The following rules are for the Canton Little League (CLL) baseball Junior Age 13-15 Division. These were reviewed and agreed on by various members of the CLL board of directors. Our goal is to teach the rules of baseball that are used at this level in order to form a strong base that can be built upon in future play. The focus is on developing baseball skills and knowledge of the game as well as providing a positive experience in being part of a team.
Goals:
Each team shall play a regular season schedule and participate in a playoff tournament at the conclusion of the regular season. The number of regular season games shall be determined at the start of each season, but shall be at least twelve (12) games in accordance with the regulations and playing rules of Little League Baseball.
Weekday games at CHS (Gibson Field) are scheduled to start promptly at 5:45. Now that lights are operational at Kennedy (Ruane), games there will start at 6:00pm. In order to avoid conflicts with Canton High School games, some games at Ruane may not be scheduled to start until 6:15
PLAYING RULES
The Junior League in Canton shall play games in accordance with the Regulations and Playing Rules of Little League Baseball 2012 for the Jr/Sr. League and as highlighted and amended below.
1. Playing Time: All roster players shall play a minimum of six (6) consecutive outs in the field and bat at least once in every game.
Player Substitution: A Player in the starting line-up may re-enter a game in accordance with the Regulations and Playing rules of Little League Baseball provided the player he /she is replacing has played the minimum of six consecutive outs and has had at least one at bat. Only starters may re-enter the game unless due to injury or reasonable conflict the team cannot field nine (9). Should this occur the opposing manager will select the player that will return to the game as a substitute for player. All player substitutions must be announced to the umpire and opposing manager. Free Substitution, but players must play minimum of three innings in the field.
Pitcher Substitution: A pitcher remaining in the game but moving to another position in the field may return anytime during the remainder of the game, but only once in the same inning that he was removed. One pitch constitutes an inning pitched.
Pinch Runner: When utilizing a pinch runner, you must observe the playing time and player substitution rules outlined above. The exception is when a player is injured during the game but remains in the game, a substitute pinch runner may take his place once he reaches first base. Only a bench player may be used as a pinch runner in this instance. If the injured player continues to play in the game and a pinch runner is required a different bench player must be utilized with each successive at bat.
Third Strike Batter turned Runner: The batter becomes a runner if the third strike called by the umpire is not caught by the catcher, provided (1) first base is unoccupied or (2) first base is occupied with two out. The batter becomes a runner until he is legally put out by force at first base or is tagged prior to reaching first base. A batter forfeits his opportunity to advance to first base when he enters the dugout or other dead ball area.
On Deck Batters: On deck batters are allowed only if the umpire determines the conditions safely permit.
Extra Hitter: If a team has ten (10) or more players present, the Manager shall utilize an extra hitter. The player shall be the extra hitter for the duration of the game unless a player leaves and there are only nine (9) players available. In that case, the extra hitter shall go into the field and bat in the same spot, skipping over the batting spot of the player that left. A team does not get penalized with an out if a player has to leave and that spot is skipped in the batting order.
If a team only has nine (9) players, the team shall play the game without an extra hitter for the entire game. If a player comes late, the player must play in the field in accordance with Canton Little League playing rules specified above. This player must be put in last place in the batting order.
Designated Hitter: There are no designated hitters.
Base Coaches: Managers and Coaches may coach first and third base provided a third coach is with the payers in the dugout/ bench. If a third coach is not available a uniformed player may be used as a base coach provided they are wearing a batting helmet. At least one coach must be present in the dugout with the players at all times.
Regulation Game: A regulation game consists of seven innings, unless extended because of tie score or shortened (1) because the home team is ahead in its half of the seventh inning or fraction of it if the umpire calls the game. If a game is called after five (5) complete innings or four and one half (4 ½) innings with the home team ahead due to weather, darkness or at the umpires discretion it will be recorded as a regulation game.
Mercy Rule: If after five (5) complete innings, or four and one half (4 ½) innings with the home team ahead, if one of the teams has a lead of 10 runs the game is called.
Field Conditions: If the forecast calls for rain, the “Rain Man” appointed by the Player Agent will contact the Umpire Chief and team managers if the game is to be cancelled. If possible, the rain phone line and CLL website will be updated to announce the cancellation. If no call is made the game is on pending the two managers reviewing the field just before the start of the game. If it is agreed that the playing conditions are not acceptable the game will be called and the Player Agent notified to reschedule the game. Once the game has started the Umpire becomes the sole judge in determining the condition of the field.
Disputes: The call of the umpire governs unless you present evidence to the contrary prior to continuing on. Only the Managers may discuss rules with the umpires. No one can dispute balls and strikes. There will be no game protests, if the issue cannot be resolved with evidence at the field the umpires ruling stands.
