TOURNAMENT RULES

General Rules

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• Fair Play - Each player must play at least 3 complete innings in a defensive position in a 6-inning game.

• Fair Play - No player may sit out 2 consecutive defensive innings.

• Every player bats and the batting order remains the same throughout the game. Players removed from the game, due to injury or ejection, are removed from the batting order.

• Unlimited defensive substitutions, except the pitcher, who may not re-enter as pitcher

• Home team is decided on the schedule except for what is noted on the schedule as a coin toss. Home team must occupy 3rd base dugout.

• Stealing home is permitted during any inning.

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Run Limits and Open Innings

• The first two innings will have a 2-run limit; innings 3, 4 and 5 will have a 4-run limit; and only the 6th inning can be declared open.

• Mercy Rule – If a team is leading its opponent by at least 10 runs after five or more equal innings have been played, or after four and one-half innings if the home team should have a 10-run lead at the end of its 4 th inning, or before the completion of its 5 th inning, the game shall be terminated and the team in front declared the winner.

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Weather and Time Limits

• Teams are expected to show up rain or shine, unless notified by the Tournament Coordinator.

• No new inning to be started after 2 hours from scheduled start time unless start is delayed due to weather or schedule delay.

• No round robin game is to exceed 2 hours and 30 minutes. At the 2½ hour time, the game will stop and the final score will be that of the last complete inning.

• Semi-finals and finals will have no time limit.

 

Tie-Breaking

• For round-robin games: if the score is tied after 6 complete innings or after the last complete inning in the case where the 2½ hour limit is reached, the score will be recorded as a tie.

• No ties in semi-finals and final.

• Round robin tie-breaking rules as per BCBA Rule 29:

1. Statistics are calculated based upon the games between the teams that are tied with each other, and not all the games in the competition.

2. If the first part of the rule places one team above others in the case of three or more teams involved in the tie, but the remaining teams are still tied, then the remaining parts of the rule are applied using statistics from the matches involving all the original teams in the tie. 

3. If a team involved in a tie has forfeited a game played between tied teams they will be automatically eliminated from the tie and the criteria above will be used to determine placement between the remaining teams. 

4. The team with the best win/loss record in the game(s) played between the tied teams will place higher in the standings. 

5. If the tie persists, the placement of teams will be dictated by the ratio of number of runs allowed per defensive inning. A defensive inning is defined as having taken the field and a pitch thrown. 

6. If the tie persists, the placement of teams will be dictated by the ratio of runs scored per offensive inning. An offensive inning is defined as having been at bat for at least one pitch. 

7. If the tie persists, then the team with the best won/loss record against the highest placed team not in the tie, followed by a comparison to the next placed team, etc., will place higher in the standings. 

8. If after the application of the four rules, there still remains a tie, then the four rules will be reapplied to the remaining tied teams, except that the statistics will be based on the games between only the remaining tied teams, and not all of the teams in the original tie.

 

Pitching Rules

• There is no requirement for younger/inexperienced pitchers in first 2 innings; any eligible pitcher can be used in any inning.

• Rest required after games:

  • 1-25 pitches: no rest

  • 25-40 pitches: 2 nights rest  - if a player exceeds 40 pitches to "finish a batter", he/she will require 3 nights rest

  • 41-55 pitches: 3 nights rest

  • 75 pitches maximum in a day; pitcher may exceed 75 pitches to "finish a batter".

• A pitcher who pitches 25 or fewer pitches in a game may play in a second game that day; if a pitcher has two appearances in the same day his/her total pitch count for the day is combined for the purpose of rest.

  • Example: Player pitches 25 pitches in Game 1, then may pitch up to 50 pitches in Game 2 of the same day, then will require 5 nights rest

  • Example: Player pitches 12 pitches in Game 1, then pitches up to 13 pitches in Game 2 of the same day, no rest required (may pitch the next day)

• If a pitcher hits 3 batters in a game, he/she must be replaced, unless the umpire determines that the batter could have avoided being hit through reasonable effort.

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End of Play

• Under any of the following scenarios, runners who have stopped must return to their base:

  • If the catcher has control of the ball in fair territory (ie. on or ahead of the plate)

  • If the pitcher has control of the ball ON THE MOUND - mere possession of the ball does not bring play to an end.​

  • If the catcher has returned the ball to the mound but an overthrow occurs - we are not coaching players to take advantage of a pitcher who has trouble catching the throwback from the catcher

• These rules are not intended to stop the advance of a runner who is already en route to the next base, but please be reasonable; if they are only one or two steps off the bag, please regard the play as dead and have the player return to the base.

• After a walk occurs, the play is live until one of the above scenarios occurs; the walked runner may continue to advance. Please coach your players to get the ball back to the pitcher.

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Scorekeeping / Pitch Count

• Both teams are encouraged to keep score and pitch counts for both teams; teams should consult with each other during the game to ensure no disagreements occur. 

• Home team records will be the official records.

• Head Coach from both teams should sign the official score card and pitch count sheets to indicate agreement. Following the game, home team must email or text the final score, the number of innings played (including half-innings as required) and an image of the pitch count sheets to mosquitoscores@gmail.com or 604 340 3859.

• Please retain score cards and pitch count sheets for later review in case of disagreement.

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End-of-Game Activities

• Following the game, teams should form handshake line as usual, then line up on 1st-base and 3rd-base lines to receive Game MVP awards.

• If another team is waiting, please clear the dugout prior to holding any end-of-game debriefings with your team.

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Game MVPs

• Coaches will select and present a Game MVP award to one player from each team following each game.

• No player may win more than one Game MVP award during the course of the tournament.

• Coaches are encouraged to consult with the opposition coaches regarding the MVP, but generally your coach will make the final decision. The MVP award should be presented by the opposition coach.