Rules of Play

ALL DIVISIONS

  1. Runners must slide to avoid contact. (SHETLAND players are encouraged to slide once they have learned to do so safely.)
  2. Throwing of bats or other equipment results in the following disciplinary action:
    1. A WARNING will be issued to ALL players on BOTH teams when a bat or other equipment is thrown, whether intentionally or not.
    2. Second infraction within the same game results in the offending player’s ejection from game.
  3. Use of foul language or other inappropriate behavior, as determined by head umpire, will result in ejection from game, and possible further disciplinary action from the league.It is at the discretion of the head umpire of the game, and any league officials present if the player ejected from the game should remain on the bench for the remainder of the game or will need to leave the field of play and environs completely.
  4. All rules of play should abide by those outlined in the latest editions of the “Official Rules of Major League Baseball,” and “PONY Rules and Regulations,” unless documented differently below.
  5. Courtesy runner allowed for catcher and pitcher at any time. If batting line-up, last batted out will be the courtesy runner. If batting 9, bench player must be used, but the same bench player may not be used more than once per inning.

SHETLAND DIVISION: 6 innings or time limit

  1. Time limit: No new inning after 60 minutes. Drop dead at 75 minutes.
  2. Bat the entire line-up once EACH inning.
  3. Free defensive substitutions.
  4. 1-base Limit for runners to advance on a base hit that does NOT leave the INFIELD dirt. For example, the batter may advance from home plate to 1st base. A runner may advance from 1st base to 2nd base, from 2nd base to 3rd base, or from 3rd base to home plate.
  5. 2-base Limit for runners to advance on a base hit that reaches the OUTFIELD grass. For example, the batter may advance from home plate to 2nd base. A runner may advance from 1st base to 3rd base or from 2nd base to home plate.
  6. Batted ball striking Coaches in Field shall be in play and not considered a dead ball.
  7. No advancement of base on passed ball or overthrow to ANY base.
  8. No stealing of bases.
  9. No steel cleats.

PINTO DIVISION: 6 innings or time limit

  1. Time limit: No new inning after 75 minutes. Drop dead at 90 minutes.
  2. Bat the entire line-up, not just the players in the field.
  3. Free defensive substitutions.
  4. At-bats per inning:
    1. First 2 weeks of the season: The entire lineup will bat each inning, regardless of whether or not the batter is out. No record of runs scored needs to be kept.
    2. After 2 weeks of the season: When 3 outs are recorded, the inning is over. Runs scored should be recorded.
  5. Each batter will receive UP TO 6 pitches for each at bat to put ball in play.
    1. First 2 weeks of the season: If batter fails to put ball in play after 6 pitches, the batter is then REQUIRED to hit the ball off the T.
    2. After 2 weeks of the season: The batter may still receive up to 6 pitches, but if the batter swings and misses 3 times, the batter is out. There are no called strikes and no base on balls.
  6. AFTER 2 WEEKS: 6 runs per inning maximum, unless team batting is behind in score. The batting team may then score up to as many runs as will put them ahead by 6 runs. For example, at the beginning of the inning if the team batting is behind by 3 runs, they may score as many as 9 runs, thus placing them ahead by 6 runs.
    NOTE: If a team is ONE run short of scoring the maximum runs for an inning and a player hits a homerun which CLEARS THE FENCE, then all runners on base will be counted even if those runs exceed the maximum runs allowed for that inning.
  7. 2-base Limit for runners to advance on a base hit. For example, the batter may advance from home plate to 2nd base. A runner may advance from 1st base to 3rd base or from 2nd base to home plate.
  8. Batted ball striking Coach Pitcher shall be in play and not considered a dead ball.
  9. Advance only ONE base on an overthrow.
  10. No advancement of base on passed ball.
  11. No stealing of bases.
  12. No steel cleats.

MUSTANG: 6 innings or time limit

  1. Time limit: No new inning after 90 minutes. Drop dead at 1 hour 45 minutes.
  2. Bat the entire line-up, not just the players in the field.
  3. Free defensive substitutions.
  4. 6 runs per inning maximum, unless team batting is behind in score. The batting team may then score up to as many runs as will put them ahead by 6 runs. ?For example, at the beginning of the inning if the team batting is behind by 3 runs, they may score as many as 9 runs, thus placing them ahead by 6 runs.
    NOTE: If a team is ONE run short of scoring the maximum runs for an inning and a player hits a homerun which CLEARS THE FENCE, then all runners on base will be counted even if those runs exceed the maximum runs allowed for that inning.
  5. Balk warning issued for first half of season. Umpire will notify teams when warnings are no longer issued.
  6. Pitchers may not pitch in more than 3 innings in one day, and no more than 8 innings in one calendar week.
  7. Pitchers must have at least 40 hours rest after pitching in 3 innings in one day.
  8. Not Cleanly Fielded Third Strike – the batter is out. Runners advance at own risk.
  9. No stealing home or advancing on passed ball for first 4 weeks.
  10. No stealing on pitcher. Runners may lead off at first base and second base, but only steal AFTER the pitch has crossed home plate.
  11. No lead off of third base for ENTIRE season. AFTER the first 4 weeks of games, runner may advance home on passed ball or steal attempt, provided pitched ball has crossed home plate before runner leaves third base.
  12. No steel cleats.

BRONCO: 7 innings or time limit

  1. Time limit: No new inning after 1 hour 45 minutes. Drop dead at 2 hours.
  2. Bat the entire line-up.?OR Bat 9 players – starters may re-enter game into same offensive position. Non-starting players, once removed are no longer eligible to play.
  3. Free defensive substitutions with either offensive line-up option noted above.
  4. 10-run rule in effect after 4 complete innings.
  5. Balk warning issued for first 2 weeks.
  6. Pitcher may not re-enter as pitcher once removed from mound.
  7. Pitchers may not pitch in more than 6 innings in one day, and no more than 10 innings in one calendar week.
  8. Pitchers must have at least 40 hours rest after pitching in 4 innings in one day.

PONY: 7 innings or time limit

  1. Time limit: No new inning after 2 hours. Drop dead at 2 hours 15 minutes.
  2. Bat the entire line-up.?OR Bat 9 players – starters may re-enter game into same offensive position. Non-starting players, once removed are no longer eligible to play.
  3. Free defensive substitutions with either offensive line-up option noted above.
  4. 10-run rule in effect after 4 complete innings.
  5. Balk warning issued for first 2 weeks.
  6. Pitcher may not re-enter as pitcher once removed from mound.
  7. Pitchers may not pitch in more than 7 innings in one day, and no more than 10 innings in one calendar week.
  8. Pitchers must have at least 40 hours rest after pitching in 4 innings in one day.

CLICK HERE For 2012 OSYB League Rules.