PCAA Rookie II Division - Machine Pitch

Purpose

The Rookie II division is an important stepping-stone for young baseball players who have developed strong fundamental baseball skills. We teach situational baseball concepts and refine hitting and throwing techniques. The rules of the game are more established and teams are required to stop the lead runner. Players hit from a pitching machine calibrated to consistently deliver pitches at approximately 45 mph.

Ages

Boys & Girls ages 6-8

 Practice & Games

·      Practices occur one night during the week for 90 minutes.

·      Games are played on Saturday plus occasional weeknights, and are scheduled for 2 hours.

·      All practices and games are held at Pineville Memorial Ballpark on Fields 1 & 2 (unless otherwise noted).

·      Following the regular season, a playoff tournament will be held for each division.  Format will be dictated by number of teams competing.

Evaluations & Draft

All players are evaluated by coaches at the start of each season to determine their skill level. Players are then privately ranked based on the evaluation results and divided into Rookie I and Rookie II divisions. The split between divisions takes into account a number of factors including age, safety, coaches, players playing down (from Minors) and roster size. Finally, coaches draft players in an effort to create balanced teams and fair competition. Our aim is to have 6 year olds in Rookie I and 8 year olds in Rookie II and 7 year olds fall in either based on eval scores.

 Rules & Regulations

The Rookie divisions are guided by Official Baseball Rules (OBR) and Babe Ruth League Baseball Rules & Regulations.

All bats used for this division must have a "USABat" marking clearly visible on the bat handle. Hitting with an illegal bat will result in the batter being out. This rule can be enforced from the point the batter enters the batter’s box and until the next batter receives their first pitch.

All players are required to wear a cup.

PCAA has instituted "Local League Rules" as an age specific overlay for each of the divisions.

 Local League Rules

The Pitching Machine is placed at 46’ from home plate.

Speed setting as follows:  Machine settings calibrated to ~45 MPH.

Roster and Lineup Overview

Roster size will differ between the division but may be smaller to promote maximum infield development.

Games may be started with as few as 8 players.

The following positions MUST be fielded: P, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LC and RC.

A player from a lower division may be "called up" to play to ensure a team has 8 (or 9 to avoid the automatic out scenario listed below) players. The "call-up" player MUST bat last in the lineup and may ONLY play an outfield position. Non-roster players MUST come from a lower division and can only be used to fill out a lineup when rostered players are unavailable.
NOTE: A non-roster player cannot be used if this addition would create an imbalance between the teams (ex: if both teams have 8 rostered players in attendance, the game can be played as 8 v 8 or 9 v 9 (both teams picking up one player from a lower division), but NOT 9 v 8.

Note: If “Team A” has 8 players and “Team B” has 10 or more players, then “Team A” will have an automatic out each time through their lineup. The coach for "Team B" is encouraged to waive the automatic out rule before the start of the game as a gesture of good sportsmanship.

·      8 Player Roster: Traditional infield and 2 outfielders.

·      9 Player Roster: Traditional infield and 3 outfielders.

·      10 Player Roster: Traditional infield and 4 outfielders (RF, RC, LC and LF).

·      Any team with an 11-player roster must sit one player per innings. No 5th outfielder.

Position Playing Requirements

·      Minimum of two (2) full innings at an infield position per player per game. The catcher position DOES count toward this requirement.

·      Minimum of one (1) full inning at an outfield position per player per game.

·      Maximum of three (3) innings at a single position player per game.

·      No defensive player can sit out two innings before every player has sat out once.

Failure to comply with these rules for developmental purposes will result in the team forfeiting the game. These rules exist to encourage coaches to develop players in more than one position.

A player rotation sheet should be provided to the other team for accountability and transparency.

Commissioner’s Note: If you feel that another coach is not in compliance with positioning requirements (whether intentionally or unintentionally), please make them aware 1:1 in a non-confrontational manner. In recreational baseball, a forfeit based on a technicality is an embarrassing outcome for all parties, so please assume positive intent from your peers and attempt to rectify the situation without drawing attention. 90% of the time, this is likely to have been an unintentional oversight.

Field Prep

·      Home team lines field before game and uses 1B dugout.

·      Lining consists of batter’s boxes, baselines, pitching arc. Base coaches box and on deck circles are optional.

·      Away team drags field after game.

·      Each team locks their respective dugout, if they are the last game of day; if not sure, lock it.

·      Each team is responsible for cleaning up their respective dugout, ensuring no trash is remaining.

·      One game ball per team will be supplied by each coach at the beginning of the game.

·      One ball is returned to each coach at the completion of the game and distributed as a “game ball” for a player.

Game Details

A coach from each team should meet with the umpire to review the local rules and make sure that all are on the same page.

Game start time will be when the first batter is at the batters box and the machine operator is ready for play. Both coaches should make note of start time and should be determined using a cellular network time.

The inning being played should always continue until completion.  In the case of inclement weather, the game will resume at the same point with all local rules applying.

