2013   COVE CREEK CLASSIC

1.  As soon as possible before the start of the tournament, each team shall submit:  (a) a roster listing the

     names, birth dates and uniform numbers of all players; (b) copies of birth certificates of all players;

     (3) names of coaches and team officials.

2.  Teams must check in at the Tournament Headquarters at least one hour before the first scheduled game

     to review credentials.  Once rosters have been checked in at Headquarters, they become official and

     additional players may not be added.  If players are questionable for the tournament it is best to include

     them on the roster.  Teams whose first game is at STAB may check in there. 

3.  April 30 is the cutoff date for age eligibility.

4.  Ice water and cups will be provided in each dugout for every game.  No food, sunflower seeds, or

     tobacco products shall be permitted on the field or in the dugouts. 

     PLEASE LEAVE THE DUGOUTS CLEAN!

5.  Home Team will be determined by a coin flip for all games, including the championship, and the home teams

     scorebook will be considered the official book.  A Tournament Official will assign batting cages.  No infield will be

    allowed after 4PM games on Friday or after any 9AM games played on Saturday and Sunday due to time

    restrictions.

6.  Cove Creek has 6 fields and 13 batting cages.  While a game is in progress, neither participating team in that 

     game may use a cage for batting practice.  Teams preparing to play the next game may use a designated

     batting cage.

7.  A protest must be made to the home plate umpire before the next pitch is thrown.  A protest shall be

     decided immediately, and the game will proceed.  A protest on a play, which involves an umpire’s

     judgment shall not be allowed.

8.  Appeals must be made to the umpire before the next pitch is thrown. Runners will not automatically be

     called out for leaving too early or missing a bag.

9.  Players in the 9-10 and 11-12 year old divisions who leave the base early without the pitch being hit shall

     be sent back to the previously occupied base.  If a player leaves the base early and the ball is hit, the

     player is entitled to one base in front of the batter if they are not put out first.

10.  Managers and coaches will be allowed to warm-up pitchers between innings.  Coaches are allowed one free

       trip per inning to visit the pitcher.  On any subsequent trip to the mound in the same inning, the pitcher must be 

       pulled.

11.  Four innings shall constitute an official game.  All tournament play is official.  A game suspended before

      the completion of four innings shall be resumed at the point of interruption.  If a game is suspended in

      any inning after the fourth, and the home team does not get to finish its at bat, then the final score shall

      be the score of the last completed inning.  A game called for time shall be an official game regardless of

      the number of innings played.

12.  Courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher and catcher at any time in the game.  Must be a player not 

       currently in the lineup or if batting the entire lineup, the last player to make an out.

13. No profane or abusive language will be tolerated by players, coaches or fans.  Cove Creek Park is

      privately owned, and unruly fans may be asked to leave.

14.  There is no mandatory play rule for each player in each game.

15.  Starting Line-up:

       a.  Teams may bat 9 players, the entire lineup, or in-between. Once the number of batters is determined, it must

remain the same for the entire game.  Any time a player can not hit in his/her spot in the batting order, the

vacancy will result in an out if a substitute is not available.  Unlimited defensive substitutions may be used

regardless of the number of batters.

b.      A substitute is anyone not placed in the batting order. Once a substitute bats or runs for a player, the sub and
the original starter are locked into that batting position and either one may bat or run in that position ONLY.

16.  Substitutions (Batting):

       a.  A starter may be substituted for at any time, and if upon re-entering the game, he/she must be

            placed in the same batting position he/she held upon starting.

       b.  A starter may not be in the batting order at the same time as his/her substitute. 

17.  A team may play if only 8 players are present and able to play, but not with 7.  If a team starts a game

      with only 9 players and one has to leave the game for any reason, the team may continue to play with 8

      and the vacated batting line up spot shall be considered an out.

18.  No player shall throw a bat, helmet, glove, or any object to show frustration with or disapproval of a call

       made by an umpire.  If so, the player shall be automatically ejected without warning.  If ejected, the

       player must leave the field and dugout area, and shall be suspended for the next tournament game in

       which his/her team participates.

