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Team Setup and Game Play
1

Team Composition

  • Teams are made up of 3-5 players and can be co-ed.
2

The Field

  • Field of View: 60 degrees from Home Plate.
  • Home Run Fence: Positioned at 75 feet from Home Plate.
  • Pitchers Mound: 30 feet from Home Plate.
3

Home Team Determination

  • A coin flip decides if a team is Home or Visitors.
4

Players in the Field

  • 3 players will be in the field, but the entire team will bat.
5

Batter Conduct

  • DO NOT REACH OUT TO ATTEMPT TO CATCH A BALL. An automatic strike is awarded, or strike three if already at two strikes.
6

Pitching Restrictions

  • Each player can only pitch for 3 outs per game. (Recruiting Randy Johnson alone will not allow you to be lifting the trophy)
  • Pitch Speed: Pitches should be delivered at a reasonable speed to ensure a fair game.
    • The speed of the pitch is subject to the umpire's discretion. If the umpire deems a pitch too fast or too slow, they have the authority to call a ball or issue a warning to the pitcher.
  • No "Ephesus pitch" 
    • The "Ephesus pitch" is defined as an extremely slow, high-arcing pitch designed to disrupt the timing of the batter. This type of pitch is prohibited to maintain a fair and competitive environment. Any pitch resembling an "Ephesus pitch" will be considered illegal, and the umpire may call it a ball or issue a warning to the pitcher.
7

Gloves

  • Not allowed

the field

  • 60 Degree Field of View from Home Plate
  • Home Run Fence at 75′

the strike zone

Field Play and Ball Interaction
1

Obstructions

  • Balls, buckets, and beers in the field of play that are hit by a ball result in an automatic single (infield) or double (outfield).
2

Team Consistency

  • The same number of players that start the game must finish it. Batting out of order results in an automatic out.
3

Umpire's Discretion

  • Fielding a ball in motion.
  • Fielding in the infield/outfield.
  • Determining fair/foul groundballs and home runs.
  • Foul tips.
  • Judging quick pitches and batter preparation time.
  • Pitch Speed
Player Conduct and Disputes
1

Defensive Positioning

  • The defense consists of 3 players, including the pitcher who must pitch with a foot on the pitching rubber. Fielders can position anywhere.
2

Contact Rules

  • Leaning into a pitch or sticking out an elbow results in an automatic strike, and an out if the batter already has two strikes.
3

Behavioral Expectations

  • Each player receives a maximum of three warnings for bad behavior/language. Upon the third warning, the player and their team are ejected from the tournament.
4

Dispute Resolution

  • All on-field disputes are settled by the umpire assigned to the game.
Reporting and Scoring
1

Game Length

  • Group play: 3 innings 
  • Tournament play: 5 innings
2

Scoring Method

  • Win/Loss record
  • Head-to-Head
  • Run Differential
  • Coin flip (if necessary)
WHAT IS A STRIKE?
1

Strikes

  • Foul tips are strikes.
  • A ball must end up in the strike zone net.
  • A ball that doesn't clear the 15 ft. foul line is a foul ball.
WHAT IS AN OUT?
1

Strike outs

  • A strike out occurs if you swing and miss on the third strike or if the ball ends up in the in the strike zone net without swinging.
  • You CANNOT strikeout on a foul ball.
2

Pop Outs

  • Anything caught (fair or foul) is an out.
3

Ground outs

A ground out occurs when a fielder (includes pitcher) fields a ball IN MOTION in the singles zone.  A fielded ball is one that does not hit the ground after the initial contact. Bobbles that don't hit the ground are still outs.

structure

pool/group play

  • The day kicks off with pool/group play.  Every team is guaranteed 4 games. 
  • Pool/Group play consists of 3 innings.
  • Pool/Group Play Tie breaker – 1) Head to head  2) Run differential 3) runs scored 4) coin flip

tournament play

  • All teams from each pool will advance to Bracket Play.
    • Ties between two teams will be decided by head-to-head, then runs scored, then run differential.
  • Bracket Play will be single elimination. Each game will consist of 3/5 innings.
  • Each player must pitch one inning before any player pitches a second inning

the zone

  • Home team vs. Visitors is determined by a coin flip
  • Each player can only pitch 3 outs per game.  (Recruiting Randy Johnson alone will not allow you to be lifting the trophy)
  • Gloves – No!
  • As the batter, DO NOT REACH OUT TO ATTEMPT TO CATCH A BALL.  (Automatic Strike…Strike 3 if you already have 2 strikes.)
  • Balls, buckets, beers in the field of play that are hit by a ball result in an automatic single in the infield or an automatic double in the outfield.
  • The same number of players that start the game must finish the game.  Batting out of order results in an automatic out, and all players that start the game must bat.
  • Up to the umps discretion.
    • Fielding a ball in motion.
    • Fielding a ball in the infield/outfield.
    • Fair/Foul groundballs and homeruns.
    • Foul tips.
    • Whether or not it was a quick pitch.  (Warning- No Sean Casey routines before each pitch.)
    • Leaning in or sticking an elbow out to hit a pitch.  (Automatic Strike.  Automatic out when the batter has 2 strikes.)
    • Speed of the pitch (Remember…we play by gentleman’s rules!  No Fireballers!)
  • Defense: The defense is made up of 3 players in the field, one of which is the pitcher.  The pitcher must pitch with a foot on the pitching rubber and the fielders can play anywhere.
  • All on-field disputes are settled by the umpire assigned to the game.
  • Each player has a maximum of (3) bad behavior/language warnings. On third warning, player and team will be ejected from the tournament. More will be discussed on this topic at the rules review prior to the tournament.
  • Winning team reports score to the command center.