Revision Date: June 10, 2011

Changes:

3.05

The batting order is to include everyone playing, except for the pitcher as stated in 3.01 or designated as a substitute player.

If a player is unable to continue the game and no legal substitute is available when he/she is due up to bat, the batter is drop from the batting order and play continues with the next player in the batting order. The player may not re-enter the game when scratched from the batting order. This only applies if a team has more than 3 women and 7 men on the batting list, otherwise the batter is out

3-Pitch Executive’s Goal

It is the intention to provide the employee’s & the community an avenue of recreation and sport by supporting a 3-Pitch baseball league in which recreation, fitness & fun is the goal.

Rule Reference Guide

The following is the sequence in which the 3-Pitch rules will apply.

· rule book, latest revision .

· Slo-Pitch Ontario, latest revision (http://www.slopitch.org/handbook)

· Canada Softball Association, latest revision.

1 League Guidelines

1.01	Play at your own risk. The NCR Three Pitch Baseball League executive are NOT responsible for loss or injury. ALL players must be on the SLO-PITCH Ontario Association Registered Roster which is mailed in by the team captains or registered on-line. A player not registered is not eligible for SPO insurance coverage.
1.02	Players MUST be eighteen (18) years old or older.
1.03	Consumption of alcohol or narcotics on Bridgeport Rod & Gun Club property or at any of the diamonds (including City of Waterloo and school diamonds) is strictly prohibited. Failure to comply may result in expulsion from the League.
1.04	A team entry fee is to be paid in full AT OR BEFORE the pre-season captain’s meeting to qualify for League acceptance. The League executive will determine the fees.
1.05	Each team captain is to provide their work phone number, work FAX number, home phone number, and e-mail address plus the name, work phone number, work FAX number, home phone number and e-mail address of an alternate contact. The League Executive to be advised of changes in name(s) or number(s).
1.06	The fielding teams must have a minimum of eight (8) and a maximum of ten (10) players on the field at one time. A minimum of three (3) players must be female except as stated in paragraph 1.07 .
1.07	During the regular season, the fielding team requires three (3) women, but the team will be allowed to play the game without default providing there are two (2) women on the field under the conditions that the maximum number of players on the field is reduced by one (1) AND there is one (1) position in the batting order which is an automatic out. During the tournament, the fielding team MUST have three (3) or more women.
1.08 a)	If 15 minutes after the official game start time. The competing team must have the minimum number of players. If a team is unable to field enough players, the game will be considered a forfeit.
1.08 b)	If less than eight (8) players from either team show up for the game, substitute players may be used if it is mutually agreed by the two team captains. Both team captains should use their best effort to prevent a forfeit. Swap players or reschedule the game - REMEMBER, this is a FUN league. This rule ONLY applies to season games, not to tournament games.
1.09	a) A player wishing to compete on one or more team, must be registered on the established roster for the team with which they wish to compete. A player is allowed to only be on the established roster of one team in one division. b) The list of players eligible to play in the tournament must be on the SPO Registered Roster. It’s the captain’s responsibility to register the players. b) The list of player eligible to play in the tournament will be determined from the names of players who signed the League Waiver submitted by each team (per 1.01). Further, only those players who have played in nine (7) or more schedule games will be eligible for fall tournament. Extra games other than re-scheduled season games will NOT be counted towards tournament eligibility. The League Executive will settle any disputes of eligibility based on the game sheets returned from each regular schedule game.
1.10	To qualify for the tournament, a team must complete fourteen (14) of the scheduled twenty two (22) games during the season. Extra games other than re-scheduled season games will NOT count towards tournament eligibility.
1.11	Teams are required to give a minimum of 72 hour notice to the opposing team of any cancellation prior to the game, unless of rain. Failure to comply will result in the offending team automatically having a THREE (3) RUN deficit at the tournament for the first game. Each fault during the season will be cumulative. In case of rain, each team captain MUST confirm cancellation with the other team captain AT THE DIAMOND.
