
a. No pitcher may pitch more than ten (10) innings in a five (5) day period. PENALTY: game forfeited.
b. The five (5) day period for counting purposes includes all performances, even games that are rained out after they have started.
c. A single pitch will count as an inning pitched.
d. No pitcher may return to the mound after being removed for another pitcher.
e. Pitchers must be listed in the scorebook by opposing manager at completion of the game.
f. During the end of theseason tournament, there will be no pitching restrictions. (No returning to the mound after being removed is still in effect.)
Player Participation
a. Starters may re-enter the game one (1) time, but must be put in the same place in the batting order.
b. A starter may return in the game a second time if a player is taken out of the game because of injury or illness. The returning player, for the second time, will be placed in the batting order of the injured or ill player's spot in the roster. This rule does not apply to players ejected from the game.
Revised 2/13/08