Exeter West Greenwich Girls Softball League: 2009 League Rules

2009 Rules—Senior Division  Exeter-West Greenwich Girls Softball League 4-19-08 

1. Games start at 6:00 pm sharp.  No innings start after 1 hour 30 minutes.  The time limit begins after the pitcher throws a pitch to the first batter. 

2. A regulation game shall consist of 7 innings.  Playoff games must play 7 innings without time limit.   

3. Tie breaker rule: Playoffs only (regular season games can end in a tie) If after completion of 7 innings of play the score is tied, the following tie-breaker rule shall determine the winning team:  Starting with the top of the eighth inning, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat last in that inning being placed on second base. 

4. Umpires: Only one umpire will be used.   The umpires are representatives of the league and as such are authorized to order a player, coach, captain or manager to carry out or to omit any act which, in their judgment is necessary to give force and effect to one or all of these rules, and to inflict penalties as herein prescribed.  There will be no appeal on any decision of any umpire on the grounds that the umpire was not correct in the conclusion as to whether a batted ball was fair or foul, a runner safe or out, a pitched ball is a ball or strike, or on any play involving accuracy of judgment.

5.  Pitching: We will follow the PONY and ASA pitching distance of 40 feet.  At the beginning of each half inning, or when a pitcher relieves another, not more than one minute may be used to deliver not more than five pitches.  Each team must use at least 2 pitchers per game, and no pitcher can pitch more than 5 innings per game.

6.  Four runs per inning rule and 10 run ahead rule apply. If one team is ahead by 10 runs at the end of 5 innings, (four and a half if the home team is leading), the game officially ends.  There is no run limit in the last inning.   

7.  Teams consists of 3 outfielders and 4 infielders a pitcher and the catcher (9 players).  In the event of a player shortage, a team can take the field with 8 players.  In the event a team plays the game with 9 players and the opposing team plays with at least 9, the team with 8 shall be charged an out as a penalty. In the playoffs, teams will bat an equal number of batters; however, free substitutions of all available players must occur so that all players are used. 

8.  The use of free substitutions and a continuous batting order is required.  No player should sit on the bench for more than one consecutive inning. 

9.  Stealing bases and advances are allowed in live ball situations and runners may advance upon the release of the ball by the pitcher.

10.  Infield fly rule is in effect. 

11. Any intentional crashing into the catcher will result a verbal warning given to runner and manager of the offending team.  All calls regarding this rule on the field shall be at the discretion of the umpire. A repeat by the same runner will result in her being called out upon the second offense.  Coaches are advised to instruct all players to slide on any close play at home plate to avoid a collision with the catcher and possible injury.  

12.  Defensive infielders must not line up between first and second and second and third and block the runner’s path. They may line up a step back or a step in front but not in any direct line.  In this case the runner must avoid the defensive player and may run out of the base path to do so. However if the defensive player has the ball in her position the runner can not run out of the base path to avoid being tagged.  On a rundown play the defensive players can line up on a line between any two bases the runner is trying to get to or between third and home.

13.  This list is a summary of softball rules for EWG Girls Softball; however, the 2008 PONY Girls Softball Rules and Regulations shall apply to any situation not covered by this summary. 

2009 Rules—Junior DivisionExeter-West Greenwich Girls Softball League 4-19-08 

1.    Games start at 6:00 pm sharp.  No innings start after 1 hour 30 minutes.  The time limit begins after the pitcher throws a pitch to the first batter. 

2. A regulation game shall consist of 6 innings.  Playoff games must play innings without time limit. 

3. Tie breaker rule: Playoffs only (regular season games can end in a tie) If after completion of 6 innings of play the score is tied, the following tie-breaker rule shall determine the winning team:  Starting with the top of the 7th inning, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat last in that inning being placed on second base. 

