The Rules

Lenape Men’s Softball League

Rules and Regulations

1. Ball will be an optic yellow .44 core/ 375 compression.
2. 1-1 Count. No fouls after 2 strikes.
3. Home Run limit: Upper bracket is 5. Lower bracket is 3 and 1 up to 5. Teams may go one up in order to win the game in the bottom of the last inning (regulation or extra innings).
4. Courtesy Runner: Each team is allowed 1 courtesy runner per inning. It must be the last batted out that occurred prior to the player needing the courtesy runner. If a team bats around in the same inning, only that player is permitted to receive a courtesy runner. It will once again be the last batted out prior to him reaching base.
5. Bats will be NSA approved. Mid season banning of bats will be enforced. If NSA deems a bat illegal during the season, that bat will be illegal in the league as well.
6. Pitching rules: 6’ – 10’ arc. No juking.
7. Mound will placed at 53’. Bases will be 65’.
8. Playoff eligibility will be 60% of the games. You must appear in the game (plate appearance, inning in the field) in order to deemed eligible for that game.
9. Each team will have a floating roster for the first 5 weeks. On May 14th each team’s roster will be frozen. Only the players on this roster will be eligible to play the remaining of the season and in the playoffs (if they are eligible).
10. Books must be kept. Last name, first initial of each player. Substitutes’ names are to be entered on the bottom. NO nicknames or initials. Coaches are responsible for not only their team, but for the other team as well. This will help in eligibility and correct scorekeeping. Home teams book will be considered the official book for the game.
11. Ejections- Players ejected must exit the game. They may be asked to leave the dugout, field, or premises on the request of the umpire. Players ejected will sit out the remainder of that game and the entire following game. There is no lessening of the suspension due to the time of ejection from the prior game. Ejections for confrontation (verbal/ physical) with the umpire may constitute ejection from the league for the remainder of that year and the possible future years. The league committee will decide the length of the sentence. Confrontation rule will include the time before, during, and after the game.
12. Umpire payment will take place prior to the start of the game, during ground rules. Payment will be $16 per team.
13. Ground rules must be covered thoroughly and will serve as the word of the umpire. Any rules not covered in the ground rules will be interpreted by the umpire. Umpire’s word is final.
14. Protests must be presented to the umpire at the time of the issue. A team cannot wait an inning later to file their protest. Protests must be reported to Dave Cliver within 24 hours of the game.
15. All games are to start on time. 6:30 games will have a 15 minute grace period. 7:45 and 9:00 games have no grace period. If the games are running late, the coaches are to exchange lineups prior to entering the field. Teams must start if 9 players are present.
16. A team must have 9 rostered players in order to start. You can add up to 10 players at any time during the game. Players are able to enter the game as soon as they are ready. Due to insurance reasons, this is a men’s league, and women are unable to participate. Teams are not able to borrow a player from another team to fill their lineup. This is not a topic of discussion between the two teams and the umpire. A forfeit will be awarded.
17. Winning teams are to email Dave Cliver or post results/ scores on the league website within 48 hours of the game’s completion in order to update the standings and notify the Trentonian. Games played on Friday will not be reflected in the standings posted Sunday’s Trentonian.
18. Mercy Rule: 20 after 3 innings, 15 after 4, 12 after 5+.
19. Extra innings: Each team will start with a man on second. This player will be the last batted out from the inning before. You are allowed to use the courtesy runner for this player. A pinch runner may also be used.
20. Baserunners cannot leave the base until contact is made with either the bat, the ground, or catcher’s glove.
21. A third strike foul will be considered a dead ball. Players cannot advance on a caught third strike foul. If a third strike foul is caught the umpire must make a fair/ foul call and return the runners back to the base(s).
22. Playoffs: Tope 8 from each bracket make the playoffs. Playoffs will be rotated day to day (Upper, Lower, Upper, Lower, etc). Quarterfinals and Semifinals will be the best of 3. The finals will be the best of 5. The league will pay for the umpires in the finals.
23. Forfeits: Umpires will be paid $16 travel fee for a forfeit. If the team forfeiting is present they are to pay the umpire fee. If a team doesn’t show, the team receiving the forfeit will pay the umpire and be reimbursed by the forfeiting team within one week. If a team forfeits 3 times it will be ejected from the league.
24. Rainouts/ Makeups will be rescheduled by league officials. If a game is postponed while it is being played and is prior to the 5th inning it will be rescheduled and played from the point it was postponed. If a full 4 innings has been played, the game will be considered a complete game. The home team must bat in the bottom of the fourth inning. If a game is halted and not complete, the umpire will reimburse half ($16) of the umpire payment ($8 per team). Teams will pay the umpire the remaining $16 when the game is completed.
25. Lights are to be turned off by the umpires at the completion of the 9:00 game. Teams are to exit the dugouts in a prompt and timely fashion.
26. Home team will be in the first base dugout, visiting team will be in the third base dugout.
27. Drinking will be done in the parking lot or down the first base side of the field. Teams will not be allowed to drink on the third base side of the field, by the request of Medford Twp.
28. Winner of the lower bracket playoffs will have the option of defending their title or moving up the following year. If the same team wins the regular season as well, they will be required to move up the following year. Last place finisher in the upper bracket will have the option of which bracket to play in the following year.