·      Regular season games CAN end in a tie

·      Mercy Rule: 15 after 4, 10 after 5

·      Games will be scheduled for six (6) innings. No new inning should begin after "playing time" reaches 1 hour and 45 minutes.

·      Games will be deemed official at the conclusion of 4 innings.

·      A paid umpire will oversee all regular season and playoff games.

Scoring

Games should be scored via the Game Changer app.  All league games will be scheduled in the app. Scorekeepers should navigate to that game and begin scoring.  Teams have the option to utilize one scorekeeper for both teams or to utilize a scorekeeper per team.

Lineups should contain the name and number of each player and should be set prior to the start of the game.               

Regular season games CAN end in a tie.

·      First 3 Innings: Five (5) runs maximum per team. A team that is already ahead may score 5 runs.

·      Last 3 innings: Unlimited runs until 3 outs.

Hitting

·      Continuous batting order is in effect. All players hit.

·      Batter receives maximum of FOUR (4) pitches unless 4th pitch is a foul ball. Foul balls are unlimited.

·      Batter is out after 3 strikes or 4 pitches, unless the last pitch is fouled off.

·      No Pitch Rule: The umpire or coaches (when there is no umpire) may call a “No Pitch” if the pitch is deemed unhittable regardless of swing. “No Pitch” does not count toward total. One “No Pitch” per at bat.

·      There are no walks.

·      No Bunting.

·      No slash bunting. A batter is out for illegal action when the player fakes a bunt and then takes a full swing. PENALTY – Batter is out, the ball is dead, no runners may advance.

·      A player who throws a bat after hitting the ball will be issued one warning. Coaches have option to replace any player who throws his or her bat and reaches base with another runner. The last player who made an out. If a player throws the bat a second time in a game -- even during the same at bat -- he or she will be called out.

·      If a batted ball hits the machine prior to being touched by a defender it is an automatic single and all base runners advance ONE base from where they were when the pitch was delivered.

Note: The “Batting Out Of Turn” rule is fully outlined within the Babe Ruth League Official Playing Rules (6.07).

6.07 BATTING OUT OF TURN

(a) A batter shall be called out, on appeal, when he fails to bat in his proper turn, and another batter completes a time at bat in his place.

(1) The proper batter may take his place in the batter’s box at any time before the improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and any balls and strikes shall be counted in the proper batter’s time at bat.

(b) When an improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and the defensive team appeals to the umpire before the first pitch to the next batter of either team, or before any play or attempted play, the umpire shall (1) declare the proper batter out; and (2) nullify any advance or score made because of a ball batted by the improper batter or because of the improper batter’s advance to first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter or otherwise.

(c) When an improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and a pitch is made to the next batter of either team before an appeal is made, the improper batter thereby becomes the proper batter, and the results of his time at bat becomes legal.

(d)

(1) When the proper batter is called out because he has failed to bat in turn, the next batter shall be the batter whose name follows that of the proper batter thus called out;

(2) When an improper batter becomes a proper batter because no appeal is made before the next pitch, the next batter shall be the batter whose name follows that of such legalized improper batter. The instant an improper batter’s actions are legalized, the batting order picks up with the name following that of the legalized improper batter.

The umpire shall not direct the attention of any person to the presence in the batter’s box of an improper batter. This rule is designed to require constant vigilance by the players and managers of both teams.

Safety Bases

·      A batted ball that hits the white half is a fair ball, orange half is a foul ball.

·      When a play is being made on the batter-runner, the defense must use the white half; batter-runner must use the orange half.

NOTE 1: A play is being made on the batter-runner when he/she is attempting to reach first base while the defense is attempting to retire him/her at that base.

NOTE 2: On extra-base hits or other balls hit to the outfield when there is no chance for a play to be made at the double first base, the batter-runner may touch either the white or orange.

·      Once the batter-runner goes beyond first base, he/she may only return to the white half.

·      When tagging up on a fly ball, or prior to leaving base on a batted ball the runner must use the white half.

·       Use of the double first base does not change any other rule concerning interference or obstruction at first base.

Base Running

·      Runners may not leave the base until the batter makes contact. The runner will be removed from the base after one team warning but this will NOT result in an out.

·      No head first sliding.

·      If there is a play at home plate, runners must slide AND avoid aggressive contact with the opposing player. One warning per game, then if a runner does not slide and there’s a “play at the plate” the runner is ruled out. To be clear, a runner does not need to slide if there is no play at home plate.

·      NO sliding at 1B. One warning per team. Second offense per team results in runner sliding at 1B being an automatic out. This is for the safety and protection of the defensive player. Players are allowed to slide back to a base.

·      Coaches are not allowed to touch the runners. The player will be called out after one warning.

·      Base runners must avoid collision at all cost; otherwise they will be called out.

·      If the catcher for the next inning is on base and there are two outs, the catcher should be substituted with the last batter out.

·      Obstruction by a fielder may be called by an umpire, at their discretion, if they feel a fielder significantly or intentionally impeded a runner’s progress resulting in a material impact on the outcome of the play.

