Pinto Rules 2018

Teams

1. Pinto teams shall be limited to a minimum of ten (10) and a maximum of thirteen (13) players per team.
2. Rosters shall not be limited to a certain number of players per age.
3. The Commissioner shall fill any vacancy from the waiting list. Managers are required to immediately report any vacancy or prolonged illness or injury of a player to the Commissioner.
4. Players shall be eligible to play on another team in that league on a per game basis and only if that team has nine (9) or fewer players. The player or players shall play in right field only and bat in the last position or positions in the batting order. If any player on the team is available to play at any time, that player shall have priority rights ahead of any players not on the roster of that team. If there are fewer than seven (7) players, the game may be played with the substitute players, but the game shall be forfeited.
5. Shetland players are prohibited from playing in Pinto Division games.
6. The League adopt rule 4F(1) in regards to players participating in any other league/team.

Length Of Games

1. Games shall be six innings in duration. No inning shall begin after 1 Hour, 35 Minutes.
2. Pinto: Tied Game Rule- When a game is tied at the end of six innings, it shall go into extra innings, but no inning shall begin past the time limit. This rule no way waives the ruling of pitchers and their use, as stated in the Pony Baseball Rule and Regulations Book.
3. Pinto: Ten Run Rule- If the Home Team is ahead by ten or more runs at the end of at least 3 ½ innings, the game shall be called and the home team declared the winner.
4. If the visiting Team is ahead by ten or more runs at the end of at least four (4) complete innings, the game shall be called and the visiting team declared the winner.
5. Games called for any reason shall be considered complete games if three innings have been completed. If games are called in less than three innings and are continued, they shall be continued from the point of curtailment.

Pitching Rules

1. Pinto Division- 2 Innings per Day, 4 per Week.
2. Pinto Division Tournament Play- 2 Innings per Day, 4 innings before cutoff game, 6 Innings after cutoff game.
3. Pinto: No batting tee shall be used. Only players shall pitch.
4. The Week runs from Monday until Sunday
5. Once a pitcher is removed from the mound, he may not return to the mound.
6. Once the umpire signals play that will constitute an inning pitched.

Playing Rules

1. No Drop third strikes.
2. The infield Fly Rule is in effect
3. It shall be mandatory that all players sit only a maximum of two innings per game Note: The only exceptions to the above player participation rules are (1) suspension by the Commissioner, (2) bonafide injury or (3) abbreviated game due to an act of God, (i.e. rain, tornado, etc.) If however, a player is available and does not get to play because of an abbreviated game due to the ten run rule, then the player must start the next scheduled game is available and play at least three (3) innings in the filed and receive at least two (2) times at bat.
4. The official scorekeeper shall police enforcement of the player participation rule; any violation of the rule shall be reported to the chief umpire of the game (plate umpire) and managers before the start of the game in which the infraction may take place. All managers, coaches, and league officials will assist each other so as to avoid infractions of this rule.
5. You may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher or catcher at any time.The last out will run for the pitcher or catcher.
6. On all close plays at home, base runners WILL slide into home base or be called out.
7. There is no “Must Slide Rule” at any other base.
8. If there is any malicious contact; elbow, shoulder, forearm; at the umpire’s discretion, the player will be called out and ejected from the game
9. All offensive players must wear a helmet when not in the dugout.
10. A continuous batter order will be used. There will be a maximum of ten (10) batters per inning or 3 outs, whichever comes first.
11. When a team only has nine players, the batting order will roll over and a tenth batter will hit without an out being recorded. (Tenth Batter out if not present)
12. Ten players shall be used defensively. There shall be four outfielders stationed not less than fifteen feet behind the ending of the infield when the pitching motion is made.
13. Players who have an interest in those positions should rotate through the positions of pitchers and catchers.
14. Base runners are permitted to steal second or third base only.
15. Base runners cannot lead off on any base.
16. Only one base can be stolen at a time
17. Base runners cannot steal home.
18. Stolen base may occur only when the catcher catches the ball.The ball must maintain control in the catcher’s glove to steal.
19. Play will stop when the ball reaches the infield.No runner may advance after this takes place.
20. In the infield, there will be NO advancement on an overthrow or after a play is made on a runner.
21. Bunting or soft swinging is not allowed.The ball will be declared dead and it will be called a strike. (Rule 9D)

Equipment Rules

1. Any player serving as a catcher to warm up a pitcher must wear a mask, whether the pitcher is warming up from the mound, in the bullpen or elsewhere.
2. All offensive players must wear a helmet when not in the dugout.
3. Regular Baseballs shall be used in Pinto and Mustang Division
4. At all times, each male player during games and practice must wear a cup-type athletic supporter. Any male player who is not wearing a cup-type athletic supporter shall only be eligible to participate in the game, when the player has, in the opinion of the umpire, satisfied the cup-type athletic supporter rule.
5. Donuts as weighted batting equipment are prohibited, but “sleeves” are permissible.
6. Steel spikes are not allowed during regular season play. Steel spikes may be worn in post-season All-Star tournaments only
7.  2018 Bat Rules

St. Joe’s Pony Baseball will allow bats prior to the 2018 rule for the Spring Season. Any bats that are purchased from this point forward must be in compliance with the USABat Standard. 

