KETTLEMORAINE
BOY’SBASEBALL
PONYLEAGUE
RULES
2017
Revision1.95
03/28/17
PonyLeagueRules
2017
NationalFederationofStateHighSchool(NFHS)andWIAAruleswillapply,withthefollowing
clarificationsandexceptions:
A.AgeRestrictions
1.Agecut-offdate:May1st.
-Noplayermaybe15yearsofagepriortoMay1stoftheseasonalyear
E.G.–Forthe2017season,thecut-offdateis5/1/17
A.1PlayerRestrictions
1.AnyplayerwhohasparticipatedintheWIAASpringorSummerBaseballLeagueduringthecurrent
seasonalyearmaynotparticipateasaplayerintheKettleMoraineBoysBaseballLeaguePonyDivision
thatsameyear
2.Eachplayerparticipantmayonlybelistedononerosterandplayforonlyoneteamperdivisioninthe
league.
-Ifextraplayersareneeded,theymustbebroughtupfromtheLittleLeagueorMidgetdivision.
-Bothcoachesshoulddiscussthisatthepregameconference.
B.PlayerEquipment
1.Protectivecupsarerecommendedforallplayers.
2.Steelspikesarenotallowed.
-Round,steeltippedplasticcleatsarepermissible
3.Catchersmustwearprotectivecups,helmet,facemask(orcombination)anddanglingthroatprotector.
4.Faceshieldsareallowedbutmustbeclear.
5.Helmetsmustbewornbyalloffensiveplayersatalltimeswhileontheplayingfield.Helmetsmaynotbe
removedforanyreason,withoutpermissionoftheumpire,whiletheballisliveandwhiletheplayerisin
liveballterritory.
-Batboysandbasecoachesunder18mustalsowearhelmetsatalltimeswhileonthefield
6.Playersfromeachteamshallbeinproperbaseballuniform,preferablywithaminimumofmatchinghat
andjersey.
C.Bats
1.Woodbatsareallowed.
-2-3/4”maximumdiameter
2.Aluminumbatsize:
-2-5/8”maximumdiameter
-Noweightdroprestrictions
C.1Anyadultleague/highschoolleaguebat(thosewithaweighttolengthratioof-3),mustconform
tothecurrentNFHSstandards.
-NOEXCEPTIONS-
-for2017,batsmustmeettheBBCORstandardandlabeledaccordingtoNFHSstandards.
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C.2Anybatthatismorethanadrop3oris2-1/4”indiametermaybeusedwhetheritisaluminum,
composite,orwood.
D.Baseballs
-2newand1likenewleagueapprovedbaseballstobeprovidedbythehometeam
-1new/likenewbaseballtobeprovidedbythevisitingteam
E.Alldiamondstohave75footbasesand54footpitchingrubber
1.Doublefirstbasesarenotrequiredandnotrecommended.
2.Ifnobatter’sboxismarked,thebattercannotstandmorethanonebatlengthbehindthemid-point
ofhomeplate. -Onewarningperplayershallbegiven.
E.1Portablepitchingmoundsmaybeusedsubjecttothevisitingheadcoach'sapproval
-Thismustbedeterminedpriortothestartofthegame.
-Thevisitingheadcoach'sdecisionisfinal.Noprotestsallowed.
F.TheA.H.(additionalhitter)isencouragedbutnotmandatory
-Ateammayinsertanadditionalhitterintoitslineup.However,thebattingordermustremainconstant
throughoutthegame.Anynineofthetenplayerslistedintheline-upmaytakeanydefensiveposition
duringthecourseofthegame
-FailuretodeclaresuchahitterpriortothegameprecludestheuseofanA.H.duringthatgame
-TheD.H.(designatedhitter)ruledoesnotapplytothisleague
F.1Ruleclarification:
-Onceaplayer,eitherastarterorasubstitute,hasbattedinonepositioninthelineup,hemustalwaysbat
inthatspot,regardlessofwhereheplaysondefense.
