BASB-F 14-15
IMPORTANT BASEBALL/SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT COMMENTS
1. The tournament manager will assign each Regional
official two games. Each official should work the plate in
one game and the bases in the other.
2. The TWO PERSON umpiring system shall be used
for all Regional games. Umpires may not volunteer or be
assigned to work any other system.
3. GAME DRESS: Gray pants. Navy Blue pullover
with Red and White trim or Powder Blue pullover;
undershirts shall be navy blue. Navy blue cap and gray
or navy blue ball bag. Black belt, shoes and socks.
Display the current MHSAA emblem on the left chest.
Local, state or national officials’ association emblems are
the only items that may be worn on the right sleeve of the
uniform shirt. Shorts may not be worn. Numerals or
identification of other governing bodies except those
mentioned are inappropriate.
4. The Courtesy Runner rule will be observed for
baseball and softball throughout the MHSAA tournament.
5. TEN/FIFTEEN RUN RULE - The game shall end
when, after three innings a team is 15 or more runs
behind or after five innings, a team is ten or more runs
behind and has completed its turn at bat. The 15 run
and 10 run rule will be in effect for all games throughout
tournament competition.
6. Officials are expected to adhere to all conditions
listed in the Officials Guidebook and confer with the
Tournament Manager before the contest to review the
game suspension guidelines found in the Manager's
Manual.
7. If you have an ejection, it is absolutely important
that you notify the administration and write the report
immediately. Such events are critical during the
tournament. Remember you have only until the next
pitch to correct an error.
8. Keep games moving! Enforce Baseball and Softball
pace of play rules.
9. BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL fields shall be
groomed before each game of an MHSAA Tournament.
Grooming consists of dragging the infield, relining the
infield foul lines and the 1st base lane, batters boxes,
catchers boxes and when necessary coaches boxes and
on-deck circles. The baseball mound shall be raked,
filled and tamped; the area within the 16-foot softball
circle shall be raked, smoothed and a fresh 16-foot circle
shall be chalked.
10. REGULATION GAME - For all regular season and
MHSAA tournament games, a regulation game consists
of 7 innings unless extended because of a tie score. If
darkness, rain or other causes interfere with play so that
the game is called (ended by umpire) it is a regulation
game. (a) If 5 full innings have been played or if the
team second at bat has scored an equal or greater
number of runs in 4 or 4 and a fraction turns at bat than
the opponent has scored in 5 turns at bat; or (b) if play
has gone beyond 5 full innings (Rule 4-2).
11. SUSPENDED GAME - If a game is called (ended by
the umpire) prior completion of any full inning, after
the fifth inning, the game shall become a suspended
game if the visiting team has scored one or more
runs to tie the score or take the lead and the home
team has not retaken the lead. When the game is
resumed on another day, the game will be completed
pursuant to all rules. This rule is in effect for all
competition throughout the tournament.
12. TIED GAMES - Tied games shall also be treated as
suspended games and continued from the point of
interruption. The line-up and batting order of each team
shall be exactly the same as the line-up and batting order
at the moment of suspension.
13. SOFTBALL ONLY- Softball Tiebreaker – In all
MHSAA Tournament games the National federation
tiebreaker will be used beginning in the 11th inning of tied
th
games. If the score is tied following 10 innings, the 11
inning (and any subsequent inning) will start with a
nd
th
runner on 2 base with no outs. If the batter in the 7
th
position of the batting order will lead off the 11 inning,
th
the player in the 6 position in the batting order will be
nd
placed at 2 base.
14. SOFTBALL COACHES - In order to occupy either
coach's box or confer with umpires or offensive or
defensive players within the field of play the coach’s shall
be attired in the team uniform or coach’s shorts, slacks
or tailored sweat pants plus a shirt or coach's jacket in
the school's colors.
15. BASEBALL COACHES - Persons in full uniform
may be in the coaching box.
16. UMPIRES - Two umpires will be used for each
District and Regional game. Four umpires will be
employed if two games are played at the same time.
The two-person umpiring system shall be used for all
District and Regional games. Three umpires will work
each Quarterfinal, Semifinal and Final game in softball.
Four umpires will work each Quarterfinal, Semifinal and
Final game in baseball.
17. SCORERS - The manager at each tournament will
appoint the official scorer who is not a representative of a
competing team. Tournament umpires may not function
as a tournament scorer.
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18. POSTPONED GAMES - If inclement weather
causes a suspended or postponed game on Friday or
Saturday, the remaining games shall be played in the
order they are scheduled. However, the times of the
games may be altered. If the tournament is canceled on
Saturday, games will continue at 10 a.m. Monday
morning or the next playable day.
19. We no longer ask you to complete the
Tournament Contest Report. If you have concerns on a
facility, please send an email to [email protected] or
[email protected]
20. USE OF TOBACCO BY COACHES AND
OFFICIALS IS PROHIBITED AT THE MHSAA
BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS.
PROCEDURE FOR ADMINISTERING THE POLICY:
a. Coaches who violate this policy will be directed to
refrain from tobacco use by an umpire or tournament
manager.
b. Failure by a coach to responsively respect this policy
will cause the coach to be restricted to the dugout or
ejected from the contest for unsportsmanlike conduct.
c. Umpires who violate this policy will be directed to
refrain from tobacco use by the tournament manager.
d. The tournament manager will report, in writing to the
MHSAA, any official who fails to cooperate with a
directive to refrain from tobacco use.
e. Private use of tobacco by coaches or umpires is not
a violation of this policy.
f. Student use of tobacco will be discouraged by
umpires and tournament managers. Local school district
policy will govern student tobacco use, and the principal
should receive written communication from the umpire or
tournament manager with an explanation of any incidents
of student tobacco use.
21. DOUBLE FIST BASE - SOFTBALL - Use of the
double first base has not been adopted for MHSAA
Tournament contests in Softball. By Representative
Council action, the double first base, if physically
present, must be removed and replaced with a single
base for tournament competition.
22. BATS and HELMETS - SOFTBALL: shall be
inspected at least 10 minutes prior to the pre-game
conference. Softball bats must be on the ASA approved
bat list or carry the 200 or 2004 ASA certification mark to
be legal. Helmets must have the NOCSAE stamp and
warning label. Officials should remove illegal or damaged
equipment from the dugout areas. BASEBALL: Helmet
and Bat checks no longer required. Baseball bats must
carry the BBCOR stamp. Helmets must have the
NOCSAE stamp and warning label.
Conflict of Interest
MHSAA Tournaments
In all cases, officials must be neutral and may
not officiate in any contest involving relatives or
similar close relationships. Officials from small
communities may not be invited to officiate
MHSAA tournaments in which their
communities are involved. Metropolitan areas
such as Flint, Grand Rapids and Detroit are
generally excluded from this consideration.
An official who receives such an invitation is
expected to notify the tournament managers of
his/her need to decline the opportunity.
Usually, given sufficient lead-time, a switch in
tournaments is arranged by the MHSAA.
Note: When the Officials’ Selection Committee
meets, we attempt in every way possible to
avoid “Conflicts of Interest”. Sometimes we
don’t have sufficient information to be accurate
in every case. We must depend on you to
advise the MHSAA when a conflict exists.
Before a contest, the potential conflicts that
exist create no problems. Failure to adjust the
assignment can create unimagined
controversy that benefits no one. We need
your assistance and commitment to share
potential “Conflicts of Interest”.
Thank you.