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Rule 5. The Game.
Sec. 1. THE CHOICE OF THE FIRST OR LAST BAT IN THE INNING SHALL BE DECIDED BY A TOSS OF A COIN UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED IN THE RULES OF THE ORGANIZATION UNDER WHICH THE SCHEDULE OF GAMES IS BEING PLAYED.
Sec. 2. THE FITNESS OF THE GROUND FOR A GAME SHALL BE DECIDED SOLELY BY THE PLATE UMPIRE.
Sec. 3. A REGULATION GAME SHALL CONSIST OF SEVEN INNINGS:
| a) |
A full seven innings need not be played if the team second at bat scores more runs in six innings or before the third out in the last of the seventh innings.
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| b) |
A game that is tied at the end of seven innings shall be continued by playing additional innings until one side has scored more runs than the other at the end of a complete inning or until the team second at bat has scored more runs in their half of the inning before the third out is made.
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| c) |
A game called by the umpire shall be regulation if five or more complete innings have been played or if the team second at bat has scored more runs than the other team has scored in five or more innings. The umpire is empowered to call a game at any time because of darkness, rain, fire, panic, or other cause which puts the patrons, umpires, or players in peril.
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| d) |
A regulation tie game shall be declared if the score is equal when the game is called at the end of five or more completed innings or if the team second at bat has equaled the score of the first team at bat in the incomplete inning.
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| e) |
These provisions do not apply to any acts on the part of players or spectators which might call for forfeiture of the game. The plate umpire may forfeit the game if any umpire is attacked physically by any team member or spectator.
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| f) |
A forfeited game shall be declared by the umpire in favour of the team not at fault in the following cases:
| 1) |
If a team fails to appear on the field or, being on the field, refuses to begin a game for which it is scheduled or assigned at the time scheduled or within a time for forfeitures by the organization of which the team is a member. |
| 2) |
If, after the game has begun, one side refuses to continue to play unless the game has been suspended or terminated by the umpire. |
| 3) |
If, after play has been suspended by the umpire, on side fails to resume playing within two minutes after the umpire has called "play ball". |
| 4) |
If a team, after a warning by the umpire, employs tactics purposely designed to delay or to hasten the game. |
| 5) |
If, after warning by the umpire, any one of the rules of the game is willfully violated. |
| 6) |
If the order for the removal or ejection of a player or any person authorized to sit on the team bench is not obeyed within one minute. |
| 7) |
If, because of the removal or ejection of the players from the game by the umpire or for any cause, there are less than 9 (10 with a "DP" - if the "DP" is terminated, or temporarily eliminated as allowed in Rule 4 Sec. 5c, the game can continue with 9 players). |
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| g) |
Games that are not considered regulation or regulation tie games shall be replayed from the beginning. Original line-ups may be changed when the game is replayed.
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| h) |
A mercy rule shall result in the conclusion of the game when:
| 1) |
In all categories, games will end after 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/2 or 4 complete innings of play if there is a difference of fifteen (15) runs. |
| 2) |
In all categories, games will end after 4 1/2, 5, 5 1/2 or 6 innings of play if there is a difference of seven (7) runs. |
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Sec. 4. THE WINNER OF THE GAME SHALL BE THE TEAM THAT SCORES THE MOST RUNS IN A REGULATION GAME:
| a) |
The score of a called regulation game shall be the score at the end of the last complete inning unless the team second at bat has scored more runs than the first team at bat in the incomplete inning. In this case, the score shall be that of the incomplete inning.
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| b) |
The score of a regulation tie game shall be the tie score when the game was terminated. A regulation tie game shall be replayed from the beginning.
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| c) |
The score of a forfeited game shall be 7-0 in favour of the team not at fault. |
Sec. 5. TIEBREAKER. Starting with the top of the eighth (8) inning and each half inning thereafter, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half-inning being placed on second base. The player who is running can be substituted in accordance with the substitution rules.
Sec. 6. SCORING OF RUNS.
| a) |
One run shall be scored each time a runner legally touches first, second, third base and home plate before the third out of the inning.
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| b) |
A run shall not be scored if the last out of an inning is the result of:
| 1) |
The batter-runner being forced out before legally touching first base. |
| 2) |
A runner being forced out, including on an appeal play, due to the batter becoming a batter-runner. |
| 3) |
The runner failing to keep contact with the base to which he is entitled until a pitch is released. |
| 4) |
A preceding runner being declared out. |
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Sec. 7. A RUNNER SHALL NOT SCORE A RUN AHEAD OF THE RUNNER PRECEDING HIM IN THE BATTING ORDER IF THE PRECEDING RUNNER HAS NOT BEEN PUT OUT.
Sec. 8. CHARGED CONFERENCES.
| a. |
Offensive Conferences - There shall be only one (1) charged conference between the manager or other team representative and the batter runner in an inning. Umpires shall not permit any such conferences in excess of one (1) an inning. |
EFFECT--The ejection of manager or coach who insists on another charged conference.
| b. |
Defensive Conferences - There shall only be one (1) charged conference between the manager or team representative from the dugout with each pitcher per inning or only one (1) conference with any other defensive player in an inning.
| 1) |
A conference includes players in the field leaving their position and going to the dugout for instructions, regardless of whether "Time" has been called or not.
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| 2) |
Should the manager/coach from the dugout report a change to the umpire, this is not considered a defensive conference unless the manager then crosses the foul line to talk with any defensive player after making the change.
EXCEPTION: If this change is a pitching change and the pitcher leaves the pitching position prior to the manager crossing the foul line, the manager may legally enter fair territory to talk with any defensive player, while the new pitcher is taking his warm-up pitches, without a conference being charged.
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| 3) |
The conference is over when the manager/coach crosses the foul line returning to the dugout.
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| 4) |
It is not a charged conference for the defense if they confer during a charged offensive conference, provided they are ready to play when the offense is ready. |
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EFFECT--Sec. 8b:
| 1) |
The second charged conference shall result in the pitcher being declared an illegal pitcher who may not pitch again for the remainder of the game. |
| 2) |
The illegal pitcher can return to the game but not in the pitching position. |
| 3) |
The conference rule in regards to pitchers is waived in Squirt and under categories. |
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