PONY LEAGUE (Inter-City) RULES

Revised:  1/12/08

 

TIME LIMITS / INNINGS (If an inning starts before the time limit expires, the entire inning is to be completed. Start times for games will be observed as scheduled with a 15-minute grace period allowed for the minimum players necessary to start the game. FORFEIT after the 15 minute grace period has elapsed)

Ø      2 ½ hrs or 7 innings, which ever comes first.

o        Tied games will be played until a decision has been reached, but not to exceed 9 innings or time limit.  No new inning will be started after time limit has expired.  If there is 1 minute left in time limit, a new inning will start.

Ø      10 Run rule after 5 innings, 4 ½ if home team ahead.

Ø      Rainouts:  Rainouts shall be called a minimum of 1 hour before game time.  If a League does not call a rainout within such time limit, teams should show up.  Thereafter, League Officials and/or Umpire may call game due to field conditions because of weather.

 

SUBSTITUTIONS / PLAYER PARTICIPATION

Ø      If a team can’t field (9) players, can play with 8 (9th spot IS AN AUTOMATIC OUT).  If team starts with 8 players, when the 9th player arrives, such player will be inserted in the 9th spot of the batting order.

Ø      There is NO Player Participation Rule.  Each Team should abide by their OWN League Chapter participation rules.  Does not mean the other team has to abide by the other teams participation rule.

Ø      Substitutions:  NO unlimited substitutions.  Refer to Pony White Rule Section 9.K

Ø      Teams CANNOT borrow from other teams to meet the player requirements.

 

CONDUCT

Ø      Any player, coach, or manager that swears or uses offensive language shall be ejected from the game. Any outburst or refusal to heed a warning by the Umpire may be ejected from the game at Umpires Discretion.

·         No food (seeds, gum, beverages, etc., other than water) allowed in the dugouts.  This rule is to help keep all city fields/dugouts clean.

·         Managers shall be responsible for managing their own dugouts from parents visiting, players standing on benches or coaches walking onto the field.

·         Umpires discretion/responsibility to keep Base Coaches in their respective boxes.

 

THROWING BAT

Ø      Accidental (Any bat that strikes or comes dangerously close to striking a player): 1st time: Team warning / 2nd time: Player causing infraction from the team already warned is called out. Ball is dead and all runners return to the last base touched at time of infraction.  Umpire's discretion if such incident is intentional.

Ø      Intentional: Player is called out and ejected from the game. Ball is dead and all runners return to the last base touched at time of infraction.

 

PITCHING

Ø      A pitcher cannot pitch more 7 innings in a calendar day and 10 per calendar week (Mon-Sun). One pitch in an inning shall constitute a full inning pitched. PENALTY: Forfeit

o        Must have 40 hours rest after pitching 4 innings or more in one calendar day

Ø      Balks will be enforced, NO WARNINGS

Ø      Intentional walks are allowed, no pitch has to be made even after a pitch is thrown.

 

 

 

 

 

SLIDING

No mandatory slide rule, however, a runner who does not slide will be called out by the umpire if there is substantial body to body contact with a player applying a tag, making a catch in order to apply a tag or making a catch in order to make a lay on another runner. The ball is dead and all runners must return to the last base touched at time of contact. If the umpire rules the contact was flagrant, regardless if the slide rule was not in effect (throw down the line), the runner is out and ejected, the ball is dead and all runners return to the last base touched at time of contact. Exception: Incidental contact or obstruction. Enforcement and rule interpretation is umpires judgment.

 

FAKE TAGS

1.  A fielder who fakes a tag without the ball shall be ruled interference and runner(s) will be allowed to advance one base.

 

BATTING/ BASERUNNING

Ø      Batters must have one foot in the batters box between pitches while taking signs from the coach: Penalty: Called strike every 3 seconds after Umpire warns or tells batter to get back into the box.. This can be enforced at any time during the game.

Ø      E-H Rule: The E-H rule is not mandatory, however, if the E-H is used, the manager must declare the use of an E-H prior to the start of the game. The E-H position shall be considered the same as any other position. Normal substitution rules apply. However, any team that begins play using an E-H must maintain a 10 player line-up throughout the game. If due to injury, ejection, disciplinary action by the coach, or a player has to leave for any reason, and the team falls to nine players, an out shall be called each time the E-H position comes to bat.  The EH position shall remain the same position in the lineup at the time the EH position is dropped during the game.

Ø      Courtesy runner is allowed for only the CATCHER when there are two outs. Such courtesy runner can run for only one player in an inning. The Catcher for which such courtesy runner will run for shall be the last catcher who played the position in the latest inning.  A team may not have a courtesy runner for a player who is inserted in the lineup to play Catcher the next inning. Courtesy runner is a player currently not in the batting lineup. Meaning, occupying the bench during that inning.  In such case where a team is only playing with 9 players, the courtesy runner shall be the last out made (or 2nd out made) in the same inning.

Ø      No continuous batting order allowed.

 

PROTEST 

Protests will be handled by the Scheduler.  All protests must be made to the Home Plate Umpire and Official Book at the time of the incident or in case of a Player Participation Rule/Pitch Rule, immediately after the game.  Home team shall keep the official book for the game.  Protests shall be made to individual Pony Rep immediately after the game by Manager.  Pony Rep shall report such protest within 36 hours of game to Scheduler.

**Remember, protests are for baseball rules violations or Pony Intercity Rules violations.  Not judgment calls made by the Umpires. 

 

INTERCITY RULES

Intercity Rules shall be abided by at all times when teams from different Pony Chapters are playing each other.  To remain consistent, NO side agreements shall be made for one particular game that is different than the Intercity Rule.  Any side agreements outside of the Intercity Rules shall constitute a Forfeit for both teams. Umpires should not be involved in the side agreements and should two teams decided on playing outside the Intercity Rules, Umpires may declare game forfeit and leave, still being paid for their services.   However, if two teams from the SAME Pony Chapter are playing each other, they may have their own By-Laws within to play by and may do so.  Salinas Chapter shall include South County teams as they are registered with Salinas.