Central Oregon Adult Baseball
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Rules of Play

(updated 02/2024)

Central Oregon Adult Baseball used a modified version of the NFHS rules and regulations. See below for change and adjustments we have made to maintain high and competitive play.

A. General

  1. All games are scheduled to be 7 innings
  2. Teams are responsible for keeping all dugouts and fields clean and free from debris and adhering to any and all rules of each particular field. Violations may result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to forfeit, fine and suspension.
  3. Only wood or wood equivalent bats shall be used.

B. Game Play

  1. Open substitution of rostered players is allowed during the game in order to encourage more playing time and to prevent injuries. Courtesy runners are allowed for any player, and should be a player on the bench or the last batted out, if no bench players are available. If no batted outs have occurred, or no players batted out are available to run, and there is no player available to run who is on the bench, then the courtesy runner shall be the player nearest to the bottom of the lineup who is able to run the bases.
  2. Balks are played live
  3. A fake pick off to third followed by a throw to first base is ILLEGAL and will result in a balk

C. Start of Play

  1. The umpire shall announce the start time of the game immediately subsequent to declaring the commencement of play.
  2. Number of Players.
    Though a team may begin a game with 8 players if it so chooses, this team may borrow one player from the opposing team with the consent of the lending manager.  The lending manager shall choose which player from his team to lend to the team with 8.  Should the borrowing team have another player arrive to give them 9 or more, the lending manager may elect to take back the borrowed player.  It is the intent of this rule that teams be able to field a minimum of nine players at all times.  In the event a team does not have the minimum eight players at the field with which to begin a game, there shall be a 15 minute grace period delaying the official start of the game.  The game shall not be ruled a forfeit during such time. In the event no additional player(s) arrives during the 15 minute grace period, the managers shall have the authority to determine a forfeit.
  3. A team must have 7 players registered to their team in order for a game to begin officially. In the case of a team not having 7 official players the game will result in a forfeit.

D.  Ending Games

  1. No new inning begins after 2 hours and 30 minutes, unless tied. Extra inning rules apply if there is a tie (see #6).
  2. Darkness: If the managers and the umpires confer and determine play is unsafe due to darkness, they shall have the authority to deem the game ended.  The winner will be the the team who has the lead at the end of the last completed ended.  If the score was tied, then the game will be considered suspended (see #5).
  3. Weather: In the event a game is called due to rain or lightning, the game will be considered over and complete in accordance with MLB rules, except the minimum number of innings to be completed shall be 4 1/2 if home team is ahead and 5 if visitor is ahead.
    In the event of a game being suspended due to weather, electrical outage or time limit due to a delayed start time not caused by the participating teams, the game will be suspended at that point if it is less than a legal game as described above. Said game will resume at the point it was suspended and played until it is officially completed or meets the legal game standard.
  4. An inning is deemed completed and the next inning to commence at the moment the third out of the inning just ended has been recorded.
  5. A suspended game shall resume from the point at which the time limit was exhausted and only that inning will be completed to conclude the game. If the suspended game ends in a tie after the completion of the inning, the game will count as a tie in the standings.
    A suspended game shall be resumed at the next scheduled meeting of the two teams if possible. If the two teams do not have another regular season game remaining on the schedule, the Commissioner will determine whether the game is to be finished and under what conditions.
  6. Extra Innings:  After 7 innings the last batted out from the prior inning shall begin the inning as a runner on 2nd base with no out.
  7. Mercy Rule: This rule shall apply after the following conditions have been met: A game shall be declared complete and a winner decided if at any time a team has a 10-run lead and the team trailing has completed its at-bat in the fifth inning.  Managers will always have the final say when and if a game should end by way of Mercy Rule prior to the 5th inning being complete.

 

E. Playoff Rules: during tournament play, rules change a little in order to make games more fair and competitive.

  1. All rostered players must have played in a minimum of 6 games for the team they are rostered on.
  2. If a batter cannot complete his at bat and there is no substitute available on the bench, an out is issued for his spot in the batting order.
  3. A starting pitcher may re-enter to pitch in relief once per game. No other pitchers can re-enter during that game.
  4. A starting batter may re-enter the game into his original spot in the batting order after being removed, but only once per game.
  5. Free defensive substitutions are still allowed.
  6. Playoff format will use three rounds. Each round will be a best 2 of 3 series. (Divional Round, Conference Championship Round, League Championship Round)
  7. Conference seeding tiebreakers are decided as follows (Head-to-head, record in conference games, score differntial)

F. Roster Construction:  Rules set in place to maintain a competitive and fun balance of play.

  1. Each team's roster size is up to managers discretion.
  2. During the offseason (conclusion of championship series until the spring board of directors meeting) each ESTABLISHED team is allowed to add up to (2) new players. Upon adding new players the appropriate managers of the team will announce the addition to the all other managers. 
  3. During the offseason (conclusion of championship series until the spring board of directors meeting) each EXPANSION team is allowed to add as many new players as they seem fit. Upon adding new players the appropriate managers of the team will announce the addition to the all other managers. 
  4. Players being added must register for their new team. Once a player registers as a "free agent" they will remain a free agent until they are selected at the yearly draft.
  5. A team's manager may make a request for additional players being added during this time to the board of directors, upon approval the team will forfeit draft picks of equal value.