1.12 a)	Each game will be nine (9) innings with the start time and location as defined by the schedule. On days when more than one game is scheduled on the same diamond, please be prompt at starting the each game as to not interfere with the start time of the next game. In case of rain, a game MUST complete five (5) full innings to be considered official. Both team captains should use their best effort, with the safety of the players kept in mind, to terminate the game, complete the game or reschedule and complete the game at a later date.
1.12 b)	Tie Breaker Rule: After (9) official innings are completed. The last official batter is to be placed on 2^nd base with (1) out. The game continues until (1) “tiebreaker” inning is completed. A game will be recorded as a tie if no true winner is found.
1.13 a)	The home team provides the game ball. The home and away teams responsibility to return the bases/magnetic into the bins and re-insert the red metal caps to prevent any sand/gravel entering the hole.
1.13 b)	BEFORE EACH GAME, THE TEAM CAPTAINS ARE TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING: Ground Rules, umpire(s), out of play lines, dead ball zone, home commit line and the jewelry rule
1.14	NO METAL CLEATS OR METAL STUDS ARE TO BE WORN DURING ANY SEASON OR TOURNAMENT GAMES.
1.15	Jewelry Rule - Exposed jewelry such as wrist watches, bracelets, and any type of earring, neck chains, or any other items judged unsafe by the umpire may not be worn during a game. Medical alert bracelets and necklaces are not considered jewelry, but if worn, they must be taped to the body or secured underneath clothing (gloves, socks, shirt sleeve, turtle neck sweater, etc). NOTE: Once a jewelry offense is noticed, players MUST comply with the rule before a batter may receive any more pitches. If they fail to comply, they will be called OUT. A play will NOT be negated if the jewelry is noticed after the play, although the offending player MUST comply BEFORE continuing to play. Simple band type rings are, in general, not considered dangerous, but are still subject to the umpire's discretion. Examples of items which may be considered dangerous are: rings with high clasps for gemstones, hair combs or berets.
1.16	The League will provide 18 new game balls to each team at the beginning of the season and at least one new ball will be provided for each tournament game.
1.17	EACH team is required to submit scores for each game played via NCR 3-Pitch Web site http://www.anythingmore.com/league.cgi? Game results are to be recorded within 2 days of completion of the game.
1.18	Mercy Rule: A team shall be declared a winner if they are 15 or more runs ahead of the opposition after the seventh (7) innings. A team may voluntary withdraw from the game if they are losing by 20 runs or more runs any time after 3 innings.
1.19	The maximum number of individual awards provided by the League to any one team is Fifteen (15). Additional awards can be purchased by the team if required. Sufficient notice plus payment in advance is required if extra awards are needed.
1.20	The League will be divided into “A” Division, and “B” Division teams. Scheduled games are such that teams will only play teams in their own Division. The number of teams in each division can change before the start of the season and is up to the discretion of the league executive. Teams may challenge teams from other divisions but such games will not count towards player or team eligibility for the tournament. Contact any of the executive to arrange a diamond time and location for such challenge games.
1.21	Before the start of the baseball season the top teams(s) of the B division will move up one division while the bottom team(s) of the A division will move one down. The number of teams moving will depend on the number of teams needed to fill spots in the division above or below them to promote a balance in the league. The number of teams moving is up to the discretion of the league executive. The teams moving will be based on the previous year's standing in the regular season play or the executive may consider the tournament results if required. Any new team(s) entering the league will start in the “B” Division. The executive has the option to override the team entry point or the movement between divisions.
1.22	The regular season standings include all the games scheduled and rescheduled up to the tournament weekend. These standings will determine which teams move up or down for each division.