19.  A manager, coach, scorekeeper or team official who is ejected shall also be suspended for the next

       tournament game in which his/her team participates.

20.  All players must be in uniform with numbers on jerseys.

21.  Only the on-deck batter is allowed out of the dugout.  Only players, coaches, and one scorekeeper shall

       be allowed in the dugout and playing area.

22.  An offensive player is not required to slide into any base or home plate.  If a runner attempts to dislodge

      a ball held by the catcher or a fielder by (a) causing a collision, (b) throwing a elbow, forearm, fist, etc.,

      (c) kicking, or (d) any flagrant act likely to cause injury, then the runner shall be called out and

      may be ejected from the game.

       For ages 9 - 12, no head-first sliding shall be allowed; however, a runner who has already gained a base

       and is attempting to return to it either because of a pickoff attempt or a run-down, may slide headfirst

       into the base.

       For ages 13 - 15, headfirst sliding is allowed.

23.  Players ages 9 - 12 are not allowed to steal until the ball crosses the plate.  Therefore there are no

       balks in these age groups.

24.  No metal-cleated baseball shoes shall be worn by players 12 and under.

25.  Pitching Rules:

       a.  There are no pitching inning limitations.  It will be at each coach’s discretion. 

       b.  A starting pitcher who is removed from the mound but remains in the game may return to the mound

            in the same game.  A relief pitcher may not return to the mound after being removed.  A starting

            pitcher who is removed from the game may not return to the mound, but may be reentered into the

            game as a defensive player.  If any part of this rule is violated it is considered an improper substitution and

            should be immediately corrected with no penalty.

26.  Final Score:  The winning team is responsible for reporting the final score to tournament headquarters after

       games conclude so the brackets may be updated.

27.  Game Length:

a.     All games, in all age groups, shall be six innings.  During pool play for all age groups, a game may end in a tie.  If there is time remaining on the clock after 6 full innings have been completed and the game is tied, the international tiebreaker rule will be in effect (the last batter of the previous inning will be placed on 2^nd base).  The game will continue until time runs out or a winner is determined, whichever occurs first.  If time runs out and the score is still tied, the game will end in a tie.  An inning must be completed if time runs out and the home team needs to bat.  Tie games count ½ a win.  Tiebreakers in pool play are 1.  Head to head 2.  Runs allowed 3.  Runs scored 4.  Coin Toss. 

b.    All games (including the championship) shall have a time limit of one hour and forty-five minutes.  No inning shall begin after the expiration of one hour and forty-five minutes from the first pitch.  If an inning begins and the clock runs out, that inning alone will be completed.  The home plate umpire shall note the official starting time immediately prior to the first pitch.  If the home team is batting and leading when time expires, and the game is considered complete (see rule 11), the game will stop and that inning will not be finished.

c.     All single elimination games in the championship rounds must have a winner.  If the score is tied after six complete innings or after time has expired, the international tiebreaker rule will be in effect (the last batter of the previous inning will be placed on 2^nd base) with no outs. 

d.    Slaughter will be as follows:

15 runs after 3 innings or 2 ½ if the home team is ahead

10 runs after 4 innings or 3 ½ if the home team is ahead

  8 runs after 5 innings or 4 ½ if the home team is ahead

This rule will not be waived for the championship games.

28.  Bat Requirements:

a.     Ages 9 thru 12, no bat with a barrel diameter greater than 2 1/4 inches will be allowed. 

b.    Age 13, no limitations. 

c.     Ages 14 and 15, all bats must be BBCOR certified. 

d.    Any player using an illegal bat will be called out.

29.  Field Measurements

a.     Ages 9 thru 12 play on fields with 60’ bases and 46’ pitching mound.

b.    Ages 13 thru 15 play on fields with 90’ bases and 60’ 6” pitching mound.

30.  If a game is forfeited in pool play for any reason, the score will be considered 10 – 0.

31.  All other rules will follow the National Federation of High School Rules