D  LEAGUE will follow 2009 HS Rules with the following exceptions and restatements:

Players. All players will be listed on the batting order, which cannot be changed after the game’s start. Late arrivals will be added at the bottom of the order. A game can start with as few as 7 players. Forfeits are discouraged and teams should use league-registered borrowed players to make 9. If you’re going to be short, call ahead and get a player from the sub list. 

Ironman: You can borrow players to make 7, 8, or 9. You must use players from the approved ironman list and he may not pitch or catch and must bat last. No restrictions, no forfeit, and they MAY be used in the single elimination tournament without penalty. It is a coach's responsibility to get 9 kids there, check ahead and call subs! 

Mandatory Play. No player may ever sit 2 innings in a row.

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. Mercy rule is 10 after 5, 4 ½ with home team leading. Each team shall supply one new league-supplied ball for each game and one decent backup ball. Ground rules will occur 5 minutes prior to scheduled starting time with the game to begin immediately. GAMES WILL START PROMPTLY on weeknights.

Umpires will now enforce the one minute warmup rule wherein pitchers get 5 per inning or 1 minute, whichever is less. At the one minute click, umpires will call for the pitch. We have to hustle to get weeknight games in!

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 one-game suspension.  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 single-elimination, 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. 

Field dimensions. For 2009 55/80.

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 the commissioner 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 the commissioner immediately so the league can keep accurate track of umpire assignments. Shortened games will not be made up, all fully rained games will be made up if time allows.

The game:

A pitcher can go 5 innings in a day, 10 innings in a week (one pitch thrown in an inning will be counted as a full inning pitched). A week is Sunday thru Saturday. A pitcher can not re-enter once pulled.