2 The Field Of Play

2.01

Baseball is played on a square field (Figure 1). The bases should be 65 feet apart. The foul lines are extensions of the first and third base lines. The out of play lines are between 20 and 30 feet beyond the foul lines. If the diamond has a backstop, the out of play line is typically the extension out from the ends of the backstop. The dead ball zone is the square area between the pitcher and the home plate as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

2.02	When a fair fly ball goes over the outfield fence, or lands on the pavement , or into tall grass, or onto the top or over school portables, it will be called a HOME RUN. A maximum of three (3) HOME RUNS per game where the ball is hit over a fence will result in all on base runners and the batter scoring. When a team reaches their limit, then a Home Run will result that the batter gets first base and the base runners may advance by one base.
2.03	When a fair ball rolls under a fence or into tall grass or between/under school portables or off of the side of a portable, it will be called a GROUND RULE DOUBLE unless the ball was touched by a defensive team player before such an event, in which case, the ball is LIVE.
2.04	On diamonds with fences, the ball is normally considered LIVE as long as it remains inside the fenced area EXCEPT when the ball goes into the dugout or bench area.
2.05	The safety bag (white/orange) used at 1st base is positioned with the white portion in fair territory and the orange portion in foul territory.

3 The Batting Team

3.01	The batting team must supply their own pitcher. This person does not have to bat and run the bases. It is important that the team notifies the other team that they are using a "designated" pitcher who does not appear in the batting order. The pitcher may be any legal rostered player.
3.02	Each batter is allowed a maximum of three (3) pitches.
3.02 a)	All bats must meet the bat performance criteria of the three major softball associations. Acceptable bats must be certified by the Amateur Softball Association(ASA), the International Softball Federation (ISF), and the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA). Bats must bear the approved certification mark of the ASA, ISF* and USSSA OR be on their list of approved bats. Any bat not approved by any one of the three associations will be illegal. If a member of your team uses an illegal bat, the team must forfeit the game. Lists of approved bats for each of the certifying associations can be found on their websites. ASA http://www.softball.org/about/certified_equipment.asp USSSA http://info.usssa.com/usssa/usssa-general/LegalBats.htm
3.03	The batter must take a full swing at the ball (no bunt) or no batted ball intentionally directed downward so that the ball bounces high into the air. (chopped ball)
3.04	The batter is OUT, if the third pitch is hit foul.
3.05	The batting order is to include everyone playing, except for the pitcher as stated in 3.01 or designated as a substitute player. If a player is unable to continue the game and no legal substitute is available when he/she is due up to bat, the batter is drop from the batting order and play continues with the next player in the batting order. The player may not re-enter the game when scratched from the batting order. This only applies if a team has more than 3 women and 7 men on the batting list, otherwise the batter is out.
3.06	If a batted ball contacts the pitcher, the ball is dead, the batter is out, and the runners return to last base legally possessed at the time of the pitch. If the pitch was the 3rd pitch to that batter, the batter is OUT.
3.07	A base runner is out, if he/she goes more than four (4) feet off the base path to avoid being tagged out.
3.08	If there is a play on 1^st base, the runner MUST touch the orange portion of the safety bag, otherwise the runner will be called OUT.
3.09	A base runner is OUT, if at any time he/she physically interferes with a fielder attempting to make a play on an initial hit (e.g. the fielder has the right of way).
3.10	If a fielder not involved in the play interferes with a base runner, the base runner receives an extra base.
3.11	If a batter hits a fair ball and the ball, not yet touched by the fielding team, hits a base runner who is not touching a base, the base runner is out and the batter continues normally.
3.12	Any run crossing home plate after the third out does not score.
3.13	If the third out is a strikeout, fly out, or force out, any run crossing home plate on the play does not score.
3.14	Any base runner leaving his/her base BEFORE the batter makes contact with the ball is OUT. Leaving the bag on a foul tip is acceptable providing the base runner returns to the same bag before the next pitch.
3.15	When a fly ball (fair or foul) is caught (ball is first touched by the fielder) for an out, any base runner may tag their base after the ball is caught (ball is first touched by the fielder) and advance at their own risk of being tagged out. If the runner leaves a base prior to the ball being caught, the base runner must return to that base before advancing to the next base. If the base runner has left the bag before the ball was caught, the base runner will be OUT if a member of the fielding team with possession of the ball touches that bag before the base runner gets back to it.
3.16	A ground ball landing in the infield and rolling over the foul ball line prior to passing first or third base is a foul ball (strike against the batter). If the ball was touched by a member of the fielding team prior to going foul, it is a fair ball.
3.17	A ball landing in the field of play which then rolls across the foul line in the outfield, past first or third base is a fair ball.
3.18	Any fly ball which lands foul is foul whether or not it was in fair territory when traveling over first or third base.
3.19	Any time a ball goes out of play on a throwing error and does not cross the out of play line, the runners are allowed to advance at their own risk of being tagged out.
3.20	Any time a ball goes out of play and crosses the out of play line on a throwing error, the base runners are allowed to advance to the base they are going to plus one * Remember - fences may keep the ball in Play *
3.21	Once the base runner steps ON or beyond the home commit line (halfway point between third base and home), the runner cannot return to third base and the play at home becomes a force out.
3.22	The base runner must run on the third base foul side (in other words, to the right side) of the home plate to score. An out is recorded and the run does not count if the defensive team's player with possession of the ball touches home plate before the runner makes contact with the ground ON or beyond the home plate line (extension of the first base line). The defensive team player may NOT touch the base runner, even if the throw takes the defensive team's player away from home plate. If the base runner touches or slides at home plate, the base runner is OUT and the run does not score. Note: the defensive may tag the runner between home plate and first base.
3.23	If the ball comes to rest inside the dead ball zone BEFORE a member of the fielding team touches it, the ball is dead and is considered to be a pitch to the batter. If it was the third pitch, the batter is OUT. However, as long as the ball is in motion inside the dead ball zone it is a LIVE ball and can be fielded by any member of the fielding team. If the ball goes out of the dead ball zone and rolls back into the dead ball zone, the ruling is as defined in the first 3 sentences above.
3.24	Sliding is permitted ONLY on 2nd and 3rd bases, otherwise the runner who slid will be called OUT.
3.25	A team may use a maximum of three (3) courtesy runners per game. The courtesy runner may be brought into the game for a runner only after the runner has succeeded in getting safely to a base. The courtesy runner must be a legal rostered player. The courtesy runner must be announced to the home plate umpire before replacing the person on base. The courtesy must be male for male or female for female.
3.25.a	Substitutions: Any player in the batting order may be replaced during any stoppage of play with a legal rostered player not already in the batting order. The starting player may NOT re-enter the game once they are substituted by a player. Re-enter rule does not apply to 3-Pitch rules.