·       In the event of an overthrow or missed catch from the INFIELD at any base, the base runner may advance one (1) additional base at-risk.

·       A baserunner cannot score on an INFIELD overthrow. Scenario: Runner on 2B, ball hit to pitcher. Pitcher over throws 1B..runner on 2B can ONLY advance to 3B. Player that hit the ball can run at risk to 2B if 1B was open but runner cannot score.

·      Caught fly balls are subject to the same rules as both infield and outfield ground balls. On infield fly balls, runners are entitled to advance at-risk one base following a legal tag up. On caught fly balls to the outfield, runners may continue to advance after executing a legal tag up until the ball has been returned to the infield and controlled by an infielder.

Stoppage of Play

Specific rules are designed for each division to promote proper development.

Stoppage of play happens when an umpire calls time. If there is no umpire, the coaches should stop play.

Allow the play to play out and apply the rules below.  Runners can always be sent back!  

·      If time is called by an umpire in the middle of a play, all runners go back to the base they were coming from.

·      The umpire should stop play based on the scenarios below.

·      The umpire should be asked, or coaches reminded, during the pre-game meeting to quickly and loudly call time when one of those two conditions have been met.

·      Once an infielder has gained control of the ball, runners may only finish running toward the base directly in front of them AT RISK.

·      While the infielders action or inaction initiates the stoppage of play, the umpire is the ONLY person that can officially stop play.

·      If a runner is unable to advance to a base due to the overthrow rules, the play should be considered stopped

Scenarios:

“Control” or “Possession”  is defined by the area of the field in which a batted ball is first fully controlled by a fielder. The edge of the outfield grass is considered the dividing line. If a ball is controlled on the infield, the remainder of the play is subject to ‘Infield rules’. If the ball is first controlled in the outfield, then the play is subject to ‘Outfield rules’.

Balls hit in Infield (IF)

1.     Bases are empty. Batter hits ball in infield and there is an overthrow or missed catch. Runner can advance to 2B only at risk, even if there are additional overthrows or missed catches.

2.     Runners on base. Batter hits ball in the infield and there is an overthrow, or missed catch. Runners can advance ONE base on the ball in play and ONE base on the overthrow, unless it is from 3B to Home. Runners must be held at 3B on overthrow. Runners must be batted in from 3B.

3.     Runners are on 1B and 2B. Ball is hit in the infield and there is an overthrow. Runners may advance to 2B and 3B only.

4.     Bases are empty or Runners on Base. Ball is hit in the air or the ground in the infield. No infielder gains control of the ball. Any runner who has rounded a base prior to established control may continue to advance to the next base at risk. Once control is established, overthrow rules apply.

Balls hit to Outfield (OF)

1.     Bases empty or runners on any base. Batter hits ball to OF. Runners can continue to advance to any base until the ball is returned to the infield, and an infielder controls the ball. The batter and runners may circle the bases and score if the ball is not controlled by an infielder and an attempt is not made to stop the lead runner. If the infielder controls the ball and then throws the ball to a base that a runner is trying to reach the runners cannot advance past that base, regardless of an overthrow.

If a runner is rounding a base and the ball is thrown behind the runner by an infielder in an attempt to make an out and there is an overthrow, the runner may continue to advance at risk to that base, but only that base. Any other runners may only advance to the base they are heading to.

2.     Ball is hit to the outfield.  Outfielder attempts to throw to a base to get a runner out and the ball is overthrown.  Runners may still advance until an infielder gains control within the defined infield. All other rules in the above section apply.

Fielding

Outfielders

·      Must start each play a minimum of 10' into the grass area.

·      Cannot stop play by calling time.

·      Cannot personally execute a force out at a base or tag a runner.

·      Must throw to an infielder.

Pitcher

·      Must set up within the chalked semi-circle. Coaches may use discretion to move pitcher into safe position behind the machine operator.

·      Has the option of wear a helmet with face protection.

·      Permitted to execute a tag play between 3B and home.

Catcher

·      Coaches should teach the players to make throws to the catcher in most situations.

·      Catchers must set up in the designated catching box.

Coaching

·      The hitting team may have their machine operator, 1B coach, 3B coach and Catcher’s assistant on the field only.

·      Each team should designate a parent or coach to score the game via the Game Changer app. Game Changer/Scorebooks can be consulted if there is a dispute in the score. Team coaches should report any discrepancies in the final score on Game Changer to the Rookie Commissioner.

·      Each team is also allowed a coach in front of the dugout to help with speed of play (adjusting catcher equipment, grabbing bats, etc).

·      There CAN be a parent behind the plate retrieving balls to assist in speeding up gameplay.

·      The defensive team is allowed two (2) coaches on the field. They must be in the outfield and out of play, outside of foul lines.

Machine Pitch Operator

·      NOT intended to function as a coach while on the field. And under no circumstance should the machine pitch operator coach base runners once the ball is in play. One warning. Then machine pitch operator is removed from game.

·      Should stay behind the machine and crouch after ball is hit to avoid interfering with defensive players.