Mustang League Rules 2018
Mustang teams shall be limited to a minimum of ten (10) and a maximum of thirteen (13) players per team.
Rosters shall not be limited to a certain number of players per age.
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.
Players shall be eligible to play on another team in that league on a per game basis and only if that team has eight (8) 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.
Pinto players are prohibited from playing in Mustang Division games.
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, 45 Minutes.
2. Mustang: 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. Mustang: 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. Mustang Division- 3 Innings per Day, 6 per Week.
2. The Week runs from Monday until Sunday
3. Once a pitcher is removed from the mound, he may not return to the mound.
4. Once the umpire signals play that will constitute an inning pitched.
Playing Rules
1. Drop third strikes will not be in effect until after Week 4 of the season.
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. There is to be no suicide squeezes.
10.All offensive players must wear a helmet when not in the dugout.
11.A continuous batter order will be used.
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. < > as weighted batting equipment are prohibited, but “sleeves” are permissible.
Steel spikes are not allowed during regular season play. Steel spikes may be worn in post-season All-Star tournaments only.
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, will remain in effect except for the time limit in the Championship Game.There will be no time limit in the championship games.All games will be played until completion.
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.
9. Playing Field:
- Distance between bases:
Mustang- 60 feet
- Pitching distance:
Mustang- 46 feet
- Home plate to center of second base:
Mustang- 84 feet 10 inches
St Joe’s Baseball Fields and Grounds Guidelines
1. Turn lights on 15 minutes prior to sunset.
2. No parking on gravel at Mustang Field.
3. Rake fields after last game or as needed to keep raked dirt out of grass.
4. No flip drills into fences.
5. Lock all gates after last game and batting cages.
6. Remove all garbage from dugouts after each game.
7. No pitching batting practices from infield grass areas, stay on the dirt mound.
8. A water hose will be provided at each field to water pitching mound and batter’s box areas.
2. 2018 St. Joe’s Pony Baseball
Mustang League Rules
Teams:
Mustang teams shall be limited to a minimum of 10 and maximum of 13 players per team.
Rosters shall not be limited to a certain number of players per age (Rule 3A)
The names of these players shall be registered with the league Commissioner and follow the rules of section 4- Legal Players.
Playing Field:
Distance between bases:
Mustang- 60 feet
Pitching distance:
Mustang- 44 feet
Home plate to center of second base:
Mustang- 84 feet 10 inches
Equipment:
Steel spikes are prohibited from use in local play at all divisions.
“Regular” baseball shall be used in Pinto and Mustang Divisions.
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 (Rule 8F).
All offensive players must wear a helmet when not in the dugout.
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 (Rule 8G).
“Donuts” as weighted batting equipment are prohibited, but “sleeves” are permissible.
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.
1.
Playing Rules:
Players from the Mustang Division are only eligible to play on another team in this division on a per game basis and only if that team has less than nine players.
The player or players so selected shall play only in right field 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 and will play in the game.
Players of a tournament team (All-Star) caliber are discouraged from playing. Pinto players are not eligible to play in Mustang games. If there are less than seven players the game will be forfeited.
A continuous batter order will be used.
Base runners are permitted to lead off and steal at any time (Rule 9N1).
On all plays at home, base runners WILL slide into home base. If a player does not slide on a play at home plate, they will be called out. Players may be ejected from the game if, at the discretion of the umpire, the runner does not slide in an attempt to initiate contact with the catcher in a malicious way.
There is to be no straight stealing of home
There is to be no suicide squeezes
St. Joseph’s Park adopts Rule 9L regarding re-entry for player injuries only.
You may use a courtesy runner for the catcher at any time. The last out will run for the catcher.
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 that player must start the next scheduled game.
Pitching Rules:
Mustang: No batting tee shall be used. Only players shall pitch.
The week runs from Monday to Sunday.
Mustang:
· Pitchers shall not pitch more than three consecutive innings in a calendar day.
· Pitchers, when pitching in more than one game on a calendar day, may pitch any combinations of innings in those games, provided they do not pitch in more than three innings.
· Pitchers shall not pitch more than six innings in a calendar week.
· The 40-hour rest rule in not applicable (Rule 10H).
· One pitch shall constitute an inning pitched
· Drop third strikes are allowed
· Infield-Fly rule is in effect
· Balk: Until June 1st: One warning will be given to a pitcher After June 1st: All balks will be called
Once a pitcher has been removed from the mound, he may not return to the mound in that game.
Length of Games:
Mustang:
All games shall be six innings in duration, unless the ten run rule or tie game rule applies (Rule 11G), and not more than two hours in length regardless of innings played. No inning shall start after one hour and fifty minutes (110 minutes).
When a game is tied at the end of six innings, it shall go into extra innings, but no inning shall begin past the two-hour time limit. (Rule 11C) This rule in no way waives the ruling of pitchers and their use, as stated in the Pony Baseball Rule and Regulations Book.
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.
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.
If the Visiting Team is ahead by ten or more runs at the end of at least 4 complete innings, the game shall be called and the visiting team declared the winner.
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.
Tournament Play:
All Rules enforced during regular season play, including pitching rules, will remain in effect except for the time limit. There will be no time limit in tournament games. All games will be played until completion.
General Rules/Conduct for Managers, Coaches, Scorekeepers and Players:
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”.
In Mustang, teams may have three adults consisting of the manager and two coaches. Only team members and the adults (manager, coach and scorekeeper) shall be in the dugout or dugout vicinity during the game.
Smoking or chewing of tobacco by adults is strictly prohibited while on the playing field or in and around the dugouts during games and practices.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages by anyone is strictly prohibited on the playing field, in the dugouts or in the ballpark while games are in progress.
The chewing of gum, sunflower seeds, and/or candy by players while playing baseball at St. Joseph’s Park is strictly prohibited during all games and practices.
The home team will be the “official’ keeper of the time.
Managers, coaches and scorekeepers shall wear a short sleeve or tee shirt (no tank tops) with long pants or league approved field shorts. Any shirts with vulgar wording or statements referring to tobacco or alcohol, or other types of “shorts” are strictly prohibited from being worn while on the filed or in the dugout during practice and games.
Two adults base coaches may be used, or one adult and one player or even two players, but not an adult and a player in the same coach’s box at the same time.
The Commissioner has the final and unappealable authority to suspend, discharge or otherwise discipline any player, coach, manager, umpire, league officer or other persons whose conduct is in violation of the rules and regulations of Pony Baseball and or St. Joseph’s Park Pony Baseball and or is considered detrimental to the best interest of St. Joe’s Pony Baseball. Those persons subject to such discipline shall have the right to a hearing before the Commissioner before such discipline is imposed. In the event of discipline procedures involving a player or other person under the age of eighteen, that person’s parents shall be invited to attend the hearing with the persons concerned.
Any player, coach or manager who is dismissed from a game because of conduct shall appear before the Commissioner and must be reinstated before they can participate in future league play. The President shall make the decision in the event that the conduct of the Commissioner in a game is in question.
The League adopt rule 4F(1) in regards to players participating in any other league/team.
