Pony Baseball Rules

• All members of teams in the Pony Baseball League must play at least two (2) consecutive innings in the field, and bat a minimum of one (1) time provided they arrive prior to the start of the fourth inning.
• To avoid forfeiture of a game, a manager may "bring up" a player(s) from a lower league to be used for a game provided:
• Permission of the lower league manager is obtained.
• The upper league team cannot field nine (9) players (baseball) or ten (10) players (softball).
• The player "brought up" must bat last and can only play an infield position if all outfield positions have been filled with players from a lower league.  The player "brought up" is not permitted to pitch or catch.
• If a team member arrives prior to the start of the game, they shall be immediately substituted for the lower league player.
• If a team member arrives after the start of the game, the lower league play should play a maximum of two (2) innings.
• Failure to field 9 players within 15 minutes of the official start time will result in forfeiture.  If both teams fail to field nine (9) players, both teams will be charged with a loss.
• The winner of any game terminated at or beyond regulation length will be determined by the score at the end of last completed inning.  No inning is completed unless the home team has had an opportunity to bat.
• A game terminated after regulation length for reasons such as weather, darkness, light failure, or curfew will be considered a complete game.  If the home team has tied or gone ahead in their half of the inning, the result will stand.  If the visiting team has tied or gone ahead in the top half of the inning and play is halted with the home team not tying the game or going ahead in the bottom half of the inning, the score is determined by reverting back to the last completed inning.  All regulation length tie games will remain as tie games.
• During a ball game, only Managers, Coaches, Umpires, Scorekeepers, and playing members are permitted on the field, on the bench or in the dugouts.  All players not in the field, at bat or on deck must remain in the dugout.  The respective team managers are responsible for the conduct of the players and coaches.
• Only the manager may discuss or dispute umpire calls.  Under no circumstances shall a coach do this.
• The home team is responsible for field preparation.  In bad weather, both teams will help with the field.  The home team is also responsible to return the bases, and if applicable, batting tee to the equipment room.
• Home team will have first base sideline.  Visitors will have third base sideline.  Each team will police their side of the field after each game.
• Home team will supply game balls (baseball - two per game; softball - one per game).  If more balls are needed, both managers will select decent balls from their used game balls.
• All catchers in baseball must wear protective cups, masks and helmets whenever at the catching position.  All catchers in softball must wear a mask.
• Batting helmets must be worn while at bat and on the base paths.
• The manager may petition the Board to remove a player from the team roster if a team member misses three (3) consecutive scheduled games or scheduled practice sessions without good cause.
• A regulation game will be seven (7) innings. A game will be considered a regulation game if halted after five (5) innings (4 1/2 innings if home team is ahead).
• Pitchers shall not be permitted to pitch more than 4 innings per day.
• With more than 3 innings per calendar day, pitchers are required a 2 calendar day rest, and not more than seven (7) innings per calendar week.
• A pitcher pitching in less than four (4) innings requires no rest period before pitching again.
• Once a pitcher has been removed from the pitching position, he may not return to the pitching position in the same game.
• A pitch constitutes an inning pitched.
• After all substitutes have been in the game in accordance with Appendix I, Section 3, players may return to the lineup under the following circumstances:
• A minimum of eight (8) batting positions must be scheduled before a returning player can be placed in the batting order.
• A returning player cannont be scheduled to bat in a position that would enable him to bat before all substitutions have batted.
• If a runner from third base is attempting to score during a pitch and the batter "swings" at the pitch, the batter shall be called out and the runner returned to third base.
• After reaching regulation length, a score will be considered final if one team is ahead by ten (10) runs. The home team must be given the opportunity to bat. Any player who has not played two (2) consecutive innings and batted will start the next attended game.
• An Extra Player (EP) may be utilized in the batting order. All teams must continue to follow playing rules in Appendix I, Sections 3 and 33 when using the extra player.
• Teams may run for catcher with two(2) outs. Runner must be player not presently in the batting order or; the last batted out, if the team is using a continuous batting order.
• There is no head first slide to any base in the Pony League.
• Any team member whose parents cause any serious embarrassment, harassment, or inconvenience to a Manager, Coach or Umpire may be removed from the team roster on the recommendation of the Manager, Coach, or Umpire subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
• The winning manager of each game through out the season will call in the scores to the League Representative.
• Each manager is responsible for all equipment issued to him/her.  All requests for additional or replacement equipment must be given to the League Representative, or equipment manager.  The manager is responsible for turning in all equipment issued.
• A base runner should slide at any base that a play is being made on him, except first base. The runner shall be out if in the opinion of the umpire, a slide was called for but the runner runs into the defensive player. If the action is malicious, the player shall be ejected from the game.
• If a pitched ball goes through a backstop, the ball is considered to be dead with no runners advancing.
• Any violation of the pitching rest requirement (baseball), or use of an ineligible pitcher, or player shall be dealt with in the following manner:
• If determined during the course of a game, play shall revert back to the point of the infraction. Play shall resume from that point with the violation corrected.
• If determined after completion of a game, and brought to the attention of the league representative within forty-eight (48) hours after the date the game was played, it shall result in an immediate forfeiture for the violating team.