1. Umpiring

 

Umpires will be ASA umpires. 1 umpire will be available for each game.

 

The umpire will make calls on balls or non-swinging strikes. The ASA certified umpire will be making the first and final ruling on what is or is not a strike. 4 balls constitute a walk, 3 strikes and you are out. The third strike must be either called or swing and a miss (i.e. you do not strike out on a foul ball). Players are not allowed to dispute balls and strikes calls. Any player who disrupts the game by doing so will be ejected.

 

The Ump will also make all calls in the field at the bases, at home, fly balls, etc.

Each team is to pay $28 to the ump prior to the game start time.

 

2. Equipment

 

Metal spikes are not permitted. Rubber cleats only. A player wearing metal spikes may not play.

Coaches: each team is required to bring 1 New Clincher ball and softball bats to each game.

The League's bases (4 bases, 1 pitching rubber, 1 home plate) are left at Matchless Bar on Manhattan Avenue (across from Enids). It is the responsibility of the Manager for the 4:00 P.M (home team) game every Saturday to pick up the bases from Matchless and the responsibility of the Manager from the first game to ensure the bases safe return (communicating to the home or away manager of second game, 6:00 P.M game) to Bar Matchless. NO EXCEPTIONS. The Saturday league will store 2 sets of bases at the Turkeys Nest, they will be stored inside of bag clearly marked for Saturday league, do not use the Sunday League bases. This bag will be stored in the shed in the Turkeys Nest backyard, you will have to ask the Bartender for the key to gain access to the yard. Managers only or designee as appointed by manager are to pick up bases from the nest.

 

3. Pitching

 

The ultimate goal of the pitcher is to let the batter hit the ball. Williamsburg softball has been, and remains, a "hitter's league."

 

Pitchers must begin each pitching windup and motion from a pitching rubber, to be laid out on the field along with the bases and home plate. The pitching rubber may not be moved from its starting point during the game. The Pitcher is required to show the palm of his hand upon the release of each of his pitches.

 

4. Hitting

 

a) Swings: A Batter can not throw his bat or fling his bat to the ground after hitting. He/she is to be careful not to injure the Ump, the catcher or any other players after their at bat. Players who do fling their bats or throw their bats (either after hitting or striking out) will be cautioned or thrown out of the game at the descretion of the Ump.

 

b) Substitute running: As a result of injury or for some other reason that prevents the batter from running for him/herself, a batter may request a substitute runner. That substitute runner must be the last person on the batter's team to make an out immediately before that batter's turn at the plate.

The substitute runner must begin on the third base side of home plate, touching the fence behind the catcher. As in any situation, with substitute running, it is especially important for the batter not to throw his/her bat after swinging.

 

c) Bunting: Bunting of any kind is not permitted. Any attempted bunt, or half swing intended to cause the effect of a bunt, results in an automatic out. Runners may not advance on an illegal bunt.

 

d) Infield fly rule: There is no infield fly rule.

 

5. Base running

 

The primary goal on the base paths, above all, is to avoid dangerous collisions between runners and fielders.

 

a) First base: Double bases will be used at first base to permit the base runner to run on the foul side of the first base line, while the first baseman fields his/her position on the infield side of the base.

If the first baseman, in a stationary position, with a play at first base, obstructs the base runner headed to first in a way that puts the runner in danger or prevents him/her from reaching the base, the runner is awarded first base safely.

 

On the other hand, if the base runner, headed to first, with a play at the base, runs on the infield side of the base instead of the runner's lane on the foul side and collides bodily with a first baseman fielding his/her position safely on the infield side of the base, that runner is automatically out.

On an extra base hit, when there clearly is no play at first base, the first basemen must allow the runner the opportunity to round the bag and run for extra bases. Once the runner reaches first base and is in the process of rounding the bag on the way to second on such an extra base hit, it is the responsibility of the first basemen to get out of the runner's way. Collisions which result from the first baseman failing to clear the way for the runner when there is no play at first base may result in an extra base being awarded to the runner.