-IfusingtheA.Hduringthegame,batting10playing9,(whichisrecommendedwhenthereare10ormore
players),andoneoftheplayersisinjuredorhastoleavethegame,withnoeligiblesubstitutesleft,the
battingorderwilldropto9players(skipthemissingbatter)withnooutassessed.
-Ifthenumberofeligibleplayersdropsto8,thegamewillcontinuebutanoutwillbeissuedeverytimethe
missingbatter'sspotcomesupinthelineup.
-Ifthenumberofplayersdropsbelow8,thegamewillbeforfeitedbytheoffendingteam.
F.2ContinuousBattingOrder
-Acontinuousbattingordermaybeusedbyeitheroneorbothteamsandmustbedeclaredpriortothe
startofthegame
-Ifaplayerleavesthegamethereisanautomaticoutthenexttimehisspotcomesupinthebattingorder.
-oncetheoutistaken,theplayermaynotreturntothegame
G.Theremaybenomorethan9playersinthefieldondefense.
-Thegamemaystartwith8playersbutthe9thpositionwillbeanautomaticouteachtimethroughthe
line-upuntilaplayerfillsthatposition.
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H.Courtesyrunnermaybeusedatanytimeforthepitcherorcatcherofrecord.
-Thesameplayermaynotbeusedforbothinthesameinning,mustnotbeinthegameandmaynotbe
usedasasubstituteforanyotherplayerinthesame½inning.
-Ifnoeligibleplayerisavailable,theplayerwhomadethelastoutmayrunforthecatcherorpitcher
-Acourtesyrunnerforthecatcherafter2outsissuggestedbutnotmandatory
-Pitcher/catcherofrecordmeanstheplayerinthosepositionsthepreviousdefensiveinning.
-Inthecaseofthevisitingteam,inthe1stinning,itistheplayerwhowillpitchorcatchinthe
bottomoftheinning
I.Modifiedre-entryruleapplies.
-Anyoftheplayers(startersorsubstitutes),maybewithdrawnandre-enteredonce,includingtheA.H.The
battermustoccupythesamebattingpositionwheneverheisintheline-up.Intheeventofaninjurywithno
officiallyavailableplayerstoreplacetheinjuredplayer,re-entryofanyplayerwillbeallowed.
J.PitchingRules
1.Pitcherscanpitchnomorethan4inningsinanyonegame,including15yearolds
-onepitchconstitutesaninning
2.Balkswillbecalled.
-Therewillbeonewarningperpitcherpergame
-Thisisateachingleagueandumpiresshouldstrivetoshow/explainpropertechniquestothecoaches
-Enforcementofpitchingrestraintsisthecoach’sresponsibility,nottheumpires
J.1Pitcherre-entryrule.
1.Onceapitcherisremovedasapitcher,hemayonlyreturntothepitchingpositiononemoretime.
-The4inningspergamepitchruleabovestillapplies
2.ThepitchingrulesundersectionJaboveapplytotheleaguesponsoredtournamentsonly.
-individualcommunitytournamentsmaysettheirownpitchingrestrictionswithgoodsportsmanshipand
player'swelfareinmind
K.SlidingRules
ThereisNOmandatorysliderule.TheruleisthesameastheNFHSbookrule(Ref.rule8-4-2)
TWOMAINPOINTSOFTHERULE:
1. Theforceplaysliderule–NFHSSummary:
Anyrunnerwhoisinaforceplaymusteitherslidedirectlyintothebaseorrunhimselfoutoftheplay,avoiding
contactwiththefielder.Ifthisisnotdone,thisisconsideredinterference,therunnerisout,thebatter/runner
isautomaticallyoutforadoubleplay,andallotherrunnersreturntothebaseoccupiedatthetimeofthepitch.
Therunnermaynot“takeoutthefielder”tobreakupadoubleplay.
-Iftherunnerslidesitmustbealegalslideaccordingtothebookrule.
-Ifthesecondbasemanisonthebag,therunnermakesalegalslideintothebagandthereiscontact,
interferenceshouldnotbecalled
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2.Playsattheplate–NFHSsummary:
Whenthereisapotentialplayattheplateandthecatcherhastheball,therunnermusteithermakealegal
slideoravoidcontact.Thecatcherhastherighttobeinthebasepathwhenhehastheballinhispossession.