4 The Fielding Team

4.01	The fielding team records an out against the batting team in the following situations:
4.01.1	FLY OUT - The batter hits the ball and a member of the fielding team catches the ball within the confines of the out of play lines before the ball hits the ground. In case of the catcher catching the foul behind the home plate, the foul ball must exceed ten feet in height (usually considered to be the height of the backstop).
4.01.2	FORCE OUT - The batter is entitled to first base. If a base runner is occupying first base, he/she is obligated to advance. If a member of the fielding team with possession of the ball touches the base the leading base runner is advancing to BEFORE the lead runner does, the leading base runner is out. Once the leading base runner has advanced one base on the play, he/she is not obligated to advance further.
4.01.3	GROUND OUT - The batter hits a fair ground ball and a member of the fielding team gains possession of the ball and touches first base prior to the batter touching first base. The fielding player is ONLY permitted to touch the white portion on a force play, otherwise the runner is SAFE. Also see rule 3.08 .
4.01.4	TAG OUT - A member of the fielding team with possession of the ball tags a base runner not on a base, except at home plate where NO TAGS are permitted (see 3.22).
4.01.5	STRIKE OUT - The batter is allowed three pitches maximum before called out.
4.01.6	INFIELD FLY RULE - If first and second or first and second and third are occupied AND there are less than two (2) outs AND the ball is a pop fly within the confines of the infield (usually to the gravel/grass boundary), the batter is OUT whether or not the ball is caught if it requires normal effort by the infielder to catch the ball. Once caught, the base runners may advance at their own risk of being tagged out. For this rule to be applied, the umpire is REQUIRED to call "In-Field Fly" while the ball is in the air.
4.02.1	No infielder may step inside the base lines until the batter makes contact with the ball.
4.02.2	No outfielder is allowed in the infield until the ball is hit. If this is violated, the offense has the option of taking the result of the play or an award of one base to the batter and all runners. Note: Coed Slo-Pitch rule, No outfielder may make a force out at first base does not apply to 3-Pitch Rules.
4.03	The ball should not be returned to the pitcher until the play is completed.
4.04	The pitcher may not touch the ball while the defense is making a play. Balls from the outfield must go to an infielder who will return it to the pitcher when the play has ceased. If the pitcher interferes with a play by the defenses team, the ball is dead and the runner nearest home plate is out.
4.05	Once three (3) outs are recorded, the teams switch roles.

