BPALL: Minors and Majors Baseball Rules

General Rules for Minors Baseball and Majors Baseball

Pitching

Pitching will follow Little League rest rules

League age 11-12: Maximum 85 pitches per day

Majors may pitch according to LL Pitch Count Rules
Maximum innings allowed to pitch is not capped.

League age 9-10: Maximum 75 pitches per day

Maximum Innings = 2 innings pitched per pitcher, per game.
One pitch = one inning
Six innings max pitching per week, per player.
Under no circumstances will a player pitch for three consecutive days.

League age 10 players in the MAJORS will adhere to age-appropriate pitch rules.
Pitch Counts vs. Rest

66+ pitches = 4 days rest
51-65 pitches = 3 days rest
36-50 pitches = 2 days rest
21-35 pitches = 1 day rest
1-20 pitches = 0 days rest

Pitching & Catching

If a pitcher throws 41+ pitches, he may not play catcher.
If a pitcher reaches 40 pitches WHILE facing a batter, he may continue to pitch AND maintain their eligibility to play catcher, until any one of the following conditions occur:

That batter reaches base.
That batter is retired.
The third out is made to end the half-inning or the game.
If pitcher throws one pitch to another batter, he cannot play catcher.

Any player who has played the position of catcher in 4 or more innings in a game is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.
If a catcher who caught for 3 innings or less, moves to pitcher and delivers 21+ pitches, he may not return to catcher.

If he reaches the 20-pitch limit WHILE facing a batter, he MAY continue to pitch, and maintain their eligibility to return to the catcher position, until any one of the following conditions occur:

That batter reaches base.
That batter is retired.
The third out is made to end the half-inning or game.
If pitcher throws one pitch to another batter, he cannot return to catcher.

Roll backs

If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed for his league age WHILE facing a batter, the pitcher MAY continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occur.

That batter reaches base.
That batter is retired.
The third out is made to end the half-inning or the game.

If a pitcher reaches a day(s) rest threshold WHILE facing a batter, the pitcher MAY continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occur:

The batter reaches base.
The batter is retired.
The third out is made to end the half-inning or the game.
Pitcher is only required to observe the calendar day(s) rest for the threshold he reached during that at-bat, provided pitcher is removed or the game is completed.

Report pitch counts between innings to the other team.
Intentional walks are allowed. Pitcher does not need to throw the pitches, but 4 pitches are added to the pitch count.
Pitchers, once removed from pitching position, cannot pitch again in the game.

Play Rules

Continuous batting order

All players present for the game will bat.
Any player arriving after the first pitch of the game (home or away), is added to the end of the batting order.
MINORS – A half-inning is over if the team at bat reaches five (5) runs in a half-inning before the third defensive out is made.
MAJORS – There is NO five (5) run rule.

Minimum Play Rule

If a game is called, it is a regulation game if:

Four innings have been completed.
The home team scored more in 3.5 innings than the visiting team has scored in 4 completed half-innings.

If a game is called before it has become a regulation game, it will resume exactly where it left off.

Mandatory Play Rule

Regular Season

Majors

All players on a team are listed in the batting order and bat in rotation even when they are not in the defensive line up.
With 11-12 players present, each player must play in the defensive line up for a minimum of 4 half-innings in a six-inning game. Player may sit out a maximum of 2 defensive innings per game, but not in consecutive innings.
With 10 players present, each player must play in the defensive line up for a minimum of 5 half-innings in a six-inning game.
If a player does not meet this requirement, he will start the next game, play any previous requirement not completed in prior game, as well as the requirement for the current game.

Minors

All players on a team are listed in the batting order and bat in rotation even when they are not in the defensive line up.
With 11-12 players present, each player must play in the defensive line up for a minimum of 4 half-innings in a six-inning game. Player may sit out a maximum of 2 defensive innings per game, but not in consecutive innings.
With 10 players present, each player must play in the defensive line up for a minimum of 5 half-innings in a six-inning game.
If a half-inning ends because of the 5-run limit, the players on defense will have completed a half inning, even though three outs were not made.
If a player does not meet this requirement, he will start the next game, play any previous requirement not completed in prior game, as well as the requirement for the current game.

First time offense = warning. Second time = penalties.

Tournament

If a team has 13 or more players, each player must have at least one (1) at-bat.
If a team has 12 or fewer players, each player must have at least one (1) at-bat, and participate in a minimum of six (6) defensive outs.
Manager’s failure/refusal to insert players into the line-up as outlined by the rule, shall result in immediate ejection of the manager and removal for the remainder of the tournament, without replacement.

Mercy Rule

10 run rule - 3.5 or 4 innings

If after 4 innings (3.5 if the home team is ahead), and one team has a lead of 10 runs or more, the manager with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent.

15 run rule – 2.5 or 3 innings

If after 3 innings (2.5 if the home team is ahead), and one team has a lead of 15 runs or more, the manager with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent.

