PLUMSTEAD BASEBALL
MINOR DIVISION RULES 2007

revised March 29, 2007
click for printable version of the Minor Division Rules

Rules shall be applied in the following order of priority:

1. Plumstead Baseball League Rules.
2. National Babe Ruth Association Rules.
3. Official Baseball Rules

Plumstead Baseball vs. Babe Ruth Baseball Rule Differences:

1. Batting: All players bat regardless of whether or not they are playing in the field.
   a) Any player arriving after the start of the game must be inserted at the end of the batting lineup.
2. Pitching:
   a) Pitchers are not allowed to pitch more than 3 innings per game (innings do not have to be consecutive) or 6 innings per week (including travel).  One pitch equals one full inning; no exceptions.  A week shall be Monday through Sunday.
   • Pitchers will be limited to 4 innings per week when their team plays 2 games in a week and 6 innings per week when their team plays 3 games a week. The 6 inning limit including travel innings will still be in effect.
   • No pitcher should throw more than 50 pitches per game.
   b) If a pitcher hits 2 batters in 1 inning, the pitcher needs to be replaced and will not be allowed to pitch the rest of the game.
3. Stealing:
   a) Unlimited stealing is permitted. Base runners shall not leave the base until:
   - The ball crosses the plate;
   - The ball hits the batter's bat; or,
   - The ball hits the dirt. In the spirit of Plumstead Baseball sportsmanship, offensive base coaches are expected to notify the umpire if a base runner leaves the base early.
   b) No Stealing Home
   c) There will be no delayed steals
   d) Each base runner may only advance one base per pitch (the base they are going to only, i.e. if a runner is stealing second base and the ball is overthrown, that runner may NOT advance to third)
   e) With runners on first and third base; if the runner on first attempts to steal second base and the catcher attempts a putout at second base the runner at third cannot steal home.
4. Substitutions:  Unlimited substitution of players is permitted between innings.
5. Head First Slides:  Head first sliding is prohibited.  A runner sliding head first will be ruled out.  The umpire will decide whether a runner has stumbled head first (safe) or slid head first (out).
6. Sliding:  The slide or surrender rule shall be in effect when there is a play:  a player must either slide or avoid contact when there is a play at any base, except for a play at first base.  If a player fails to slide or avoid contact as required by this rule, the player shall be called out.
7. Infield Fly Rule:  Infield fly rule will not be in effect.
8. Bunting:
   a) Unlimited bunting per inning is allowed.
   b) No Slash Bunts
9. Mercy Rule:  No Mercy Rule will be in effect. Coaches are strongly encouraged to rotate players accordingly should their team have a lead of 10 runs or more. All games shall be played to there completion, daylight permitting.
10. 5 Run Rule:  During the regular season, the offensive team shall end their at bat, when either the defensive team gets three outs or the offensive team scores 5 runs, except for the last inning of the game.  For the last inning of a game, the defensive team must get three outs to end the inning.  If a game does not reach 6 innings before darkness and rain, then both coaches and the umpire must agree before an inning starts that this will be the final inning and the 5 run rule will not be applied.
11. Playing Time:  No player is permitted to sit on the bench for more than two innings and no player is permitted to sit two innings until all players have sat at least one inning.
    a)
If a player is ill, tardy, violates team rules, not supportive of teammates, not respectful to coaches, umpires, or opposing players, etc. then the coach is not required to rotate that player.
12. All players will be positioned in the normally accepted positions (pitcher, catcher, 4 infielders, 3 outfielders)
13. During the regular season, coaches may, at any time, stop the game and talk to their players. There is no limit to how many times that a coach can approach the pitchers mound or enter the field.
14. Ball in play:  The ball will be in play until the runners are stopped and the ball is back to the pitcher in the area of the mound.