Zero Tolerance Policy: Canton Little League has a zero tolerance policy that pertains to players, coaches, managers, parents, family members and spectators of any kind. If anyone is verbally assaulting the umpires the game will be stopped until the person or persons are removed from the complex. The umpires can end the game at anytime for any reason.
PITCHING RULES
Pitching rules shall be in accordance with the regulations and playing rules of Little League Baseball as highlighted and modified below:
Any player on a regular season team may pitch. (NOTE: There is no limit to the number of pitchers a team may use in a game.)
Junior, Senior, and Big League Divisions only: A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once per game.
The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:
League Age:
13 -16 95 pitches per day
Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI (c) for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until that batter reaches base or is put out. Note 1. Intentional Walk: Before a pitch is delivered to the batter, the catcher must inform the umpire-in-chief that the defensive team wishes to give the batter an intentional base-on-balls. The umpire-in-chief waves the batter to first base. The ball is dead.
If a player delivers 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
If a player delivers 51- 65 in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
If a player delivers 36 - 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
If a player delivers 21 - 35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
If a player delivers 1-20 pitches in a day, no calendar day of rest is required before pitching again.
Each Team must designate the scorekeeper or another game official as the official pitch count recorder.
The pitch count recorder must provide the current pitch count for any pitcher when requested by either manager or any umpire. However, the manager is responsible for knowing when his/her pitcher must be removed.
The official pitch count recorder should inform the umpire-in-chief when a pitcher has delivered his/her maximum limit of pitches for the game, as noted in Regulation VI (c). The umpire-in-chief will inform the pitcher’s manager that the pitcher must be removed in accordance with Regulation VI (c). However, the failure by the pitch count recorder to notify the umpire-in-chief, and/or the failure of the umpire-in-chief to notify the manager, does not relieve the manager of his/her responsibility to remove a pitcher when that pitcher is no longer eligible
A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day.
NOTES: The withdrawal of an ineligible pitcher after that pitcher is announced, or after a warm-up pitch is delivered, but before that player has pitched a ball to a batter, shall not be considered a violation. Little League officials are urged to take precautions to prevent protests. When a protest situation is imminent, the potential offender should be notified immediately. 2. Pitches delivered in games declared “Regulation Tie Games” or “Suspended Games” shall be charged against pitcher’s eligibility. 3. In suspended games resumed on another day, the pitchers of record at the time the game was halted may continue to pitch to the extent of their eligibility for that day, provided said pitcher has observed the required days of rest.
Example 1: A league age 13 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on the following Thursday. The pitcher is not eligible to pitch in the resumption of the game because he/she has not observed the required four days of rest.
Example 2: A league age 13 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on Saturday. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 85 more pitches in the resumption of the game because he/she has observed the required four days of rest.
Example 3: A league age 13 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes two weeks later. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 85 more pitches in the resumption of the game, provided he/she is eligible based on his/her pitching record during the previous four days.
Note: The use of this regulation negates the concept of the “calendar week” with regard to pitching eligibility.
A pitcher shall be removed from the mound after hitting three batters in a game.
There is no limit to the number of pitchers of a particular age group that can be used in a calendar week.
Balks will not be called in the first two weeks of play. The umpires will however stop play to instruct the pitcher as to why a balk was called. Refer to Page 82 Section 8 of the Regulations and Playing Rules of Little League Baseball for the definition of legal pitch delivery. Refer to Page 84 Rule 8.05 for the penalty associated with an illegal pitch/balk.
TAYLOR MICHIGAN TEAM SELECTION PROCESS
Each Junior League Manager shall nominate to the Junior League Player Agent any player on his/her team that he/she feels is qualified to play on the Canton Little League Taylor Michigan Team.
The Junior League Player Agent shall generate a ballot from the names provided and host an election meeting for the Junior Managers
Each Junior League Manager shall vote for no more than ten (10) players on the ballot. Just prior to the vote, each Manager/Coach will have an opportunity to discuss why he/she feels that a player warrants consideration on the team. Also, it gives other Managers/Coaches the opportunity to ask questions on various players that can be answered with his/her respective Manager in attendance.
A Junior League Manager is allowed to nominate and write in any name not on the ballot.
The Top Nine vote getters will be asked to become members of the Taylor Michigan Team. (The Junior League Player Agent can make the 10th placed vote getter automatic if he feels it is appropriate given the voting results.)
The remaining roster spots shall be filled by the current year Taylor Michigan Team Manager with approval of the Junior League Player Agent. Particular attention shall be paid to players receiving the majority of votes