-Ifthecatcherdoesnothavepossessionoftheballanddeniestherunnersomeaccesstotheplate,then
thecatcherhascommittedobstructionandtherunnermaybeawardedhome
-Therunnerhastherighttore-establishhisbasepathbyrunningnomorethan3feettoeithersideofthe
basepathtoavoidcontact
-Iftherunnerdoesattempttoavoidcontactandthereisincidentalcontact,thenthiswillbea
judgmentcallbytheumpire
-Iftherunnercommitsmaliciouscontact,therunnerisoutandejected
-intentionalchargingwithdroppedshoulder,elbows/forearmsflyingaresomeexamplesofmalicious
contact
-Maliciouscontactsupersedesobstruction
L.GameLength
1.Eachgameshallbe7inningsinduration.
2.WIAAtenrunrulewillapply.
-Ifateamisbehindby10ormorerunsafter5inningsofplay(4-1/2inningsifthehometeamisahead
by10runs–doesnothavetobeequalatbats)itshallbeconsideredacompletegame
-Coachescanagreetocontinueplayingwithoutkeepingscore(theofficialgameisover),to
benefitandhelptheplayerslearn,aslongasitisdoneina“sportsmanlike”fashion
3.RainoutgameswillbeofficialgamesperWIAAandNFHSrules.
4.Ifagameiscalledduetolackofdaylight,itisconsideredasuspendedgameandshouldbefinishedfrom
theexactpointwhereitwaswhencalled(inning,line-up,score,etc.).
-Ifagreeduponbybothcoaches,thegamemaybeconsideredcompleteatthistime.
M.Rainouts/Cancellations
1.Everyeffortmustbemadetoplayeveryleaguegame.
2.Intheeventofarainout,thehometeammustnotifythevisitingteam1hourpriortogametime.
++++++Thismeanstalkingtothecoach,notsimplyleavingamessage++++++
3.Re-schedulingpostponedgamesshallbetheresponsibilityofthehometeam.
-Bothteamsmustmutuallyagreetothetimeandplaceofrescheduledgames
-Allrescheduledgamesshouldbecompleted5dayspriortoplayoff/championshipgamesifpossible
-Ifanagreementisnotreached,theleagueofficersmustbenotifiedimmediately
-Leagueofficialswillrescheduleasneeded
M.1Rescheduleguidelines
-Mostschoolfunctionsareknownfarenoughinadvancethatintheeventofanecessaryreschedule,the
teamsshouldbeabletonotifyeachotheratleastaweekaheadofscheduledgametime.
-Weallknowemergenciesandrainoutshappenandthereisnothingthatcanbedoneaboutthat;
However,inallothercases,everyeffortshouldbemadetocontacttheopposingteam
atleast7daysaheadoftimetoreschedulegames.
-Becourteousand“gentlemanly”aboutthewholerescheduledeal
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M.2Fortyeighthourcancellationrule–Effective5/1/2011
1.Barringanyemergencies(deathofaplayerorcoach),inclementweather,oractsofGod,government,
orwar,anygamecanceledlessthan48hourspriortothescheduledgametimewillbedeclareda
forfeitwithalossbeingawardedtothecancelingteamandawinawardedtotheotherteam.
-Thescorewillberecordedas7-0forleaguestandingspurposes.
N.Scoringandreporting
1.Thehometeamwillbetheofficialscorekeeperforleaguegamesandmustprovideanofficial
scorekeeper.
2. Thewinningteamisrequiredtoe-mailortext(thesearethepreferredmethodsofcorrespondence)
theresults,includingwinner,loserandscorewithin24hoursto:
DanMayer(920)[email protected]
-Failuretoreportscoreswithin48hourswillresultinarecordedlossforbothteams
O.Umpires/Sportsmanship
1.Hometeamtoprovide2qualifiedumpires.
-Minimumage–16yearsold
-Everyeffortshouldbemadetohaveatleastone(1)WIAAcertifiedumpireforeachgame
2.Umpiresmustconductapre-gameconferenceapproximately5minutespriortogametime.
