(updated 08/2023)

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: If a pitcher commits an illegal pitching motion with runners on base and a balk is called the batter may still swing and play on. In the case of a ball being put in play the batter may choose to take outcome of the batted ball.

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.

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.

E. Tournament 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.