SOUTH FARMINGTON

ALL-STAR CLASSIC

TOURNAMENT RULES

• All play governed by MHSAA Rules unless otherwise specified.

• Copies of Birth Certificates must be shown to Tournament Director.

• Age requirements enforced. Cut-off date is on or before 4-30.

• No practicing on infield, no soft toss batting into fences.

• Game time is forfeit time.

• All teams must have 9 to start game. Can finish game with 8.

• 8 under play with 4 outfielders - 10 total fielders. Can start with 9, can finish with 8.

• Coin flip determines home team.

• No protests, umpire decisions are final.

• Rain Out Refunds:

  • Full refund if no games have begun;

  • 1/2 refund if (1) game is started;

  • No refund once second game begins.

• Entry gate fees are non-refundable.

• For all age groups, all players bat in continuous order. If a player is injured or ill his batting position will be skipped, it is not an out.

• Free substitution.

• Pitchers may not re-enter as pitchers.

• No pitching limits. Manager’s discretion.  

• No DH

• Bat rule. Players 14 and under may use any length and weight bat provided the barrel does not exceed 2 ¾ inches in diameter.

• At any time, the team at bat may use courtesy runners for the current pitcher and catcher. The courtesy runner(s) must be the last person to make an out. Courtesy runner is not mandatory.

• Game length:

  • 8 & 10’s - 6 innings, no inning starts after1 hour 45 minutes.

  • 12 & 14’s - 7 innings, no inning starts after 2 hours.

  • There is no time limit for the championship game only.

  • In case of rain or darkness, 4 innings will be a complete game.

  • If a game is tied after a complete game or when time has expired then a tie will be declared.

  • The time of the game begins after delivery of the first pitch.

• Complete Games:    A game shall be ruled as official and complete if it is called by umpires or the tournament director due to rain, inclement weather, dark or other reasons beyond our control, provided 4 or more complete innings have been played  (3 ½ if the home team is ahead).

  • If a delay does occur and 4 or more complete innings have been played  (3 ½ if the home team is ahead) the time limit for the game is not suspended during the delay.

  • If, as a result of the delay the time limit expires, the game will be called a complete game.  Teams will then be awarded a win, loss or tie accordingly.

  • For example:  

    • If a 14 & Under game is in the 6th inning, is one hour and 15 minutes old and there is a 30 minute delay.  The teams will have 15 minutes to complete their game until it is ruled official. 

    • Or, if a game is in the 6th inning, is one hour and 15 minutes old and there is a 45 minute delay.  The time limit will have expired and a complete game declared.

• Suspended Games:    If four innings have not been completed, (3 ½ if the home team is ahead) the game shall be suspended, and resumed from that point, when safe play can be resumed.  

  • In the event of a delay, the umpires will notify both coaches, at the beginning of the delay, the amount of time the game has remaining.  Upon resumption of the suspended game, the time remaining will be in effect.  

  • For example:   

    • If a 14 & Under game is in the 3rd inning, is one hour and 15 minutes old and there is a one hour delay.  Upon resumption of the game, the teams will have 45 minutes to complete their game until it is ruled official.  

• Resumption of Delayed or Suspended Games: 

  • If the resumption of the game is within the original time limit for the game.  The time of the resumption of the game after the delay will be the sole responsibility of the umpire. 

  • Coaches will be responsible to keep their teams together and ready to play.

  • No specific time will be allowed for team warm-ups after a delay.

  • For suspended games:    If at the end of the delay, the resumption of the game will occur beyond the original time limit for the game, the tournament director may elect to move the time of the resumption of the game to much later in the day, or even the next day in order to keep the overall tournament on schedule.

• Schedule Revisions

  • In the event of rain, (or the prediction of rain) the tournament director reserves the right to change game times in an attempt to prioritize the championship game and #2 seeded game, above the #3 & #4 seeded games, to provide the best opportunity for completion of the higher seeded games based upon the weather conditions and/or weather predictions.

  • The tournament director's decision regarding schedule revisions is final.

• Mercy Rule

  • 15 runs after 3 innings for all ages.

  • 15 runs after 4 innings for 8 & under.  

  • 10 after 4 innings for 10 & under. 

  • 10 runs after 5 innings for 12 & 14. 

  • The mercy rule remains in effect for all games including championship game.

• Ejection:   

  • Throwing of equipment, improper language or other unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.   

  • All players must slide or avoid contact. If a player does not slide and makes contact he will be called out and may be ejected if contact flagrant. This is a judgment call and the umpire’s decision is final.   

  • Ejected players or coaches are also suspended for the next game.  No exceptions. 

  • Ejected players are out when it is their turn to bat in bat around divisions.    

• Tie Breakers   

  • 1st tie breaker - Head to Head    

  • 2nd tie breaker - Least runs allowed    

  • 3rd tiebreaker - Run Differential (Maximum 10 runs per game)

  • 4th tiebreaker - Coin Flip

  • A tie breaker will be used only once when determining the ranking in a particular pool.  For example, when 3 or more teams are tied and each team has beaten each other, the first tie-breaker (head to head) will not be utilized again.  The ranking will be determined from 2nd tie breaker and then the 3rd if necessary.  If a winner has been decided by the 2nd tie breaker, the higher ranking of the 2nd and 3rd teams is NOT determined by going back to head to head.     

• Reseeding (re-seeding will only occur when an age group has fewer than 8 teams)   In the event an age group has fewer than eight teams (2 - 4 team pools) the teams will be re-seeded after the 3 or 4th game in order to determine the ranking.  This scenario may allow for two teams from the same bracket to play for the championship game based upon the above tiebreaking system.   

  • For consolation (non-championship) crossover games, the tournament director reserves the right to modify the seeding in order that two teams do not play twice in the tournament.

• Awards:    1st place & 2nd place team members in each age group receive trophies (14 Max).   

• Field Dimensions                8 & under    10 & under    12 & under    14 & under

  • Pitching Distance             44'                44'                 48'                  54'   

  • Base Distance                  60'                60'                 70'                  80'    

• Base Running:    

  • 8's & Under     No Stealing     

    • Dead zone for 8's:     An arch will be drawn 15 feet from home plate. When the defensive team gets the ball within that arch all baserunners that haven't already occupied a base must return to the base they came from.   

  • 10 & under:      Batters may not advance to 1st base on a dropped third strike. Also, Baserunners may not score on a wild pitch/passed ball. They may advance to 2nd or 3rd base.     Runners may steal bases, but shall not leave the base they are occupying until the pitch has reached or passed the catcher. Once the pitcher has stepped on the rubber with possession of the ball, runners who leave the base early shall be called out and the pitch shall be considered a dead ball. 

    • A runner on third may advance to home at their own risk if the fielding team attempts to make a play on any runner or a throw back to the pitcher.  For example, if runners are on 1st and 3rd, and the catcher attempts to throw out the runner trying to steal 2nd, the runner from 3rd may attempt to go home at their own risk.

8 & UNDER - SEE SUPPLEMENTAL RULES