-Groundrulesshallnotsupersedearulesbookrule
3.Arguingumpirejudgmentcallsisprohibited.
-Strikes/ballsandfair/foulballsaresomeexamplesofjudgmentcalls
4.Theumpireswillhavetherightandtheresponsibilitytoendagameduetounsafeplayingconditions.
-Ifagameisendedpriortoseveninnings,thenfivecompleteinningswillconstituteanofficialgame.
-4and½inningsifthehometeamisaheadatthetimethegameisended
-Theplayers’safetyshouldbeeverybody’smainconcern
5.Unsportsmanlikeconduct/tauntingbycoaches,players,andfanswillnotbetolerated.
-Coacheswillbeheldresponsiblefortheactionsoftheirplayersandfans
6.Electronicrecordingdevicesmaybeusedforcoachingpurposesonlyduringthecourseofthegame.
-Cellphoneuse,texting,etc.isprohibitedinthedugoutsexceptforemergencies
6.1Electronicdevicesarenotallowedinthecoachesboxes.
Exception:cellphonesmaybeinthebasecoaches’possessionbutnotheldintheirhandsorinusewhile
onthefieldofplayexceptinthecaseofanemergency.
-TheNFHSinstitutedthisruleduetosafetyconcerns.
-Failuretocomplywillresultinanautomaticejectionandpossibleforfeiture
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P.Ejections
1.Anycoachorplayerejectedfromagamewillautomaticallybesuspendedforthenextgame.
-Thisistheminimumpunishmentandleagueofficialsmayimposeadditionalpenaltiesifwarranted
1.A.Forthesecondejectioninaseason,theindividualwillautomaticallybesuspendedforthenext2games.
-Thisisalsotheminimumpunishmentandleagueofficialsmayimposeadditionalpenaltiesifwarranted
1.B.Forthethirdejectioninaseason,theindividualwillberemovedfromtheKMBBLpermanently.
-Thismeansforever-
2.CoachEjection:Ifacoachisejectedfromagame,thecoachmustleavethepark/standarea.
-Thereshallbenoelectroniccommunicationfromejectedcoach/coachestoanypersonorplayer
associatedwithorinvolvedwithsaidgame
- TheUmpireshouldissueawarningpriortoejectingacoach,forminorinfractionsonly.
- Majorinfractionsrequirenowarningtobegiven
-Leagueofficialsmayimposeadditionalpenaltiesagainsttheejectedcoach/coachesifwarranted
-Ifanassistantcoachisnotpresenttocontinuethegame,thegamewillendinaforfeit
3.FanEjection:Coachesareremindedtotelltheirumpiresthattheyhavetheauthoritytoejecta
disruptivefan.
-Coachesareresponsiblefortheirfans.
-Gamewillbeputonholduntildisruptivefan/fansareremovedfromthepark/standarea.
-Ifthesituationcannotberesolved,thegamemayresultinaforfeiturebythedisruptiveteam
-Sufficientverbalwarningshouldbegivenbeforetheejectiontakesplace
-Noumpireorcoachshouldhavephysicalcontactwithadisruptivefan
-Ifnecessary,policeshouldbecalled
4.Allcoachandplayerejectionsmustbereportedtoleagueofficialsbythehometeamwhenreporting
thegamescore.
-Leagueofficialsarerequiredtoverifyejectionswithbothteamsandnotifythenextopposingteamofthe
upcomingsuspension
Q.Miscellaneous
1.Approvedgameballs:
-Rawlings-RLLB/R100HS/RPLB/RS-T
-Wilson-A1010HS1/A1010B
-Diamond-DOLA/DSLL/DINFHS/DPL
-BaseballExpress–BBXHS
2.RostersmustbesenttoleagueofficialspriortoJune1ofthecurrentseason.
-Noadditionstotheteamrosterwillbeallowedafterthattimewithoutwrittenapprovalofthe
leagueofficials.
-Sendrosterstocurrentyearscheduler/scorereportcontactandthecurrentcommissioner.
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