AJAX MEN'S SLO-PITCH ASSOCIATION

PLAYING RULES 2008

All SPO rules will be applicable unless otherwise stated herein, the Playing Rules of the AMSA. The umpires are in complete control of all games sanctioned by the AMSA.

1. The pitching zone is an area 24 inches wide, located 50-60 feet from the tip of home plate. A pitcher may choose to pitch from anywhere within this zone.

2. The baseline distance is 65 feet from the tip of home plate.

3. Home plate for all AMSA games will be the AMSA approved 24" by 36" mat.

4. (a) A minimum of nine players will constitute a team for league games. In the first inning only, a team may begin with fewer than nine players. At no other time during the game may a team play with fewer than 9 players. There may be up to 20 players on the roster and batting order. Playoff games require a minimum of 9 players at all times.

(b) All league games will start at the scheduled start time. At the end of the first inning, a default will be called by the umpire if either team cannot field a minimum of 9 uniformed players. If both teams have fewer than 9 players, it is a double default. Any player arriving after the start of the game may be added to the bottom of the batting order as they arrive and may enter the game in a defensive position in the first inning only. Players arriving after the first inning, must wait until the completion of an inning before entering a defensive position. In case of a default, the game may continue as an exhibition game.

(c) Only registered players of the AMSA may play in a scheduled league game or exhibition game.
Note: Players may register and play for only 1 AMSA team.

(d) All players present, must bat in the proper listed order and maintain their original position in the batting order. Teams must exchange batting orders before the start of the game listing full name and unique uniform number. Players may leave a regular season game before completion without penalty. In the playoffs a player leaving a game is an automatic out.

(e) The home team is the official scorekeeper and must hand in a signed scorecard after every game.

5. (a) All league games shall be a maximum of seven innings. No new inning shall start after 70 minutes of play the scheduled or official start time. A game stopped by the umpire will be considered complete if five innings ( 4 ½ innings if the second batting team is leading ) have been completed.

(b) Maximum runs per inning is 10 for the first three innings. After three complete innings of play, unlimited runs per inning shall be allowed.

(c) In the event of a tie, each team will be awarded one point. Playoff ties will be decided by extra innings as necessary, with the last registered out from the previous inning running at second base.

(d) Infield warm-ups shall be allowed in the first inning only, including 5 warm-up pitches for the pitcher. In subsequent innings, the pitcher is allowed one warm-up.

(e) Any participant who is bleeding or has blood on his body or clothing must not participate until the bleeding is controlled and bandaged. The soiled clothing must be changed. The replacement uniform need not conform to the official team uniform in this case and the player may return to the game when ready to play.

(f) A batter or runner is ruled out immediately if discovered wearing exposed jewelry. Runners advancing must return to base. If a defensive player is discovered wearing jewelry, the batting team may take the result of the play or have the play nullified and the batter return to bat with the same count as before the infraction and all runners return to their previous base. This is an appeal play by the non-offending team. In all cases the player must remove the jewelry. Note: facial jewelry may not be covered by tape.

(g) Base-runners may advance on a Third Strike legally caught foul ball.