1.   In conjunction with USA Baseball and its other participating national member organizations, PONY Baseball has adopted the new USA Baseball bat standard (USABat). Effective January 1, 2018, with the exception of -3 (BBCOR certified), all other 2 1/4" and 2 5/8" barrel bats with a minus factor of (-5, -7, -9, etc.), must be USABat certified with the USABat licensing stamp on the bat in order to be used for league and tournament play. All 2 1/4" and 2 5/8" minus factor bats -5, -7, -9, etc. used in 2017 will be illegal to use in 2018.

Tee ball bats are not required to undergo lab testing to receive approval under the USABat program. However, to be approved for play, tee ball bats must carry the USA Baseball mark accompanied by the following text: "Only For Use With Approved Tee Ball Bats." If you already have a tee ball bat you would like to continue using, all you have to do is purchase a USA Bat sticker directly from USA Baseball and place it on your bat. You can purchase a USA Bat sticker, click here. Tee ball bats manufactured after the new rule was adopted will already include the USABat Baseball mark. 

The new USABat certified bats bearing the USABat licensing mark are expected to be offered in retail stores September 1, 2017.

Tournament Rules

1. All Rules enforced during regular season play, including pitching rules (see above), will remain in effect except if a team only fields nine players, the tenth batter will be recorded as an out. The game will be played until the end of the time limit.   There will be no 95 Minute rules for tournament games.  All games will be played until completion of the set time limit (1:45 Minutes).

Other Rules

1. Please see the League’s Code of Conduct and Zero Tolerance Policy
2. The chewing of gum and/or candy by players while playing baseball at St. Joseph Park is strictly prohibited during ALL games and practices.
3. Only team members and three (3) adults shall be in the dugout or dugout vicinity during the game.
4. All players shall be seated in the dugout when not on the field. Control of players is the responsibility of the manager and coaches, and shall be strictly enforced. Only players and coaching personnel shall be in the dugouts during the game. No swinging of bats is allowed except in the “on deck circle”.
5. Managers, Coaches, or Scorekeepers shall wear a short sleeve shirt or tee shirt with long pants or league approved field shorts. Any shirts with vulgar wording or statements referring to tobacco, or any other types of shorts are strictly prohibited from being worn while on the field or in the dugout during the game.
6. Two adult base coaches may be used or one adult and one player or even two players, but not an adult and player in the same coaching box at the same time.
7. Any player, coach or manager who is dismissed from a game because of unsportsmanlike conduct shall be suspended for one game automatically.This will be served during the team’s next scheduled game.
8. THE USE OF THE BATTING CAGES WILL BE HANDLED AS FOLLOWS. IF YOU ARE THE VISITING TEAM YOU WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE CAGE FROM ONE-HOUR PRIOR TO THE START OF THE GAME TO ½ HOUR PRIOR TO THE START OF THE GAME. THE HOME TEAM WILLWILL THEN HAVE THE USE OF THE CAGE FROM ½ HOUR PRIOR TO THE START OF THE GAME TILL GAME TIME.

Playing Field:

1. Distance between bases:

            Pinto- 50 feet

1. Pitching distance:

            Pinto- 38 feet

1. Home plate to center of second base:

            Pinto- 70 feet 8 1/2 inches.

2018 St. Joe’s Pony Baseball Player Participation Rules

PINTO DIVISION

1. Positions of Pitcher and Catcher are here-in referred to as the Battery.
2. Positions of the Battery are considered Infield Positions.
3. Outfield positions are LF, RF, RC, and LC.
4. Other Infield positions are 1B, 2B, SS, and 3B.
5. No player can play a 3rd CONSECUTIVE inning in the Infield.

(Example: If player pitches 2 consecutive innings, he cannot then go to 1st base   or a player cannot play 2nd base for 2 consecutive innings and then catch)

Note: Nothing precludes a player from playing 4 innings in the Battery P-2, C-2) throughout the course of a game provided he never played a 3rd consecutive inning.

Example: a player pitches the first 2 innings and then EHs inning 3. This player can then catch innings 4 and 5 but must EH or play outfield in inning 6.

1. A player may pitch only 2 innings per game. (1pitch =1 inning)
2. A player CAN go from one battery position to another as long as he does not violate #5.
   Example: a player pitches the first and then catches the 2nd. He then must sit or play an outfield position for the 3rd inning.

8.  Each player must play at least 2 innings at an infield position throughout the course of   the game except in a rare case of a safety hazard. (This must be agreed to by opposing coach.)  These innings need not be consecutive.