2009 Pinto Rules – 7 and 8-Year Olds

A.    Team & Fields

1.     Home team is responsible for setting up the field. Both teams are responsible for post-game field maintenance and clean up around the bleacher and bench areas.

2.     Home team is responsible for umpire and will provide two (2) new game balls.

3.     Make-up games are required – time and weather permitting. Games not played will count as a tie in the standings. Each team will receive ½ win and ½ loss.

4.     The scorebook is the official record of pitching and will be initialed by the opposing manager.

5.     No “T-Ball” bats allowed (Team warning).

6.     Play is governed by “PONY Baseball Rules and Regulations” and “Official Rules of Major League Baseball” with the following exceptions, which are necessary in a youth program.

B.    Pitching Rules

1.     Pitchers shall not pitch more than three (3) innings on the same calendar day.

2.     Pitchers are allowed to pitch five (5) innings per calendar week. . A calendar week begins at 12:01AM Monday and ends at midnight the following Sunday.

3.     One (1) pitch constitutes an inning.

4.     After pitching more than one (1) inning in a game, a pitcher must have 1 calendar day’s rest before they are eligible to pitch again.

5.     Trips to Mound - One (1) per inning.  On second trip Pitcher must be taken out, but may play another position.

6.     Pitcher hitting two (2) batters in one inning, or three (3) batters per game, must be taken out or moved to another position for the remainder of the game.

7.     Five (5) warm ups between innings. Eight (8) maximum for new pitcher.

C.    Participation

1.     Continuous batting order will be used.  Regulation game is six (6) innings.  If a game is tied at the end of regulation length, it shall go into extra innings until a decision is reached or the game is called by the umpire.

2.     No inning shall begin after 2 hours from the start of game (umpire will record official start time – a new inning begins as soon as the last out is made in the previous inning).

3.     Walks will not be awarded, after 4 balls the batter’s Manager or Coach of the same team will throw the remaining strikes. A batter’s manager or coach will throw from the mound. All pitches/tosses will be strikes (foul balls on third strike is NOT a strike out). The runners & batters will only be allowed to advance one base      at their own risk. All pitches/tosses will begin with at least one foot touching pitching rubber.

4.     Hit off a player pitcher: Any ball hit in the infield, runners may advance no more than two (2) bases at their own risk. This applies to all runners on the field. Balls hit to outfield (on a fly, not touching infield) runners may advance as many bases at their own risk.

5.     A side is retired from batting after 3 outs are made or after batting through the order (maximum number of batters is 12). Having reached the maximum of batters, the last batter/runner may advance all the bases at their own risk (eliminating the advance restriction from rule 3 and rule 4).

6.     There are no lead-offs, stealing, metal cleats, balks, infield fly and no Pinto player may coach the bases.

7.     Thrown Bat - the first offense by a player in a game, the team will be warned by the umpire but the play will stand.  The second offense by any player (of that same team) will be ruled a dead ball out and all runners will return to their original base.

8.     A rostered player may not sit out two (2) innings in a row.  Exceptions are: Bathroom break and serving Minor Disciplinary Action.

9.     Lower League call up will be determined by team name. Players from Lower League cannot pitch, cannot start, or play more innings than a player in higher league.  Lower league manager and parent must be notified prior to moving a player up. If conditions are met for lower league call up, no matter how many original team members do show up, called up player will play 3 innings.  Lower league player may start if they are the 9^th player.

10.  A team cannot start a game with fewer than 7 players - forfeit. (If starting with 7 players, every 8^th & 9^th position in the batting order is an out.)  A Team also cannot start or continue a game without an adult manager or coach - forfeit.

 11. A team may continue to play a game if a player(s) is hurt and team goes to fewer than nine players.  Any   player leaving a game for any reason, his batting position will be SKIPPED with no penalty and he/she cannot return to the game. A team must be able to field seven (7) players at all times during the game.

12. Make up games must be made up according to commissioner for the next open date. 

13.  Catcher Speed Up Rule - After 2 outs, if catcher is on base, catcher will be removed and replaced by player who made the second out.

14.  “Runner” Slide Rule:  “If there is a play at second base, third base or home plate, runners must slide to avoid contact with the defensive player.  A runner on the baseline is out if he/she does not make an        attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag. 

15.  The slaughter rule applies if a team is up by 10 runs after 4 complete innings.

16.  No razzing or clapping of hands to distract the pitcher, by the base runners. If a player continues after warning from Umpire, the Umpire may declare the lead runner out and the player must vacate base.  This is not to preclude defensive chatter of a positive nature.  Sportsmanship is the Key.

17. The respective league presidents will judge any game protests.