Bensenville Slugfest

Bensenville Slugfest Baseball Tournament

Rules

Bases: 80′
Pitchers Plate: 54′

  1. Games will be 7 innings in length (unless shortened by time limit).
  2. 15 players per roster maximum. Players may only be rostered on one tournament team.
  3. Copies of birth certificates must be presented at check-in and must be available during the course of the tournament.
  4. Everyone will play 5 games (weather permitting).
  5. Each team will provide 1 game ball for each game. A tournament coordinator will provide game balls for every team at the start of tournament.
  6. Individual awards for 1st and 2nd place winners. All participants will receive tournament bag tag.
  7. The diamond shall not be used by either team prior to the start of the game. All warm ups should be in the outfield grass or outside of the foul lines within the infield.
  8. Pitchers will be allowed to pitch 3 innings per game.
  9. Pitchers must be removed if they hit two batters in an inning or three batters during their stay on the mound.
  10. 1 pitch constitutes 1 inning pitched.
  11. Pitcher must be removed after second coach’s visit in an inning. Pitcher must be removed after third total visit during the pitcher’s stay on the mound.
  12. Lead-offs are allowed.
  13. Balk rules are in effect … 1 warning per pitcher.
  14. Dropped 3rd strike rule is in effect.
  15. Infield fly rule is in effect.
  16. Players must slide to avoid contact or may be called out (umpires judgement).
  17. Slaughter rule is 15 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is winning) and 10 runs after 5 innings (4½ if home team is winning).
  18. Home team (or team listed second) occupies 3rd base dugout. Visitor (or team listed first) occupies 1st base dugout.
  19. Must start game with at least 9 players and end with at least 9 players. Failure to do so will result in a forfeit.
  20. All managers must submit their line-up to the opposing manager before the game starts.
  21. Players in uniform may not sit more than 3 consecutive innings.
  22. A continuous batting order will be used and free defensive substitution is allowed.
  23. Any player that leaves before the end of the game will be an out; injured players will be skipped in the lineup. If a player is skipped in the batting order then he may not return.
  24. Players may not wear any type of jewelry including watches, rings, pins, earrings, etc. Necklaces/chains are approved as long as they are hidden inside the jersey.
  25. Players arriving late to the game may be added to the end of the batting order but must be there before the end of the line-up has batted or they cannot play.
  26. Pitchers are allowed 5 warm-up pitches between innings. New pitchers are allowed 8 warm-up pitches.
  27. Courtesy runners are optional at any time for the pitcher and catcher. The courtesy runner shall be the last batted out. The pitcher or catcher for this rule is the pitcher or catcher of the previous inning. If this situation arises in the first inning and no outs have been recorded, the pitcher or catcher shall remain on the bases until an out is recorded.
  28. All bats are legal (bring it and swing it). Preferred bats should be stamped with USA, USSSA, or BBCOR. Wood bats are also allowed.
  29. Games must go a minimum of 5 innings (4½ if home team is winning) to be considered as have reached regulation.
  30. All games have a time limit (except Championship) … a new inning cannot be started after 2:00 hours. Games may end in a tie during pool play (if played to regulation) but must be played to completion during bracket play.
  31. The “California Rule” is in effect for tie games after regulation or if the time limit has been reached during bracket play. The last out from the previous inning (last batter) starts on 2nd base with 1 out. All batters will start with a 1-1 count. When the California rule is in effect, the catcher may not be pulled from base to prepare for the next inning.
  32. Ground rules will be discussed by umpire(s) and coaches prior to the game.
  33. There will be a 10 minute grace period after the scheduled start time for teams who do not have 9 players at game time. The game will be declared a forfeit after this grace period.
  34. Games decided by forfeit will be recorded as 7-0.
  35. Intentional walks are allowed. The plate umpire must be notified and no pitches are required.
  36. There is a maximum of four coaches allowed in the dugout including the scorekeeper.
  37. If any discrepancies occur during a game, a tournament coordinator will decide the outcome before play resumes. This is only for rules, not umpire calls.
  38. Scorekeepers must verify score after each inning.
  39. Lightning Rule: When thunder is heard or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen, play shall be suspended for at least 20 minutes. Any subsequent thunder or lightning after the beginning of the 20 minute count shall reset the clock and another 20 minute count shall begin

TIE BREAKERS

– Head to Head (if only two teams)
– Total runs allowed
– Total runs scored
– Coin Flip