4.  Umpires: Only one umpire will be used.  When live pitching occurs, umpires will call balls and strikes and plays at the bases and in the field.  When Jugs pitching machine occurs, the umpire is responsible for operating the pitching machine and umpiring the bases. The batter has five pitches to put the ball in play.  A foul ball on the 5^th pitch will result in an additional pitch.  If batter swings and misses 3 strikes, the batter is out.  A “No pitch” can be called at option of umpire on a bad throw by machine.

The umpires are representatives of the league and as such are authorized to order a player, coach, captain or manager to carry out or to omit any act which, in their judgment is necessary to give force and effect to one or all of these rules, and to inflict penalties as herein prescribed.  There will be no appeal on any decision of any umpire on the grounds that the umpire was not correct in the conclusion as to whether a batted ball was fair or foul, a runner safe or out, a pitched ball is a ball or strike, or on any play involving accuracy of judgment.

5. Live Pitching: We will follow the PONY and ASA pitching distance for 10U  of 35 feet.  Inning will end after the offensive team has made 3 outs or scored 2 runs with live pitching, or 4 runs with machine pitching.  At the beginning of each half inning, or when a pitcher relieves another, not more than one minute may be used to deliver not more than five pitches.

Pitchers will work during the first 2 innings of the game followed by use of Machine Pitching for the last 4 innings.    

6. Machine pitching:  Pitching from 40 feet using the JUGS pitching machine will occur at the beginning of the 3^rd inning.   Any batted ball that comes in contact with the machine or adult operator is a dead ball, if the machine is hit with the 5^th pitch umpire shall allow the batter one more pitch.  Adult feeding machine should always be ready to restrict the entry of players, especially in the event of an infield fly ball.  

A player assumes the defensive position of the pitcher. Player does not feed the machine.  An imaginary line will run across the pitching rubber. The pitcher must have one foot on the edge of the 8 foot circle before the ball is pitched by the machine. The pitcher can go in front of the circle to receive throws back from the catcher. Fielders may run in with the ball and toss it to the pitcher but the ball is in play (live) until the pitcher returns the ball to the circle.

7. If one team is ahead by 10 runs at the end of five innings, (four and a half if the home team is leading), the game officially ends.  There is no run limit in the last inning. 

8. Teams consists of 4 outfielders and 4 infielders a pitcher and the catcher (10 players).  In the event of a player shortage, a team can take the field with 8 players.  In the playoffs, teams will bat and equal number of batters; however, free substitutions of all available players must occur so that all players are used.

9. The use of free substitutions and a continuous batting order is required.  No player should sit on the bench for more than one consecutive inning.

10. Stealing bases and advances are allowed as follows: 

a.   Runners starting at first or second base are entitled to advance or steal one base only per pitch with the liability to be put out.  Only 2 steals per inning are allowed.

b.    After play ceases, the ball becomes dead if a runner occupies a base beyond the one entitled, the runner will be returned to the correct base without liability.

c.     A base on balls cannot advance past first base.

d.     If a batter strikes out and the ball is dropped, the batter is out and the batter cannot advance to first base.              

e.   Runners can steal home. 

f.  In live ball situations, runners can advance.  An over throw of the catcher/pitcher exchange is a live ball when live pitching is taking place.  It is not, when machine pitching is in effect.

g.    Runners may only advance 1 base on a throwing error.  

11.  No infield fly rule is in effect.

12.  Any intentional crashing into the catcher will result in a verbal warning  this rule on the field shall be at the discretion of the umpire. A repeat by the same runner will result in her being called out upon the second   offense.  Coaches are advised to instruct all players to slide on any close  play at home plate to avoid a collision with the catcher and possible injury.  

13.  Defensive infielders must not line up between first and second and second and third and block the runner’s path. They may line up a step back or a step in front but not in any direct line.  In this case the runner must avoid the defensive player and may run out of the base path to do so. However if the defensive player has the ball in her position the runner can not run out of the base path to avoid being tagged.  On a rundown play the defensive players can line up on a line between any two bases the runner is trying to get to or between third and home.

14.  This list is a summary of softball rules for EWG Girls Softball; however, the 2008 PONY Girls Softball Rules and Regulations shall apply to any situation not covered by this summary.