Regular League is designed for beginner to intermediate players just starting out and for players looking to improve their baseball skills. Regular league players register online or at Academy, attend a group tryout for their specific age level (Ages 7 and up), get selected in a draft or assigned to a team for one season.

Ages 4-6 -- Shetland Division (T-Ball) focuses on instruction of beginning players, and is not intended to be competitive baseball (no scores or standings for Shetland 4/5). There are no tryouts or draft at this level; teams are generally formed based on where you live or attend school.  Objectives include teaching players how to properly swing a bat, catch, throw and run the bases; and encouraging all players to experience different positions throughout the season. Two levels of play are planned (Ages 4/5 and Age 6).  An umpire will be provided throughout the season for Shetland 6 games, and a competitive Shetland 6 post-season tournament will be scheduled.  Shetland 4/5 may play two additional games in lieu of a post season tournament.

Ages 11-16 -- Bronco (11-12), Pony (13-14) and Colt (15-16) Divisions advance the development of young players into the complete game of baseball.

Click on the Divisions below for Post Season bracket templates.  Schedules and tournament format are subject to change.  Please check schedules constantly.

Shetland 6
Pinto 7
Pinto 8
Mustang 9-10
Bronco 11-12
Pony 13-14
Colt 15-16

Fall 2009 post season play will follow a double elimination format.  Post Season schedules updated on this website are subject to change.  Listed below are additional tournament rules that will be enforced. Good luck to all teams.

PITCHING RULES

Pitching rules for post season games will not vary from Regular season rules; however, weekly pitching limits will not be enforced. Daily pitching limits and the 40 hour rest rule will be strictly enforced. Umpires will record pitching records for each game, and the Tournament Director will monitor all innings pitched for the duration of the tournament. To summarize, the pitching limits are:

Mustang -- 3 innings per day; 40 hours rest after pitching 3 innings on the same day
Bronco, Pony, Colt -- 7 innings per day; 40 hours rest after pitching 4 or more innings on the same day

As soon as a pitcher delivers one pitch to a batter the pitcher shall be considered as having pitched in one inning. The 40 hour rest rule is computed from the scheduled starting time of the game in which the pitching occurred. For example, if a Pony player pitches 4 innings during a 7:45 pm Thursday game, that player is ineligible to pitch until after 11:45 am Saturday.

Pitchers in violation of any of the pitching rules shall be considered ineligible players. For purposes of interpreting this rule, a player shall not be considered in violation of the rules until at least one pitch has been thrown to the batter after the point of violation.

The penalty for use of an ineligible player, upon appeal by the opposing manager or notification by the official scorer or tournament director, shall be immediate removal of the player from the lineup and ejection of the team manager from the game. Both the player and the manager shall be ineligible to participate in the next scheduled game played by the team. This is not a player ejection subject to an automatic out.

In the event the manager of an ineligible player refuses to remove the player from the lineup and the manager does not leave the field when the appeal is made and verified, the game will be ruled a forfeit. When the ineligible status of a player is not established until after completion of the game, the game shall stand as played, but the player and manager shall be ineligible to participate in the next game played by the team, or the next game played after the ineligible status has been determined.

A pitcher who complains or shows signs of arm pain during a game should be removed immediately from pitching. Parents should seek medical attention if pain is not relieved within four days or if the pain recurs immediately the next time the player pitches. The recommended limits for youth pitchers are 50-75 pitches per game, 75-125 pitches per week and 1,000 pitches per season.

PINTO, MUSTANG, BRONCO, PONY, COLT -- Tournament rules will not vary from Regular season rules except for the pitching rules detailed above, plus:

- Advancement games shall be played out to a winner.
- Unlimited runs are allowed in extra innings.
- Time limits for championship games will be normal limit plus 30 minutes.
- Home team is highest seed (lowest seed number), except Home team for the championship game is the team from the winner’s bracket, regardless of original seeding.
- Trophies or medals awarded to the champion and runner-up. 

