Pony

In general, the Official Rules of Baseball shall apply, except as noted below...

1. 2:15 hour time limit for ALL games – no NEW inning can start after 2:00
2. All games are 7 innings
3. Weather: if coaches and commissioner deem playable, but paid ump refuses to ump, game will be played with a parent ump.
4. Tiebreaker Rule goes into effect immediately after 7 innings IF there is time remaining:
   1. Teams play 1 extra inning of ‘regular’ baseball. If the game is still tied after that inning then:
   2. The game results in a tie.
   3. In the playoffs, innings continue until a team wins – no games shall end in a tie unless the game has to be suspended due to darkness
      1. During the regular season, a game that is suspended due to darkness will be declared a tie.
      2. During playoffs, a game that is suspended by darkness will be played the next day (or as soon as it is possible to reschedule for both teams) and shall commence at the place where it had been suspended (in terms of inning, batter, pitch count, etc.).
      3. During the championship games, 7 innings will be played with no time limit, unless the mercy rule in 6 below is hit
5. Pony Premier will be played at 54/80 field dimensions
6. 10 run mercy rule after 5 complete innings. 4 ½ innings if the home team is ahead. This rule is ALWAYS in effect.
7. Teams will use a continuous batting line-up consisting of their entire roster present at the start of the game.
   1. All players other than the nine (9) defensive position players are Extra Hitters and may sub freely into defensive positions.
   2. Every player must play a minimum of two (2) innings (minimum of 6 defensive outs) in a defensive position (i.e. not Extra Hitters)
   3. Any player(s) arriving after the game has begun, shall be added to the bottom of the batting line-up. If a player has to leave the game for any reason, that position in the line-up becomes an out when that at bat comes around.
8. You may start a game with 8 players but cannot finish with less than 8 players. An out is recorded in the 9th position every time through the order if playing with 8 players. If a team bats 10 players OR their entire lineup and a player is injured during the course of a game or is unable to complete the game, that team SHALL NOT record an out for the injured/departed player.
9. A team that is playing with 8 players may request to ‘borrow’ a player from the opposing team to play in the field. The player from the opposing team shall be the player who recorded the last batted out in the previous half inning.
10. All baserunners must make an attempt to avoid potential violent contact
11. Pinch runners for the catcher or pitcher of the previous inning are allowed ANYTIME. Substitute player/s is the last batted out. If no outs in the inning then the last out of the previous inning can be a pinch runner for pitcher or catcher.
12. Bats – all barrel sizes can be no bigger than 2 5/8 inches in diameter. All bats MUST have the USSSA 1.15 stamp or USA stamp on them OR be BBCOR. ALL WOOD BATS ARE ALLOWED
    1. Bat requirements will require a maximum drop of 5 for all bats. (in other words ONLY -5 or -3)
    2. If a player uses a non-conforming bat, the opposing coach should raise it to the umpire and an automatic out will be enforced.
13. PROTESTS – If you feel so inclined to protest a call, the manager protesting must announce their protest. If necessary, a review of the call in question will then go to the league Commissioners AND the Chief Umpire of the Association used on the Wednesday following your game. Rule interpretations can be protested, judgment calls can never be protested. The game and decision by the umpire will not be overruled, but future games and rules might be changed based on the reviewing committee’s findings.
14. The HOME team pays for and provides at least 1 professional umpire.
15. HOME team supplies 4 baseballs (four)
    1. In the playoffs, the HOME team will be determined by the higher playoff seed. In the championship game, the HOME team will be the winner’s bracket team. If a second game is needed, the loser’s bracket team will be the HOME team.
16. Pitchers will be given a warning on a Balk call. There will be 1 warning issued per pitcher. All balks should be awarded to the team at bat. MLB balk rule is in effect, this means it is a delayed dead ball. If a balk is called and the batter becomes a runner on a batted ball or award and acquires first base and every runner acquires his advance base, then the balk is disregarded.
17. Rosters – Each Pony Premier team shall share their official roster with the coaches of the other teams. If a team is short a player or players then additional players may be added for the game/s. The order of adding players from other teams should be as follows:
    1. A player or players from other Pony Premier teams (either in your town or another town)
    2. Pony 13U 680 players (a 14U 680 player is NEVER an option to be a substitute player)
    3. Pony 12U 680 players
    4. For the playoffs, no 680 Pony age players are allowed as substitutes
    5. Substitute players may be added to accommodate a maximum roster size of 10 players
    6. A substitute player can not pitch
    7. A substitute player has to hit at the bottom of the batting order
    8. Coaches must communicate prior to the start of the game that they are using substitute players
18. Pitching - Pitching Rules – Pitching Rules will follow PONY Baseball Pitching Rules, with maximum pitches and required days of rest highlighted below:
    NOTE: The pitcher will only be required to observe the calendar day(s) of rest for the threshold he/she reached during the start of that at-bat, provided that the pitcher is removed before delivering a pitch to the next batter.

