5. Ground Rules
Bob Prout Field (FRENCH'S COMMON)
1.
A batted ball must clear the 1st or 2nd
roof (top of Town Hall), in the air, to be ruled a Home Run. A batted ball that
hit's the 1st or 2nd roof and bounces over or rolls back
to the field, will be a ground-rule Double.A batted ball that hit's the 1stor 2nd roof and bounces over or rolls back to the field, will be a ground-rule Double.
2. A batted ball that clears or lands on the 3rd roof (the roof furthest left), is ruled a Home Run.
3. A batted ball that hit's the mechanical equipment on the 2nd roof, in the air, is ruled a Home Run.
4. A batted ball that hit's the gutter on the 1st or 2nd roof is a ground -rule Double.
5. A batted ball hit off the Town Hall wall is live and can be played.
6. A batted ball that goes under a fire-escape and stays under a fire escape is a ground-rule Double.
A batted ball that goes into, THEN out of the stairwell, is PLAYABLE
7. A batted ball that goes in a stairwell and stays in a stairwell is a ground-rule Double.
(Managers must advise Players NOT to chase a ball under a fire-escape/stairwell, to avoid injury).
8. If a fly ball hit's a tree, in Right or Center Field, and in the judgment of the Umpire, would have cleared the fence, is a Home Run.
9. A batted ball in the left field tree is consider a wall and is up to the umpire’s discretion.
10. A batted ball that clears the fence, in the air, in Right or Center Field, win be ruled a Home Run
11. A batted ball that goes into the shrubs in Right or Center Field will be a Dead ball.
An automatic 2 bases shall be awarded, if the Defensive Player can't find or play the ball.
The Player should raise his/her arms immediately to signal to the Umpire the ball is lost.
12. Any batted ball that travels thru an open gate in Right or Center Field is a ground-rule Double.
13. The "out-of-play" line on the 1st base side will run from:
- Corner of backstop, to Front of Fence (at Players bench), to Downspout on Town Hall wall.
14. The "out-of-play" line on the 3rd base side will run from:
- Corner of backstop, the Front of Fence(at Players bench), to the 3rd Tree
- All area beyond the 3rd Tree is in play.
15. A batted ball that strikes ANY part of a tree that is in foul territory, is foul and can't be caught
- This rule applies even if the ball hit's a branch or any part of the tree that is in fair territory and is up to the umpire’s discretion.
16. The tree that represents the foul pole will be treated as a wall.
- The batted ball is playable if it strikes the tree in fair territory.
- A ball caught in the air that strikes the tree, is NOT an out, since the tree is treated as a wall.
WATSON PARK:
1.
The "out-of-play" line on the 1st
base side will run from:- Post at the end of Fence (front of bench), straight Rue to tree with "V" trunk, to tree line, to wall.
- The trees and wall are "out-of-play" if the ball hits them.
2. The "out-of-play" line on the 3rd base side will run from:
- Post at the end of Fence (front of bench), straight Rue to telephone pole with transformers.
3. A batted ball that lands fair in Right Field, then rolls into the marsh, is a ground-rule Double.
4. A batted ball that clears the marked end of the field in Right Field, in the air, is a Home Run.
5. If a batted ball goes through the gate in Left Center Field, the Umpire will place the Batter.
6. The rest of the outfield is open and "all you can get".
HOLLIS FIELD:
1.
The "out-of-play" line on the 1st
base side will run from:- The right post of the backstop, in a straight line, to the telephone pole with double transformers.
2. The “out-of-play" line on the 3rd base side will run from:
- The left post of the backstop, in a straight line, to the goal posts. Past the goal posts is "in play".
3. The outfield is open and "all you can get".
BHS VARSITY FIELD:
1.
Fences control everything. A ball that hits any
fence, fair or foul, is "in play".2. If a batted ball hit's the Light Tower poles, it is considered a “dead ball".
3. The cement in front of each dugout is a dead ball area. Dirt around the dugouts is "in-play".
Henry Joyce Field (BHS JUNIOR VARSITY FIELD)
1.
