GROUND RULES 

• You must have 6 people present to start the game.  Forfeit time is 10 minutes after scheduled game time.  Teams must have at least 1 coach present on game day.
• You can substitute players if they are not able to make a game. Only rule is that they must be in High School and not a member of another team. 
• Games shall be four innings long or 45 minutes.  A mercy rule of 20 runs after three innings will be in effect. In case of a tie at the end of four innings or the 45-minute time limit, extra innings will be played until a team scores more runs than the other.
• Each team will bat its entire line-up (max of 10). The inning is over after the last batter has scored or an out has been made during the play in which the last batter bats.
• Teams will pitch to their own batters. Pitchers can only be a mentor. All pitches must be overhand and the pitcher must be in contact with the rubber mound at all times. An at-bat will consist of a maximum of three pitches.
• An out for the batter can be made in the following ways:
  • After three pitches – foul tips count as strikes; pitches that are not swung at also count as strikes.
  • If the pitcher intentionally contacts a batted ball, all runners will return to their bases last occupied. If the pitcher is contacted by a batted ball in any other way, the ball will become dead, runners will return to their bases last occupied, and the pitcher will re-pitch to the batter. The dead ball contact will not count as a pitch to the batter.
  • Fly balls caught in fair or foul territory.
  • Ground balls fielded to a base for a force-out.
  • Tagging the runner out.
• A batted ball that strikes an advancing runner in fair territory is considered dead and the struck runner is out. The batter will receive first base, and other runners may only advance if forced.
• Play stops when the ball is controlled in the infield by a defensive player and the umpire declares “time.”
• Bunting is not allowed---only full swings are permitted. A full swing is defined as one continuous motion, from the back swing to the follow through. An attempted bunt will count as one of the three pitches.
• No sliding or diving to a base. If this occurs, the runner is automatically out. No sliding or diving is allowed in order to tag a runner. If this occurs, the runner is awarded one base from the last base touched.
• A ball shall be declared a home run if:
  • The ball is hit, in fair territory, outside of the outfield boundary
  • Ground Rule Double: When a fair batted ball bounces above or through any designated boundary of playing field, OR when it deflects off a defensive player and goes out of play. The ball will be declared dead and all runners are awarded two bases from their original positions..
• The umpire shall rule on any decisions not specifically covered in these rules.