Hammonds Plains Baseball Association: Mosquito

Just a note to welcome all players to the 2013 Mosquito House Baseball Season.  

Have a fun season!!

MOSQUITO HOUSE LEAGUE RULES

1) All games are 6 innings long. A game can be official after 4 innings (3 and a half if home team is leading) IF CALLED due to weather, darkness, time limit etc.

2) The 10 run mercy rule is in affect after 5 full innings or 4 and a half if home team is ahead.

3) There is a 4 run limit per inning except the last inning which is open (need 3 outs to end the inning).

4) A team needs 7 players to play an official game. There is a 15 minute grace period but if a team has 7 players at game time then the game is to start on time. Players arriving late to the game (no matter what inning) are to be added to the bottom of the batting order. If a team has less than 7 players it forfeits the game. Teams are then to even up with players and play a scrub game.

5) Protective cups must be worn by all male players. Jills are recommended for girls – but not mandatory. 6)Double ear flap helmets with chin straps must be worn at bat, on deck and on bases.

6) A helmet and mask are to be worn by players/coaches warming up the pitcher.

7) All players are in batting order.

8) Unlimited and free substitution is allowed at the beginning of each inning except for the pitcher (rule #9).

9) A pitcher cannot pitch more than 2 innings in a game and no more than 4 innings in any 7 day period. One pitch thrown is considered a full inning. Once a pitcher is removed from pitching they cannot return to pitch in that game.

10) Catchers rule is in effect to speed up the game. If a catcher is on base and there are two outs they are to be replaced by the player who made the last out so that the catcher can get their gear on.

11) No jewelry except medic alert bracelets are to be worn.

12) The NO CONTACT rule is strictly enforced. Base runners must make every attempt to not have any contact of fielders on plays at the bases/home plate. On accidental contact the runner MAY BE ruled out, on contact ruled intentional or negligent the runner is ruled out and is out of the game. Unless there is a play at the bases/plate the fielders (catcher) ARE NOT ALLOWED to block the bases/plate.

13) There is no lead-off or stealing until the ball has crossed the plate. 14) With no lead offs there are of course no balks.

15) The rule of NO STEALING HOME. 

    1) There is no stealing of any base when the coach(adult)is pitching.
    2) Players are allowed to steal 2nd and 3rd when the pitcher is pitching. A player can only make the attempt to steal once the ball reaches the batter.
    3) If a player is stealing 3rd and the catcher throws it wide to the third baseman, the runner is allowed to go home if they are able to. This IS NOT a steal of home, it is a continuation of the advancement to 3rd base.
    4) If a player, on a hit, is running to 3rd and there is an overthrow to third the runner can go home. This is NOT a steal, it is a continuation of a play.
    5) If a player is STOPPED ON THIRD the only way they can get home is by a hit ball or if the batter is hit by a pitch when the bases are loaded. If a player rounds third base then comes to a stop he is considered STOPPED at third. A player cannot round third then stop to wait to see where the play will be. Once a player stops they must go back to third.

16) There is no infield fly rule in mosquito house

17) There are no tobacco products (smoking) allowed on the field or around the dugouts.

18) Overage players are NOT ALLOWED to pitch or catch.

19) NO WALK RULE
This rule is designed so that there will be no walks during games. Player pitchers pitch to a batter until the batter gets to a 4 ball count. As soon as that happens one of the batter’s coaches (usually the 3rd or 1st base coach) runs out to the mound to pitch (NOT LOB the ball) . The PLAYER PITCHER MUST STAND WITHIN FIVE FEET on either side of the coach as the coach pitches. The pitching coach must pitch from the mosquito pitching rubber. Pitching coaches must pitch overhand NOT underhand. The batter is not allowed to bunt when the coach is pitching.  If the pitching coach throws a pitch that is not a strike it is simply called a no pitch and the count remains at three balls and the coach pitches again, there is no ball four and no walk. If the count is three balls and two strikes and the pitching coach throws a strike (swinging or called by the umpire) then the batter is out. If, after the 4th coach pitch, the batter has not hit the ball or has not been called out with 3 strikes the batter is automatically out UNLESS THE 4TH PITCH RESULTS IN A FOUL BALL BY THE BATTER.  IF THE 4TH COACH PITCH IS FOULED OFF BY THE BATTER, THE BATTER RETURNS TO THE PLATE UNTIL THEY EITHER STRIKE OUT OR HIT FAIR.As soon as that batter is done the coach runs back to his position and the player pitcher then begins pitching to the next batterThe advantages to this rule are:
1) Batters know they aren't going to walk so they are encouraged to swing the bat therefore making better hitters.
2) Coaches know there are no walks so they stop encouraging batters to not swing.
3) Games are much faster as you don't have pitchers walking 4-5 batters in an inning.
4) Games are much more exciting as kids put far more balls into play
5) All players skill levels go up much faster because more balls are hit, therefore there is a lot more fielding and throwing and players are running from base to base on hits, not walking.
6) More kids are willing to try pitching because they don't have the pressure of walking in runs and not being able to throw strikes.
7) Coaches are much more willing to allow more kids to try pitching because they won't be walking in 4-5 runs an inning.
    In places where this has already been tried the results have been excellent, kids have a lot more fun, parents like the action and seeing their kids hit, skill level within a year goes up dramatically and more kids are willing to try pitching.
HELPFULL HINT OF THE DAY -
It's not easy for coaches to pitch to the batters. They have a tendency to try to throw TOO EASY to their batters. This results in a great big slow arc pitch coming in that acts like a curve ball and the batters have no chance of hitting this pitch. It's very hard to throw strikes down the middle to these small players but when pitching try to keep your speed up enough so the ball comes in on a fairly straight line. It will make it way easier for your batters to hit. Have fun and good luck.

20) During vacation time there might not be enough players to field a team. Instead of forfeiting a game the coach can call up players from your division or the division below. Only house league NOT Rep players can be called up. You cannot call up a player if it going to interfere with their house league schedule or practices. COACHES ARE TO NOTIFY THE OPPOSING COACH, BEFORE THE GAME, WHO THEIR CALL UPS ARE. 

21) ONLY ONE COACH PER TEAM IS ALLOWED TO ASK THE UMPIRES ABOUT A CALL (not balls/strikes). That coach is to be named before the game begins when Coaches and Captains are called to the plate. Players are not to be named as the person to approach the umpires. If a non-named coach or player approaches the umpires it is an automatic ejection. If the named coach is ejected that team has lost the right to have a coach approach the umpires. 

22)  If a game has a tied score at the end of regulation play then the game stays a tie game.

23) All players /coaches are ask to pick up any garbage in or around their dugout at the end of each game.

24) We ask that everyone follow the FAIR PLAY policy. 

25)  All rules for playoffs for Baseball NS “R” division will be adopted for house playoffs. – ie pitching, tiebreakers etc.

For scores, Coach contact information and more, please click on the link above which will take you to the Mosquito House League section of this website. 

Baseball for players who will be 10 or 11 years old between Jan 1 and Dec 31 of each season.  

The concept of base stealing with no "leading off" is introduced at the Mosquito level and players do all the pitching. Mosquito rep teams compete in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League and generally participate in 3-4 tournaments during the baseball season. Mosquito house teams generally play in the HPBA House League. Mosquito house regular season home games are played at Uplands Park (Hammonds Plains), Allen Heights (St. Margaret’s Bay) & TCAC (Tantallon)  fields. Mosquito house teams may decide to compete in a couple tournaments during the baseball season.