GCMFL Tournament Rules (as of June 2009)

All rules to be used in the tournament are the same as those used in regular league play with the following exceptions.

1. Home Team

   Home team for each game (including playoff games) is determined by a coin flip

2. Time Limits

   Friday and Saturday games: No new inning to commence after 1 hour and 35 minutes. Games may end in a tie.
   Sunday games (including the finals): No time limit.

3. Forfeit

   The score of a forfeited game will be recorded as 5-0.

4. Pitching Rule

   Any player eligible to pitch during the regular season (starter or back-up) can pitch at any time for his team during the tournament. Players not eligible to pitch during the regular season are not eligible to pitch during the tournament. There is no limit on the number of innings an eligible pitcher can pitch in the tournament.

   Each team may use a maximum of three different pitchers over the course of the tournament. A player who throws even one pitch is considered to be a pitcher and counts as one of the three.

5. Standings

   The three group winners advance to A division play on Sunday. As well, the team with the best second place record advances to A division play on Sunday as the #4 seed.

   The four top remaining teams advance to B division play on Sunday.

6. Tiebreakers

   The following formula will be used to determine final group standings and play-off round seeding. (The "wildcard" team in the A division is automatically seeded #4)

   1. Most points (2 for a win, 1 for a tie, 0 for a loss)
   2. Most wins
   3. Head-to-head record (if applicable)
   4. Total Run Differential (runs scored - runs allowed)
   5. Most runs scored
   6. Coin toss

   The maximum run differential that will be recorded for any game is 10.

   Note that the bottom of the last inning is not played out if the home team is ahead - normal end-of-game rules apply. No allowance is made with regard to run differential for games shortened by the time limit.

7. Pertinent League Rules

   Pinch runners are permitted. The player who made the last official out preceding the player requesting the runner will pinch run. If the last out is unavailable to run, the batter preceding him in the batting order may be used.

   Pinch running for the catcher with 2 outs is mandatory in order to avoid slowing down the game between innings while the catcher dons his protective gear.

   In the case of a tie following seven innings of a tournament or regular season playoff game, each subsequent inning will begin with a runner at second base. The player making the last out of the previous inning will be positioned at second base and the regularly scheduled batter will be at the plate. A pinch runner may be used at second base only if that player has used a pinch runner previously in the game.

   The mercy rule is 10 runs after 5 innings.