St. Mark Athletic Program
Adult Softball
Open to all Parishioners 25 years or older Co-Ed
Adult Coed
Softball Rules
Games
are 7 innings long; if a team is ahead by 10 or more runs after 5 innings in
the game, the team with the lead will be declared the winner and the game
will end. The players are to be at least 25 years old (exceptions may be
presented to the Commissioner). Bases are 65 feet apart and the pitching
rubber is 50 feet from home base. Only 1 minute between half innings.
CATCHERS MUST WEAR A MASK
In regards to a 6:00 PM game no inning may begin after 7:15 PM. At 7:30 the game ends, the score goes back to score at end of the last full inning. For all other games no inning may begin after 1-1/4 hours of play. Obvious excepts will occur in the tournament.
Both coaches will provide the umpire with one 11" and one 12" ball in good shape prior to the game. The official softballs are marked as either MSP-47 or COR-47. The official 12" softball are marked as either MSP-44 or COR-44. Men bat using a 12" ball, women use an 11" ball.
Unlimited foul balls are permitted.
All batters begin with a one and one count. If a player (woman or man gets a walk with a 4-1 count (3 straight balls thrown to him/her), the batter he will advance to second base, the following batter has the option to advance to first or to bat.
Unlimited defensive substitutions are allowed
All players attending the game must bat. Only ten players may play the field at any one time, with no more than 6 players of one gender. The minimum number of players is 7 (4-3). Men and women must alternate in the batting order. There will be two batting orders; one for women and one for men, either a woman or a man may lead off. If a team wishes they may lead off each inning with the same gender, i.e. a man each inning, but it must be declared before the start of the game.
Only the Coach
may discuss an issue with umpire
A "no
slide, no crash" rule will be in effect for all bases, including home. NO
SLIDING IS PERMITTED. ANY and all incidents will be an automatic out.
Returning to a base or slipping is not considered sliding. The runner has an
obligation not to crash into the defensive player.
A player must turn to the right and may not be tagged out if they are overrunning a base. Any attempt to decoy the fielder cancels the "run by" rule and the runner may be tagged out.
Defensive players may not block a base.
No gross overplaying is allowed. This will not be called if the situation occurs at home base. On the first offense a warning will be issued to the team. On the second offense the umpire will nullify any out that has occurred because of the overplay. The batter and runners will be placed assuming that the ball has been dropped. If the overplay does not result in an out, another warning will be given. This rule applies to both men and women.
Every pitch must be one continuous motion.
NO ALCOHOL PERMITTED
A runner scores by crossing the scoring line.
A runner who has broken the plane of the commitment line will be called out if a defensive player is touching home plate while holding the ball before the runner crosses the scoring line. Normal tag out rules applies to any runner who has turned for home, but who has not passed the commitment line.
Ground Rules by field
St. Bernadette
Any ball hit over the West Fence (along Ambaum), in fair territory is an automatic out.
If a ball hits the netting in right field, it is a live ball unless it gets hung up in the netting. If the ball hangs up in the net, the runners will be placed at the base they would have reached, in the sole judgment of the umpire.
If a ball goes under the fence the umpire will stop play and place the runners at the bases they would have reached in the sole judgment of the umpire.
St. Luke
A ball over the left field fence (to the left of straight away center field) will be an automatic out for men.
St. Monica
If the ball lands or stops in the tall grass, it is a ground rule double.
In right, if the ball lands between the barrier and the fence it is a double.
The sides of the backstop extended forms the out of play line.