 

b) Other bases: Runners are strongly encouraged to slide on close plays to avoid obstructing the play of infielders and to avoid colliding bodily with the infielders. If a base runner chooses not to slide on a close play and chooses to go into a base standing up, he/she must ease gently into the base if he/she has a good chance of being safe and may not collide with the fielder standing up. If the runner is likely to be out on the play, the runner is strongly encouraged to slide in a controlled fashion, or to instead give him/herself up to the out and/or veer away from the play to avoid a collision or a throw being made in his/her direction.

 

If a fielder, while NOT in the act of fielding, obstructs the base path in a manner that cau ses a collision or severely impedes the runner's progress around the bases, the umpire should rule the runner automatically safe and award an extra base if appropriate.

 

On the other hand, if a runner aggressively or recklessly goes into a base standing up and initiates a collision, or if a runner on the base path collides with a fielder in the act of fielding, preventing him/her from completing the play, the umpire should call the runner out.

 

c) Home plate: Safety is of crucial importance around home plate. Controlled sliding is strongly encouraged to avoid bodily collisions. Feet-first sliding is strongly encouraged, as it is generally accepted as a safer method than head-first sliding.

 

6. Fielding

 

Teams may play with one shallow outfielder if they wish, but no more than one. There must be at least three outfielders at all times playing at regular depth or deeper. There can also be four outfielders playing at regular depth (with no shallow fielder. That is the decision of each team.) Only the shallow outfielder may encroach for weaker hitters. The shallow outfielder can move between the shallow position and regular depth. If the hitting team feels that two or more outfielders are encroaching for weaker hitters, they can appeal to the umpire. The u mpire can then make those outfielders step back to regular depth, according to his/her discretion. For 2010 season, all outfielders MUST play the chalked line for all Saturday Softball lady hitters. If it is deemed by the hitting team that a fielder has encroached within the chalked line then the hitting team coach may make an appeal prior to the hitter making contact. Ump will provide further direction to encroaching outfielder.

 

7. Fair/foul

 

a) In play: Everything within the foul lines on each field is in play: rocks, park benches, garbage cans, players from other games, empanada purveyors. If a batted ball hits any of these objects in play and remains playable, fielders must play the ball accordingly.

 

b) Ground rule double: Play ceases and a ground-rule double is awarded to the batter if a ball hit into fair territory is picked up, thrown, or otherwise intentionally deflected by a person in play, or if a ball becomes completely impossible to play as a result of some impediment or obstruction such as a hole in the ground, fence, rabid animal, etc. Ground rule doubles will be determined by the umpires.

On a ground-rule double, other runners on the base paths advance two bases from their starting points.

 

c) Out of bounds: When a ball is thrown by a fielder out of bounds (toward either the first base side or the third base side), all runners on the base paths may advance a maximum of one base beyond the base toward which they were running.

 

For example, if a batter is running toward first and an errant throw from the infield goes out of bounds beyond first base -- regardless of whether the runner may or may not have been safe with a good throw -- the batter may attempt to advance to second base, a runner on first may attempt to advance to third, and a runner starting on second base may attempt to score. In all cases, the ball is "live" and runners may be tagged out.

 

Likewise, if a runner is headed toward third and an errant throw from either the infield or outfield goes out of bounds beyond third base, that runner may attempt to score, while other runners on the field may attempt to advance one base beyond the base toward which they were running. Again, the ball is "live" and runners may be tagged out.

 

8. Lineups and Substitutions

 

Teams may have a maximum of 10 players in the field on defense. This constitutes a full infield plus four outfielders, with the fourth outfielder as a "rover." Except for our lady hitters, outfielders are required to play four across behind the chalked line.

 

Assuming each team has the recommended 10 player minimum lineup, there are two options for how coaches may structure their lineups: a 10-person batting order or a 12-person batting order. In both cases, there must be a minimum of 2 women on the field and in the batting order at all times.