The “out-of-play" line on the 1st
base side will run from:- The right post of the backstop, to Front of cement pad (front of bench), straight Rue to path.
- Foul line is the edge of running path closest to field. The running path is "out-of-play".
2. The "out-of-play" line on the 3'd base side will run from:
- The left post of the backstop, to Front of cement pad (front of bench), to continued straight Rue.
3. The fence in front of Skate Park is "in play". Any batted ball clearing this fence is a Home Run.
4. There is a line in the outfield from Right Field to Center Field that runs along the dirt line / grass.
- A batted ball that bounces into these areas (Judgement of Umpire) is a ground-rule Double.
- A batted ball that is hit into these areas "on-the-fly" (Judgement of Umpire) is a Home Run.
5. The rest of Center Field and Left Field is open and "all you can get".
BHS FRESHMAN FIELD:
1. The
"out-of-play" line on the 1st base side will run from:- The right post of the backstop,-to Players bench, to a continued straight line.
2. The "out-of-play" line on the 3rd base side will run from:
- The left post of the backstop, to Players bench, after that "in play" to the Varsity Field fence.
- If the bleachers are placed after Players bench, the “out-of-play” line will extend to the bleachers.
3. A batted ball that lands in the trees/shrubs in Left/Left Center Field, "in-the-air", is a Home Run.
- If a batted ball bounces into this area, is a ground rule Double
4. The rest of the outfield is open and “all you can get".
NOTE:
* Any holes or openings, in the backstops, are to be ruled by Babe Ruth Rule Book
6 General Rules:
A.
GAME LIMITS
1.
No inning shall begin after 2 ½ hours from the
start of the game.2. Mandatory slaughter rule of 10 runs after 5 complete innings. (4 ½ if Home team is winning).
3. No games shall be cancelled due to lack of manager/coaches unless approved by the Division Director.
4. Games played under HHS Varsity Field lights, will observe rule of No inning starts after 10:30p.m.
5. Double-headers played between the same teams will be (6) innings.
6. When a team plays a Double-header against different teams, both games will be (7) innings.
7. Games are maximum T innings. There shall be NO "extra inning" games during Regular Season.
B.
FORFEITS:
1.
A forfeit will be allowed if a team is NOT
prepared to play and start the game with (9) players within 15 minutes of the
scheduled starting time of the game.2. If both teams are not ready to play and start the game with (9) players, both teams shall receive a forfeit.
C.
BATTING ORDER:
1.
If a team starts or plays game, with only (9)
players, and the batting order is interrupted by free will, or ejection, the
game shall immediately end in a forfeit.2. When a team starts with (10) or more players and a player in the batting order leaves the game of his own free will or is ejected, when that position in the order comes to turn, that spot is designated as an out the first time through the order. Thereafter, no out shall be recorded for that position.
If a player leaves due to injury, no out shall be recorded.
3. In Division 2, there is a MANDATORY continuous batting order for ALL PLAYERS who are in attendance to play.
4. In Division 2, if a team shows up with (9) players only, the opposing team shun have the option of using a substitution rule batting Rue-up of (9) batters, where maintaining the rule that each player shun have at least (1) at bat.
(Substitution Rule): When substituting batters. The new batter shall maintain the same position in the batting line-up as the batter being replaced. No re-entering for substituted batters.
5. If (10) or more players show up, then (10) players must be used in the line-up.
6. If (1) team starts/rosters only (9) players, the opposing team will have the option to start/roster (9) players.
D.
OFFENSIVE CONDUCT:
1.
If a player is ejected (for any reason) from an
ex1sting game, the Player Agent shall be immediately notified by the players’
coach and the player shall be given an AUTOMATIC (1) game suspension for the
NEXT game. If the Manager fails to notify the Player Agent an AUTOMATIC (1)
game Suspension will be enforced on that Manager.2. If a player is ejected (for 2nd time) from an ex1sting game, the Player Agent should be immediately notified by the players’ coach and the player shall be given an AUTOMATIC (2) game suspension. An additional E-Board review for possible further action will take place.