SHETLAND 6 -- Tournament rules will not vary from Regular season rules except for:

- Advancement games shall be played out to a winner.  If the score is tied at the end of regulation play (5 innings or 1 hour and 5 minutes), the team scoring the most defensive outs during the game will be declared the winner.  If both the score and the number of outs are the same for both teams, an additional inning will be played with a maximum of 10 runs allowed per team (3 outs or 10 runs will constitute an inning for the offensive team).
-  For the championship game, no inning will start beyond 1 hour and 35 minutes after the official starting time unless the game remains tied.
- Home team is highest seed (lowest seed number), except Home team for the championship game is the team from the winner’s bracket, regardless of original seeding.
-  Trophies or medals awarded to the champion and runner-up.

Regular League games are played by Pony Baseball rules and MLB rules unless otherwise specified. The "basic" ground rules for Fall 2009 Regular League play are summarized below, and a complete set of rules is provided in the handouts.

Managers are required to have a copy of the rules in their possession for each game.

Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Umpires will maintain control and have the authority to eject or remove players, coaches or fans from the facility. Only the team manager is allowed to question a ruling after a time-out is called. Protests are not allowed on judgment calls.

HOME AND VISITOR FOR ALL LEAGUE GAMES WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE SCHEDULE.

Shetland 4-5 (T-Ball)
- 4 innings max, no inning begins after 1 hour
- 5 runs max per inning
- Batter allowed as many swings as needed to hit the ball
- Base runners limited to one base and cannot advance on overthrows

Shetland 6 (T-Ball)
- 5 innings max, no inning begins after 1 hour 5 minutes
- Game over when time limit reached and additional play will not change outcome
- 5 runs max per inning
- Run rule (mercy rule) is 10 runs after 4 innings
- Batter allowed as many swings as needed to hit the ball
- Batter or runners can try to advance only one base on an overthrow
- On a double overthrow, the ball is dead and one additional base is awarded to the runner(s)
- Base runners limited to two bases on balls hit to the outfield

Pinto 7-8 (Coach Pitch)
- 6 innings max, no inning begins after 1 hour 15 minutes, games may end in a tie
- Game over when time limit reached and additional play will not change outcome
- 5 runs max per inning, unlimited runs in 6th inning
- 6 pitches; if 6th pitch is a foul, batting continues
- Run rule is 10 runs after 4 innings
- T-ball or softball bats are not allowed in Pinto Division
- Coach pitcher cannot direct or coach players while on the mound
- Person shagging balls behind the catcher cannot talk or coach while on the field

Mustang 9-10 (Kid Pitch)
- Pony Baseball Rules, 44' pitching (front rubber), 60' bases
- 6 innings, no inning begins after 1 hour 20 minutes, games may end in a tie
- Game over when time limit reached and additional play will not change outcome
- Extra innings possible if game tied and time remains
- 5 runs max per inning, unlimited runs in 6th inning or later
- No squeeze play; bunts not allowed with runner on 3rd base
- Pitchers limited to 3 innings per day, 8 innings per week
- 40 hours rest required after pitching 3 innings
- Balks called and enforced after 1 warning per pitcher
- Balks result in an immediate dead ball, "no-pitch", with umpire time-out to explain infraction
- Managers allowed to participate in balk discussion; no mound trip charged if done immediately
- Run rules are 15 runs after 3 innings, 10 after 4, 8 after 5

Bronco 11-12
- Pony Baseball Rules, 48' pitching (front rubber), 70' bases
- 7 innings, no inning begins after 1 hour 35 minutes, games may end in a tie
- Game over when time limit reached and additional play will not change outcome
- Extra innings possible if game tied and time remains
- 5 runs max per inning, unlimited runs in 7th inning or later
- Pitchers limited to 7 innings per day, 10 innings per week
- 40 hours rest required after pitching 4 or more innings
- Balks called and enforced after 1 warning per pitcher
- Balks result in an immediate dead ball, "no-pitch", with umpire time-out to explain infraction
- Managers allowed to participate in balk discussion; no mound trip charged if done immediately
- Run rules are 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 after 4, 10 after 5, 8 after 6