 

a) 10-person batting order: With a 10-person batting order, coaches may substitute for a player in the game. The player coming out may re-enter the game, but only after his/her substitute has played both an inning in the field and has come to the plate, and only if he/she returns to his/her previous spot in the batting order. No double switches. In other words, if a player begins the game hitting 5th and comes out for a few innings, when that player returns it must be to the 5th spot in the batting order.

 

b) 12-person batting order: With a 12-person batting order the coach "locks in" the 12-person order at the beginning of the game and then may play any 10 of those players in the field each inning. The coach may substitute for one of those twelve players, but the player being removed from the game may not re-enter. 2008 Season Ruling: A team that wishes to include additional players into the batting lineup b ut not the field must make a pre-game agreement with both coach and lineups must be established at game start. This league is for fun and if this rule is abused, rule will become quickly abolished

 

c) Pinch-hitting: Pinch-hitting is not permitted. Players must play in the field before they come to the plate for the first time.

 

d) Less than 10 players: If a team fails to meet the recommended 10 player minimum roster, the following rules apply:

 

A team must field a minimum of 9 players in order to play, and 2 of the 9 must be women. A team with only 1 woman may still be able to play, but that team may only play 9 players (8 guys, 1 girls) in the field at any time, and must bat 10 players in the lineup, with the 10th spot always an automatic out.

 

e) Temporary "guest" players: A team short on players for a certain game (less than the minimum 9) may ask players from other teams ("guests") to play for them for the game in question only. In this case:

 

A team may use a maximum of 2 "guests" and only enough to reach the minimum of 9 players. (In other words, a team with only 8 players may only ask for the services of 1 guest. A team with only 7 players may only ask for 2. A team with only 6 players must forfeit the game.) The league respectfully asks captains recruiting "guests" to find players whose talents do not greatly exceed those of the players on their regular rosters. To that end, each "guest" must be approved to play by the opposing team's captain. Teams may use "guest" players to reach a 10-person lineup only if the 10th player added would be the team's 2nd woman player. In other words, a 2nd woman player may be added as a "guest" in any circumstance. 2007 Ruling: Any team that can not field a team of 6 players for any given Saturday will be awarded a loss through forfeit. Team owner's are Matchless, Papacitos, The Archive, The Levee, Toolan, Softspot, Pink Parts and Mulholland's

 

f) 9- and 11-person batting lineups: For the sake of substitutions and lineups, a batting order of 9 players will use substitution rules designed for a 10-person batting order (noted above). A batting order of 11 players will use substitution rules designed for a 12-person batting order (noted above).

 

9. Rosters

 

To be playoff-eligible, players must have appeared in at least four of a team's regular season games. Teams should enter the playoffs with roughly the same roster that played during the regular season. Last minute playoff substitutions ("ringers") are not permitted.

 

Coaches are encouraged to submit team rosters to the Commissioner (James Toolan) to foster familiarity throughout the league with each team's players.

 

10. Playoffs

 

The top six performing teams qualify for the playoffs. The two division leaders will be ranked #1 and #2 (the team with the better record will be ranked #1). Ties will be settled by the following criteria, in order of use: head-to-head record, runs against, and finally a coin flip.

 

The first two rounds of playoffs will be played as follows:

 

The winner of the game between teams #3 and #6 will play either #1 or # 2 seed. The winner of the game between #4 and #5 will play either the #1 seed or #2 seed. The winner of these games will earn a spot in the championship. If #3 seed wins, they will play against #2 seed. If #6 seed wins they will play #1 seed. If #5 seed wins they will play #1 seed, if #4 seed wins they will play # 2 seed. Championship game will be a best of three series.

 

11. The GOLDEN RULE

 

Remember, this league was, is, and forever will be, at its heart, laid-back and fun. Rules and regulations notwithstanding, let's remember not to take things too seriously. Be fair. Be mindful. Be nice. Teams are, as always, advised to invite their opponent out for drinks after each game, and, as always, the point of this all is for everyone to have a good time. Each week, a different bar will be assigned to host the Saturday league softball teams. If you would like to nominate your bar to host for a particular week, please contact James.

 

Play ball.

 

James.