Rules and Resources

a) Ontario Baseball Association (O.B.A.) Constitution and Official Rules shall apply, subject to exceptions as indicated in the following rules and regulations.

b) Standard Baseball Rules apply except as amended by OBA.

c) Managers and coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, and anyone involved with the team, both on and off the field.

d) Tournament awards are set at fourteen (14) per team.

e) This is an 8-team tournament for each age group, divided into 2 divisions of 4 teams each. Each team will play 3 round robin games -- weather permitting.

f) Games will commence promptly on time as per the schedule. Barring extenuating circumstances, any team unable to field nine (9) eligible players within 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time will default the game.

g) Baseball Ontario pitching rules will be strictly enforced (where applicable).

h) The home team is to keep the official score. At the end of the game, both Head Coaches will sign the Game Summary Sheet. Please submit all completed/signed scoresheet promptly after the game at the concession stand near Lions 1 field, -- alternatively give the completed scoresheet to the assigned game convenor.

i) For each game, 2 new balls will be provided by the game convenor. Please keep any usable balls afterward as backups—they tend to disappear quickly in foul territory (especially near Lions 3!).

j) No infield practice is permitted during the tournament.

k) The decision of the umpire(s) is final. There will be no protest of judgment calls with the umpire(s).

l) Ejection from any tournament game will result in an automatic suspension from the next scheduled game and/or the balance of the tournament depending on the circumstances.

m) Round robin games may end in a tie. No extra innings will be played.

n) Round robin games are capped at 7 innings or 2 hours using the dead drop time limit rule. No new inning may begin after 1 hour 45 minutes from the scheduled start time, if an inning is not completed at 2-hour dead drop time limit, the score will revert to the previous completed inning. In event of delays due to weather:

o) Official Game: A game shall be official if curfew is reached, and the home team is leading after 3 ½ innings or the visitors are leading after 4 complete innings. If 4 innings have been completed and the game is suspended, then it will be considered official. If the game is suspended prior to curfew and prior to 4 innings being completed, then the game shall be resumed from the point of suspension. The defensive team must resume their exact positions on the field, though players eligible to be substituted or re-entered may do so. The count, if any, on the batter will be unchanged and the batting order must be the same upon resumption of the suspended game. If the home team is batting and leading or scores the winning run when curfew is reached, the game will end immediately and be considered official at that point and the score, and offensive and defensive innings recorded at that time (full innings will be assigned to the offensive and defensive teams).

p) The OBA mercy rule [RP.2.10(c)] will be in effect for all games including the championship game.

q) Standings: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss.

r) If teams are tied in standings after round robin play, OBA tiebreaker rules RP 7.3 (a) and (b) will apply as follows:

Note #1: Once the tie between 3 or more teams is broken and the # 1 team is determined based on the above, in cases where further placement is required, the tiebreakers will continue if there are 3 or more teams. When only 2 teams remain, the tie between those 2 teams will be broken based on RP7.3(a) above.

Note #2:In the event of a forfeit during the Round Robin, a score of "7-0" will be recorded with 1 run being awarded per inning to the winning team (e.g. 4 runs after 4 innings).

s) Semi-final and Championship games will be 2 hours in length from scheduled start time. If the top of the new inning is started within 15 minutes of the time limit, the umpire will declare that inning to be the last inning and the 8-run maximum will apply.

t) In the event of a tie at the conclusion of 7 innings and/or upon expiration of the time limit in any Semi-Final or Championship Game, the game will continue until such time as a winner is determined. The game will continue with complete innings being played as per RP2.10 (g)

u) Extra Inning in Playoffs: Each team will begin the extra inning (and any subsequent necessary extra innings) with a player on second base only, no outs. The batter with the last full plate appearance in the previous inning will be placed on second base as per RP2.8.

v) Round Robin stage: Home field will be determined prior to the start of all round-robin games by the flip of a coin with the team travelling the farthest making the call in all games.

w) Playoffs: Higher Seed will have the option of home or away in all playoff round games. If both teams have the same seed (e.g., both 1st-place teams), a coin toss will determine the home team, again with the team traveling furthest making the call.