Cochrane Mixed Slo-Pitch Association: Rules Q&A
Q: Is there a limit to the number of women you can place in either the infield or outfield?
A: No. A recent review by the League Executive based on feedback from the membership elaborated on this rule to allow teams to place members of it's team at any position which they felt would be of a strategic benefit to their alignment. Therefore there is no actual rule stipulation that identifies how many male or female players you need to align defensively. The only stipulation is that you can have no more than 5 male players on the field at one time.
Rules Question #2 - Base Running
Q: What are your options to put a player out at the plate?
A: Depending on where the runner is between 3rd base and Home plate will be the deciding factor. If the runner has yet to reach the commitment line, he/she can be tagged prior to returning to 3rd base safely. If the runner has passed the commitment line, then he/she must continue to home plate where they must pass home prior to the catcher receiving the ball while standing on home plate. If the catcher makes any attempt to tag the runner after they have passed the commitment line, then the runner will be ruled safe at home. The purpose for putting this rule in was to avoid any possible contact by the players at home plate. Please remember that this is a CMSP created rule and supersedes any interpretation from the SPN rule book.
Rules Question #3 - Definitions
Q: What is considered an infield fly?
A: An infield fly is a fairly batted fly ball (NOT a line drive) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort when 1st & 2nd, or when 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases are occupied with less than 2 out. Some notes on this rule, if the umpire doesn't immediately call the infield fly prior to the ball being caught, does not preclude it from being an infield fly. The runners can still attempt to advance at their own risk. Also, if an infield fly ball is called, but falls untouched in foul territory, or if fair, falls untouched and subsequently rolls foul prior to 1st or 3rd base, it is just a foul ball.
Rules Question #4 - Base Running
Q: What are a runner's options when they are on first and a ground ball is hit?
A: When the batter hits a ground ball, he/she becomes a baserunner and immediately forces any current baserunners on a base ahead of them to advance. So if a runner is on 1st and the batter hits a grounder, the runner on first must advance to 2nd. The only time that they would be able to return to 1st would be if the out at 1st occured prior to them reaching 2nd and no play was attempted at 2nd.
Game situation: Runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Ground ball hit to shortstop who tags the runner still standing on 2nd, touches 2nd then throws to 1st, where the ball is caught and the basemen touches the base prior to the runner reaching it. Result: a triple play! The runner on 2nd was forced to advance to 3rd and even though he/she remained on the base did not make them safe to be there. By the shortstop making the tag, by the force play situation, that runner is out (out #1). Then by touching 2nd base forced out the runner coming from 1st (out #2). The throw to the first baseman to force out the batter running there completed the play (out #3).
Rules Question #5 - Equipment
Q: What if a player makes a catch with an illegal glove? (i.e. an outfielder with a 'trapper' style glove).
A: If a player other than the pitcher, catcher or first baseman makes a play causing an out by using what is considered an illegal glove, then the play is negated and the batter is given another opportunity, assuming the same count (balls & strikes) he had prior to the hit.
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