    LEAGUE WEEKLY MAX REQUIRED REST (PITCHES)

    AGE	PITCHES	O DAYS	1 DAY	2 DAYS	3 DAYS	4 DAYS	5 DAYS
    7-8	50	1-20	21-35	36-50	N/A	N/A	N/A
    9-10	75	1-20	21-35	36-50	51-65	66+	N/A
    11-12	85	1-20	21-35	36-50	51-65	66+	N/A
    13-14	95	1-35	21-35	36-50	61-75	76+	N/A
    15-16	95	1-30	31-45	46-60	61-75	76+	N/A
    17-18	105	1-30	31-45	46-60	61-80	81+	N/A
    19-22	120	1-30	31-45	46-60	61-80	81-105	106+

    • When pitching in more than one game on the same calendar day, pitchers may pitch any combination of pitches in those games provided they do not exceed the maximum number of pitches for that calendar day.
    • Pitchers reaching their maximum number of pitches in a day while pitching to a batter, may finish pitching to that batter before being removed.
    • Once the umpire-in-chief signals “play” to the pitcher, that pitcher shall become the pitcher of record and their pitch count begins at that point.
    • A pitcher is charged with the number of pitches in the specific calendar day in which they are pitched, regardless of whether they are local organization league games, the playoff of postponed games or suspended games, tie games, or exhibition games. Rest is calculated as per calendar day.
    • Any pitcher withdrawn from the mound and/or lineup, or a pitcher who is withdrawn from the mound and stays in the game at another position, shall not be permitted to pitch again in the same game.
    • If a relief pitcher comes in “cold” the umpire shall allow the pitcher to warm up properly with at least ten warm-up pitches.
    • The home team will be the official scorekeeper for each game and will track pitch counts.
19. Common Sense SPORTSMANSHIP (courteous, polite, respectful, complementary, etc.) All teams make the playoffs.
    1. Please remember that how you, your coaches, your parents, your players, your spectators, etc., conduct themselves is witnessed by all. We are trying to raise decent young men and your actions will speak louder than your words. Treat everyone with respect, especially the umpires. They have difficult jobs and will not be 100% perfect on every call. We cannot have a league without them. They are vital to your individual leagues and the Pony Premier League’s success.
    2. When mature teams are playing developing teams please do not throw your number 1 and 2 pitchers. Be cognizant of whom you are playing and the purpose for which we are here. Use this opportunity to develop your pitchers and throw those that may not pitch as often. Also, adjust your batting line-up and your substitutes. Maybe you sit your studs for a few innings and give your developing players the opportunity to play the entire game. Use common sense and everyone will have a fun and productive season.
    3. Get to know your opponent (coaches, players, parents, etc.). Odds are you will be playing against one another for years to come. Compete hard, but when the game is over shake hands. It is much more fun to play against someone you respect and like than not.
20. Standings
    1. Standings will be based on win percentage with the tiebreaker of runs divided by games played, then run differential divided by games played.
21. If there is a play at home, the player must slide. If the player does not slide, the umpire can enforce an out if there is a dangerous play.