2009 Mustang Rules – 9 & 10 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.     Play is governed by “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 shall not be allowed to pitch more than eight (8) innings in a calendar week.   A calendar week begins at 12:01AM Monday and ends at midnight the following Sunday.

3.     Pitchers, after pitching three innings in a calendar day, shall have 40 hours of rest before pitching again.

4.     A pitch constitutes an inning.

5.     Once removed from the mound, a pitcher may not pitch again in that game.

6.     A pitcher shall be removed from the mound after hitting two (2) batters in an inning or three (3) in a game.

7.     Violation of pitching rules will result in forfeiture of the game and a 1 game suspension for the manager.

8.     There is no dropped third strike or balks.

C.    Base Stealing

1. Base runners may not lead off but are allowed to steal second and third base. The base runner shall not attempt to steal a base until the ball has reached or passed the catcher.

2. Base runner may not steal home.

3. If a runner steals third and the throw is wild or gets away from the

fielder, the runner may not advance home.

4. If a runner steals second with third base occupied and the throw to second is wild or gets away from the fielder,   the base runner on third may not score.

5. If there is a runner at first (with no other runners on base) and he steals second and the throw to second is wild  or gets away from the fielder, the runner may advance to third.  If there is then a play on this runner      advancing to third and the throw to third is wild or gets away from fielder, the runner may not score.

D.    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 team shall score more than (6) runs in one inning.  This rule does not

apply in the sixth and any extra innings.  A fifteen run lead after four

innings will constitute a slaughter victory and the game is over.

3. 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).

4. Each player shall play a minimum of three (3) innings per game.

5. Teams with fewer than nine (9) players at game time may borrow up to

two (2) players from the opposing team,  the last two outs of the previous

inning.  Their spots will be automatic outs in the batting order.  (A team may

choose to borrow only 1 player if they have only seven for the game.)

6. Any players “called up” from a lower league to fill anticipated absences

will bat last and may only field an outfield position.  Call-ups will play a

minimum of 3 defensive innings per game.

7. Free substitution and courtesy runner will be used for the catcher with

two outs.  The runner shall be the player making the second out of the

inning.

8. If a game is called for any reason, it shall be a complete game if four

innings have been completed, or if the home team has scored more runs in

three innings or three and a fraction innings, than the visiting team has

scored in four completed innings.

9. “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.   

10. 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.

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

12. Play will be stopped at the first sight of lightning.