3. If a player is ejected (for 3rd time) from an ex1sting game, the Player Agent shall be immediately notified by the players’ coach and the players season shall be SUSPENDED and TERMINATED upon E-Board review. E-Board will review player’s eligibility for following season.
4. If a manager or coach is ejected (for any reason) from any (2) games, the Player Agent shall be notified by the manager or coach and a (1) game suspension should be imposed on the manager/coach.
5. The Player Agent shun be notified immediately of any OFFENSIVE and UNSPORTSMANLIKE conduct displayed by any players, managers, coaches or parents.
6. ALL cases are subject to review by E-Board.
E. CONTACT RULE
1. if a runner is attempting to reach Home Plate or any Base and intentionally and maliciously runs into a defensive player in the area of Home Plate or any Base, the player shall be called OUT on the play and immediately ejected from the game.2. If a runner is attempting to reach Home Plate or any Base, the player MUST slide or show an attempt to avoid contact with the defensive player while attempting to reach Home Plate or any Base. The objective to this rule is to penalize the offensive team for not avoiding and intentional contact.
3. A defensive player cannot block the base path without possession of the ball or that player would be charged with defensive obstruction/interference. (Umpire's judgment call).
F.
FIELD PRACTICE BEFORE GAMES:
1.
If time allows, each team will receive 15
minutes of field practice prior to the start of each game.2. Home Team: 35 minutes prior to start of game.
3. Visiting Team: 20 minutes prior to start of game.
4. HOME TEAM is responsible for mound, plate and field conditions prior to start of each game.
5. Visiting teams are responsible for filling holes on mound and plate, at the end of each game.
J.
HIDDEN BALL:
1.
Hidden Ball is allowed in Braintree Babe Ruth
Baseball.2. The correct way to attempt a hidden ball should be trained/taught by Managers and Coaches.
3. Hidden Ball Rule may be waived in any Division 2 game with the agreement of BOTH Managers, prior to the start of the game, and with the notification and approval of the Umpire in charge.
K.
PLAYING TIME:
1.
All players shall play in each game they attend
unless there is a disciplinary issue/problem.2. All players shall play a minimum of (3) innings in the field within each (7) inning game.
- For games without a continuous batting order, the home team’s layers may not get their schedule 7th inning at bat.
- Examples: Slaughter rule, suspended games, or unneeded “at bats” due to a home team win.
3. All players shall have at least (1) at bat within each (7) inning game.
4. The Player Agent shall be notified of any issues/problems having an effect on any players Playing time. Problems could be failure to attend, disruptive behavior, ejections, unexcused absences, etc....
9. Pitching Rules
1.
The calendar week for Babe Ruth Baseball is
Monday thru Sunday.2. A Pitcher, regardless of age, may pitch seven (7) innings per calendar week.
- This applies to ALL GAMES (regular/suspended/rain-out/make-up/rescheduled).
3. D If a starting Pitcher is removed from the game, on the 1st trip to the mound, in that inning, but stays in the game at another position, other than DH or EH, he can return to the game as a Pitcher.
- The Pitcher is allowed to take (8) warm-up pitches.
- This rule may only be used once (1) per game.
4. Rule Book will apply regarding 2nd trip to the mound in the same inning.
5. All Pitchers pitch counts shall be recorded in scorebooks, at the completion of each game
- The name, # and amount of pitches, from BOTH teams pitchers are logged in each scorebook
- Any Pitcher, not able to validate their calendar week counts, shall be ineligible and not be allowed to pitch that game.
6. Games, in which an ineligible Pitcher has been used, shall be declared a Forfeit.
10. UNIFORMS:
1.
ALL PLAYERS must wear FULL UNIFORMS. 2. Multiple violations to this rule will cause violating Manager to be suspended for that game.
3. Opposing Managers can enforce the FULL UNIFORM rules.
4. NO JEWELRY (chains/piercing/rings/bracelets/etc.) shall be worn during games or practices.
5. ALL UNIFORMS will be collected by Managers/Coaches, at each team's final Play-off game.
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