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ALL RULES NOT LISTED WILL FOLLOW NFHS BASEBALL RULES/GUIDELINES

Coin Flip: In Pool Play home team is determined by a coin flip. Better Seed will determine home/away during bracket play. Base umpire will announce start time on the first pitch of each game. Start time will be recorded by base umpire and relayed to PB Tournaments staff. Any time discrepancies should be addressed before the end of the 1st inning. 

Teams must be prepared to play 15 minutes before their scheduled game time. 

Roster Submission Required: Rosters must be submitted before the first pitch of the teams’ first game. Rosters must be submitted by all teams attending. (You may add players during the event, but they must be added to the online roster prior to entering the player’s first game). Players cannot compete for multiple teams in the same division on the same weekend. Players can compete in multiple age groups on a given weekend (Players must be age and/or grade eligible to do this.) 

Age Restrictions: Your age is determined by the May 1st date of that year OR your high school graduation year. If the team is found with an illegal player due to incorrect report of that players age, grade, or DOB — that team will be KICKED OUT of the tournament and will forfeit all games with a score, 7-0. If a team is found with a non rostered player that player will be removed from the game. 

A Player is Only Eligible to play for 1 Team per AGE group per weekend. 

Example: A 10u eligible player can play for both a 10u team and an 11u team on a given weekend (As 

long as they are rostered on both teams).
Determining the validity of a players is type of protest and must be accompanied by $100. If the player is found legal, the coach protesting will lose their $100. 

SEEDING / TIE-BREAKERS – Pool Winners will always be the better seed than a non pool winner. From there all wild card teams will be determined based on the rules below: (After Pool winners, pool seed will have no affect on who advances, i.e a 2-0 team who finishes 2nd in there pool will be seeded behind a 1-1 team who wins there pool.)

Tie-Breakers:

1. Win/Loss record
2. Head to Head (does not apply with 3 or more teams tied)
3. Runs Allowed
4. Runs Scored
5. Runs Allowed in Losses
6. Runs Scored in Losses
7. Coin Flip

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Game Play

Coaches: We strongly encourage that only 3 coaches be in the dugout. We Reserve the right to limit the number of coaches in the dugout, if deemed necessary. 

Bats: (See a list of banned bats below this section)

• 8u to 12u, there will be bat restrictions to BPF 1.15
• Must be stamped by either USSSA or USA
• 13u = BPF 1.15 or BBCOR; Max Difference of -5
• 14u - 18u = BBCOR 

Illegal Bat Penalty 

• A batter using an illegal bat is deemed illegal as soon as he steps into the box. If a player uses an illegal bat, the player will be ruled out and runners will not be allowed to advance. Runners that have advanced during that at- bat before the illegal bat was identified, and not as a result of a batted ball, shall be entitled to the base(s) they achieved.
• The umpire can be notified at any time after the batter has entered the box, but must be notified prior to the first pitch of the next batter or before all defensive players leave fair territory.
• If a team has three illegal bat rules infractions the Head Coach will be ejected for the rest of the tournament. 

Mercy Rules: 

A. 15 runs after 3 innings
B. 10 Runs after 4 innings
C. 8 Runs after 5 innings
*bracket play follows the same mercy rules 

Slashing: Is legal.
Head-first sliding into any base is legal. 

Balks: All balks are LIVE; 3rd to 1st move is ILLEGAL. A balk shall be called when a pitcher, while in contact with rubber, fakes, but does not complete a throw to first or third base.

Number of Players: A game can start with either 8 or 9 players. However if a team drops to seven or less the game will be automatic forfeit. If a team starts a game with 8 players, the 9th spot in the order will be an automatic out. 

Batting Lineups: 

1. Hit 9 with a DH or no DH. We will honor the High School DH Rule (14u and under).
2. Hit 10 with one EH and with or without a DH. EH can be used as a free defensive substitution.
3. Hit 11 with a DH or no DH and two EH’s. EH’s can be used as a free defensive substitution.
4. Hit a continuous lineup with free substitution. See ejections and injuries rules to see what happens when losing a player.
5. In situations 1 and 2, you will have to follow high school substitution rules. 

Skunk in the Outfield Play (Where runner on First Creates his own base path by backing up into the outfield will not be allowed. Runner at first must take a lead with a direct line toward 2nd base. First Offense, Umpire will call time and issue an official team warning putting all players back to their starting base. Second Offense, Runner will be declared out and any pitch or action by other runners will be nullified. 

Pitch Counts: PB Tournaments does not enforce any pitch count or innings limitation.

Bracket Play:

• Run rules will remain in effect throughout bracket play including championship games; (15 runs after 3 innings, 10 after 4, 8 after 5).
• California rules will be played for all extra innings (excluding championship games); last batted out starts on 2nd base, 1 Out, each batter will start with a 1-1 count.
• Better seed is required to be the home team.

Intentional Walks: Head Coach needs to inform the umpire of the intentional walk, no pitches will be thrown, and the hitter will be awarded first base.

Courtesy Runner: Courtesy runner is optional for pitcher or catcher at anytime. The courtesy runner must be a legal sub or the last batted out if you are batting a continuous lineup. If there are no legal subs left in an non- continuous lineup the courtesy runner shall be the last batted out (If the last batted out is the pitcher or catcher of record, the courtesy runner shall be the prior batted out). If no out has been recorded in the game, there will not be a courtesy runner allowed. In the instance of an incorrect courtesy runner, there will be no penalty and the correct courtesy runner will replace the current runner on base. The courtesy runner will never be mandatory.

Age-Specific Rules:

+ 8u: coach pitch

• No leadoffs
• No dropped third strikes
• Max of 6 runs an inning until the final inning; no limit in the final inning.

+ 9u & 10u

• No leadoffs
• No balks
• No dropped third strikes

Forfeit Ruling (13u and up):

• If a team forfeits a game, it will be scored 7-0 (12u and under, 6-0).
• Tournament Director has the ability to amend forfeit scoring.
• Forfeits cannot better the seed for the forfeiting team.

Complete Games and Extra Innings: 

• If rain or weather suspends a game, 4 innings (3.5 innings if home team is winning) could be considered a complete game in a 6-inning game; or 5 innings (4.5 innings if home team is winning) in a 7-inning game.
• There will be NO extra innings in pool play games, even if time allows.
• California rules will be played for all extra innings (excluding championship games)
  • Last Batted Out starts on 2nd base, 1 Out; each batter will start with a 1-1 count.
  • SUPER SELECT POD PLAY: Extra innings will follow California rules.
• Tournament Directors will have the option to alter complete-game rules based on score, weather, time under delay, and game implications. 

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