2009 Rules (B9)

COMMISSIONER PAUL ALIC, 334-5453 

Players. All players will be listed on the batting order. Late arrivals will be added at the bottom of the order. A game can start with as few as 7 players. Defense will consist of 10 players, including a left and right center fielder.

Mandatory Play. Roster sizes will be 10 or 11. No player may ever sit 2 innings in a row. It is strongly recommended that players rotate every inning and every player get a regular chance to pitch and catch. Limit of two innings per game for pitchers. If they can’t throw a strike, after the 2nd walk, move them 2 feet closer.  

The game. Due to field demand games are often scheduled back-to-back with little or no warmup time allowed. Warmups should occur in out-of-play areas when necessary. No new inning may start after the time scheduled for the next game to begin. When there is no game following, there is no time limit in any league. Each team shall supply one new league-supplied ball for each game and one decent backup ball (LLB-1). Ground rules will occur 5 minutes prior to scheduled starting time with the game to begin immediately. Weekdays at 5:45 and all games will end promptly at 8PM or earlier if adults are playing afterward. You may not finish the inning, at 8PM it is over, promptly. Score reverts for innings not completed. 

Conduct. Profanity or abusive language, use or possession of tobacco or alcohol on city premises, or unreasonable or abusive conduct toward an umpire or game official will result in ejection. Each head coach is responsible for the conduct of his parents and fans. (Head coaches are encouraged to contact their league commissioner for assistance if they are unable to accomplish this.) Any person disrupting a game may be ejected by the umpire, including parents and fans when they are identifiable with a team. The umpire’s control of the game begins with his arrival at the park and ends only after he has left the premises. Ejection from a game will result in a two-game suspension. Upon appeal, one game of the suspension may be abated at the discretion of the league commissioner. A second ejection in a season, or a first verbal or physical threat toward a game official, will result in removal for the remainder of the season.

Tournament. All teams are entered in a double-elimination, non-seeded championship series. In the event of rain the games will be moved forward one day at a time until fields are playable. Teams unable to play will forfeit. Borrowed players are allowed only with agreement of both teams, but the game will count as a forfeit.

Field dimensions. Bases will be set at 60, pitching at 40 for 9 year olds.  

Weather. Check the website at 4PM. If the city calls the games off, it is mandatory without exception and coaches may not attempt to make fields playable, CITY RULE. If the website says “discretion” you may attempt to fix, but use common sense and please DO NOT walk across a muddy field. If the website says “GO” games are on. The site will be set at 4PM and will not be updated after. On Saturdays it will be set at 8AM and NOON. On Sundays it will be set at NOON.

Scheduling. Fields are at a premium and are shared by travel and rec ball. Games rained out should be rescheduled by the home coach. Check the website for open slots and, in coordination with the opposing coach, agree to an open time. Simply e-mail your slot to akronrentals@hotmail.com and you’ll receive a confirmation. The league will also reschedule umpires and set the field to be prepped. PLEASE e-mail rainouts or shortened games to akronrentals@hotmail.com immediately so the league can keep accurate track of umpire assignments. Shortened games will not be made up, all rained games will be made up if time allows.

Run limits: 9 year olds have a run limit of 4 per inning, unlimited in the last inning. Stealing of 2^nd & 3^rd is allowed once the ball crosses the plate. NO STEALING HOME!