Pony 13-14
- Pony Baseball Rules, 54' pitching (front rubber), 80' bases
- 7 innings, no inning begins after 1 hour 40 minutes, games may end in a tie
- Game over when time limit reached and additional play will not change outcome
- Extra innings possible if game tied and time remains
- Pitchers limited to 7 innings per day, 10 innings per week
- 40 hours rest required after pitching 4 or more innings
- Balks called and enforced after 1 warning per pitcher
- Balks result in an immediate dead ball, "no-pitch", with umpire time-out to explain infraction
- Managers allowed to participate in balk discussion; no mound trip charged if done immediately
- Run rules are 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 after 4, 10 after 5, 8 after 6
- Metal cleats allowed

Colt 15-16
- Pony Baseball Rules, 60' pitching (back rubber), 90' bases
- 7 innings, no inning begins after 1 hour 40 minutes, games may end in a tie
- Game over when time limit reached and additional play will not change outcome
- Extra innings possible if game tied and time remains
- Pitchers limited to 7 innings per day, 10 innings per week
- 40 hours rest required after pitching 4 or more innings
- Balks called and enforced without warning
- Balks result in an immediate dead ball, "no-pitch"
- Minimum number of players is 7; no penalty when playing shorthanded
- Run rules are 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 after 4, 10 after 5, 8 after 6
- Metal cleats allowed
- High school bat rules enforced (no more than a -3 differential between length and weight)

Volunteers - Katy PONY is a volunteer-based organization. By registering with the league, you agree to actively support Katy PONY Baseball for the betterment of our children in sports, through fundraisers and activities supporting our youth.

Communications - Your team's manager is the individual responsible for the organization of practices, the field leader during games and the interface to the league for your team. Any issues should be worked through your manager and your division's director.

Rules - Ground rules for all divisions are posted on the website and are located in the concessions building. All games should be played by the rules without exception.

Sportsmanship - Unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated. Umpires will maintain control and have the authority to eject or remove players, coaches or fans from the facility. Only the team manager is allowed to question a ruling after a time-out is called. Protests are not allowed on judgment calls. Be a good sport and set an example for our youth.

Parking - Vehicles are restricted to designated parking areas only. Parking on the grass may result in a citation.  Overflow parking may be available on certain days -- located on the far north side of the parking lot, through the gates behind Field 1. Please drive slowly and constantly watch for children. Make sure there is no one behind you before backing up. Valuables should not be left inside your vehicle. Please secure it in the trunk, carry it with you, or leave it at home. There have been recurring theft problems at local county parks. Please be on the lookout and report any suspicious activity.

Photographs - There are two league-approved photographers allowed on the fields to take action photos of the players.  Parents and fans are always welcome to take pictures, but will not be allowed on the fields and should not take pictures from the dugouts.  The approved photographers are:

Clayton Lichtenstein www.brokedadphotos.com
Wayne Gabany www.gabanysports.com

No Litter - Dugouts must be cleaned of litter before leaving. Please keep the stands clean for the next game. Trash cans are located only a few steps from the stands.

No Smoking - The use of tobacco in any form is not allowed in the dugouts, buildings, stands or playing areas. You must leave the playing field and remain away from the area to smoke, dip or chew tobacco.

Between Games - Please vacate your dugout as quickly as possible if another game follows.  The next game's players should not attempt to enter the dugout until it has been vacated entirely.

Last Game of Day - Home team is responsible for returning the scorebook and controller to the concession stand.  Both teams should make sure all gates to the dugouts and fields are closed before leaving.

Play Ball! - Enjoy the games, cheer for the kids and be a role model for the children.

Code of Conduct