Rainouts/Umps

Rainouts/cancellations will be rescheduled ASAP. LL Pitching Rest Rules still apply.

Check with Division Director to confirm field availability and schedule umpire.

Rainouts will be called 1 hour before games.

Rainouts are never called by the coaches or managers.
Rainouts are only called by the league President or Division Directors.
Home Team pays the Umpire.

$55 for Majors (2021 rate)
$30 for Minors (2021 rate)

Managers will be provided enough funds at the beginning of the season to pay for umpires throughout season
Please pay the umpire before the game.
Please do not argue judgment calls.
Managers and Coaches must be in the dugout area while your team is on the field, not outside the dugout fence.
If there are umpire issues, finish the game and report issues to your Division Director. We will follow up with Tri-County Umpires or the facilitator for student umpires.
Conferences with the umpire should occur with only one representative per team. If you need to have a discussion with the umpire, please ensure that a representative from both teams is present. This discussion should not occur in close proximity to players.

Coach Conduct

Manager/Coach ejected from the game results in 2 game suspension for first offense, removal from team for the second offense.
If a manager/coach is ejected, he must leave the game site for the remainder of the game.
During suspension, manager/coach may not be present at the game site. This includes warm ups or post game.

Game Responsibilities

Home Team

Line field before games.
Drag/rake field after games.
Provide game balls.
Pay Umpire.

Away Team

Concession stand.
Press Box duties.
All trash to dumpsters.

Field of Play – Cappelletti & Haas

Wires are to be played as walls
Right field Cappelletti

Home runs must only clear the Cappelletti padded wall. If a fly ball hits the dirt and/or fence behind the wall, it’s a home run.

Rule Brush Up

You may steal home in MAJORS ONLY.
Uncaught third strike – MAJORS ONLY.

A batter becomes a runner when a third strike is NOT caught by the catcher, provided:

First base is unoccupied, or
First base is occupied, with two outs

When a batter becomes a runner on a third strike that is not caught, and starts for the bench, that batter can advance to first base anytime before entering the dugout, or any dead ball area.

Defense must tag the batter or
Tag first base before the batter reaches first base.

Uncaught balls are not only pass balls or dropped balls, they include balls cleanly scooped by the catcher.

Umpire mechanic used to indicate uncaught third strike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnSv91-YP0A

For a third strike NOT caught by the catcher when first base IS occupied AND before two are out, the batter is out.

Infield fly rule – Majors and Minors

A fair fly ball (not including a line drive or a bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort:

When 1st & 2nd base are occupied before two are out, or
When 1st, 2nd, & 3rd bases are occupied before two are out,

The fly ball is ruled an out.
The Infield Fly only calls the batter out, but does not create a dead-ball situation.

Runners advance at own jeopardy the same as any other fly ball

If caught, runners must retouch base.
If uncaught, runners may choose to run or choose to stay at their base.

Runners choosing to run must be tagged out.

Fake Bunt or "Slash Bunt" - In the rec league, a player may NOT fake a bunt and then take a full swing. If this happens, then the batter is out, the ball is dead, no runners may advance. (Note that fake bunts and full swings are allowed in Little League District Tournament Play.)

PROTESTING A GAME

REGULAR SEASON:

Rule 4.19(c)(1): The protesting manager shall immediately, and before any succeeding play begins, notify the umpire that the game is being played under protest.
Rule 4.19(c)(2): Following such notice, the umpire shall consult with the other umpire(s). If the umpire is convinced that the decision is in conflict with the rules, the umpire shall reverse the decision. If, after consultation, the umpire is convinced that the decision is not in conflict with the rules, said umpire shall announce that the game is being played under protest. Failure of the umpire to make such announcement shall not affect the validity of the protest.
Rule 4.19(f): A committee composed of the League’s President, Player Agent, Umpire-in-Chief, and one or more other officers or directors who are not managers or umpires shall hear and resolve any such protest as above, including playing rules. If the protest is allowed, resume the game from the exact point when the infraction occurred.
Judgment calls by umpires cannot be protested.

TOURNAMENT RULE:

Rule 4.19 is replaced with the following for the tournament:

A1. A formal (verbal) protest must be made to the Umpire-in-Chief at once by the manager or coach.
A2. The Umpire-in-Chief must immediately call a conference of all umpires working the game.
A3. If the problem cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the managers, the Umpire-in-Chief shall be required to consult with the Tournament Director or District Administrator.
A4. If the managers do not accept the decision of the Tournament Director, either manager may elect, without penalty to discontinue play until the matter is referred to Regional Headquarters. Either the Umpire-in-Chief, Tournament Director, or District Administrator will call Regional Headquarters at this time.
A5. If the managers do not accept the decision of the Regional Director (or his/her designated agent), either may insist that the matter be referred to the Little League International Tournament Committee in Williamsport. The decision of the Tournament Committee shall be final and binding.

NOTE 2: Umpires, Tournament Directors, and District Administrators DO NOT have the authority to declare a forfeiture under any circumstances.

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