5 Tournament Rules

5.01	Tournament will be played rain or shine.
5.02	Three Pitch Baseball Rules and Softball Canada SLO-PITCH Rules will apply. Umpires discretion is final.
5.03	Unless otherwise stated, all games to be nine (9) innings or one hour and twenty minute (1:20) time limit from the scheduled start of the game and no new inning may start after the one hour , fifteen mark.
5.04	As per 1.20, teams will only play against teams in their own Division. During the tournament, Home Team will be the team having the better average of the two teams based on the scheduled season games. Cut-off for the tournament seeding is the last Friday of the season prior to the Labour day weekend. a) the teams with the best Point record. b) if teams are tied - the team with the best record between the teams tied ( Head to Head) c) if teams are tied (head to head) - the team with the best win/lost/tie record played. d) if teams win/lost/tie record are tied - the team with the best TOTAL RUNS. e) TOSS of a COIN if all else fails.
5.05	Teams will be given a five (5) minute grace period to provide a legal team, after which the umpires will declared the game forfeit. NOTE that the legal team must have 3 eligible female players. See rules 1.02, 1.06, 1.07, 1.09 and 1.10 for the definitions of legal players and teams.
5.06	If a team has forfeited a game, the score for that game will be recorded as 10-0 and the winning team will be given the maximum 10 runs towards the plus/minus calculation and total runs during the round robin event.
5.07	A maximum differential of ten (10) runs may be used for any one game during the Round Robin event.
5.08	Mercy Rule: A team shall be declared a winner if they are 15 or more runs ahead of the opposition after the seventh (7) innings. A team may voluntary withdraw from the game if they are losing by 20 runs or more runs any time after 3 innings.
5.09	In event of a tie game at the end of nine (9) innings or time limit, extra innings will be played with a runner (the person last out from the previous inning) starting at second base and one (1) OUT. All ties must be broken.
5.10	The HOME TEAM is responsible for picking up game the ball and score sheet at the convener's table before each game.
5.11	All teams will provide umpires for games as defined by the tournament schedule. Teams with umpires not showing up to the slotted games will automatically have a FIVE (5) RUN DEFICIT for the team's next game (eg: @ -5).
5.12	The elimination games on Sunday to be nine (9) innings or one hour and twenty-five minutes (1:25) time limit from the scheduled start of the game and no new innings may start after one hour and fifteen minutes (1:15) For a elimination event, a tie game at the end of nine (9) innings or time limit, extra innings will be played with a runner (the person last out from the previous inning) starting at second base and one (1) OUT. All ties must be broken. Final A and B Division final round will be Nine (9) Innings and No Time Limit.
5.13	Play off round will be determined as follows at the end of the Round Robin play: a) the teams with the best WIN/LOSS record. b) if teams are tied - the team with the best CUMULATIVE PLUS/MINUS for the games played. c) if teams plus/minus tied - the team with the best TOTAL RUNS SCORED for the games played. d) if teams total runs scored are tied - the team with the lowest TOTAL RUNS AGAINST for the games played. e) TOSS of a COIN if all else fails.
5.14	Final A, and B Division rounds will be Nine (9) Innings and No Time Limit.
5.15	Protests may be raised to the League Executive when accompanied by a $50 cash deposit. The $50 deposit will be returned if the Executive rule in favor of the team raising the protest. If the Executive rule against the team raising the protest, the $50 deposit will not be returned.