Washington Township Baseball League, Inc.

“A non-profit Organization”  

1.       No player may participate until a registration form and insurance waiver, have been completed and on file.

2.       Player Divisions are as follows:

Clemente: A player who is 7 or 8 yrs. old on May 1_st;
Mays: A player who is 9 or 10 yrs. old on May 1_{st ;}
Reese: A player who is 11 or 12 yrs. old on May 1_st;
Koufax: A player who is 13,14, or 15 yrs. old on May 1_st.
Wedge Wood Bat: A player is 15-21 old in current season must not be 22 by 12/31 of any season 

Any variations to the above age rulings will be approved only through the board of directors, Washington Township Baseball League.

3.       Players must participate in 75% of the scheduled games to be eligible for awards. (exception in rule 4)

4.       Players who miss 25% of scheduled games may be dismissed from the team and may not be eligible for awards. Valid circumstances will waive this rule: Vacations, Illness, or Injury. Before any coach can enforce this rule it has to be brought before the board where both parties must be present.

5.       Players who continually miss practice without a valid reason may be set out for one game. Before any disciplinary action is taken, the coach must notify his division’s commissioner for a ruling. If a player is to sit out, the opposing coach needs to be notified prior to the affected game.

6.       A team must field a minimum of 8 players or forfeit the game. Seven players must be from the team’s original team roster. One pickup player may be from the division directly below. They must play outfield and bat last in the order. As soon as the team can field nine of its own players, the pickup player must be removed from the game. Additional players may only be added to fill the roster to 9 players only.

7.       Only participating players along with 1 manager, 2 coaches, and 1 scorekeeper for each team will be allowed in the dugout. NO food or refreshment in dugout unless permission has been given by the team manager.

8.       The home team has the third base dugout and bats second. The visiting team has the first base dugout and bats first. The home team keeps the official scorebook.

9.       Home team is responsible for pulling out the bases an putting them away after the final game of the day or night. The visiting team is responsible for raking  the diamonds.

10.    No tobacco, in any form, is permitted in the dugouts or cursing will be allowed in the dugouts or playing field. There will be NO smoking permitted in the Complex.

11.    Managers and their coaches are responsible for the conduct of themselves, their players, and fans.

12.    In the interest of safety, no jewelry of any type may be worn during a game. Final decision in this matter is up to umpire.

13.    Each team is responsible for cleaning up their dugout and bleacher area after each game, before getting team drinks. If a team fails to do so their team will be required to clean the entire diamond and bleacher area before their next regularly scheduled late game, which may delay the starting of the game or may result in forfeiture. Exception is due to bad weather that forces players from playing area.

14.    A 10-minute infield practice for visiting team shall begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the first scheduled game of the night. The home team shall have 10 minutes immediately following. Subsequent games will have NO infield except that during pitching warm-up.

15.    If game is called because of time limit and the score is tied, the game shall be called a tie. If this is a tournament game, the game will be played till a winner is declared. On issues of time and questions about if there is time remaining to start a new inning: In ALL leagues, the next inning shall begin immediately once the third out has been recorded in the bottom of the previous inning.

16.    League games are to be started promptly at their scheduled times.

17.    If a manager or coach visits the mound more than one time in any inning, he/she must change pitchers. A manager or coach CANNOT ask their pitcher to meet at the foul line to avoid it being designated as a visit. This action will be defined as a visit. Once a pitcher is removed from the pitching position, he/she may not return to pitch in that game.

18.   Any protest must be put in writing within 24 hours of the protested game and must be presented to the board. The protest must also be made verbally to the home plate umpire immediately following the “problem” and before the game has been resumed. The umpire shall advise a board member that the game is being played under protest. The board shall make a ruling in a reasonable period of time.

19.   No metal cleats are permitted in league play, league tournament and or all star games.  Exception to the rule is Wedge wood bat division for Spring and Fall.

20.    Ejection from a game will occur under the following circumstances:

If, in the judgment of an umpire, there is intent to injure a player by another player, immediate ejection shall take place.

Unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of coaches or players, verbally reported by a league official or written by others with verification, may result in an appearance before the board. The above conduct shall include, but not limited to language, gestures, or throwing of equipment.

A player, coach, or spectator may be ejected from a game or the entire ballpark by either an umpire or a league official.

An individual who has been ejected from a game may be placed out of sight and sound. If asked to leave, the ejected person must vacate the premises immediately.

A coach or player ejected from a game will be ineligible to participate in his/her next scheduled game.

A spectator ejected from the ballpark may not attend the next game and may be subject to indefinite suspension.

21.    It is suggested that all players wear a protective cup for their own safety.

CATCHERS MUST WEAR A CUP AND A THROAT GUARD. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

The umpire should ask the catcher, and not allow those not wearing a cup to catch.

22.    In case of wet diamond, the decision to postpone games shall be made at the earliest possible time before the start of the game. A designated board member shall notify the umpire scheduler and all commissioners affected. The cancelations will be posted to the website and twitter immediately. Coaches will notify parents when available. Website and Twitter will be the quickest avenue for notification.

23.    Each coach must inform the league Commissioner of any change in his team player status. Failure to do so could result in game forfeit.

24.    Any person appearing for practice or a game in an obviously drug/alcohol induced state shall be immediately ejected from the ballpark. A player or coach in this condition will be subject to a board review.

25.    A runner is out when he/she DOES NOT attempt to avoid malicious contact (whether intentional or not) with a fielder upon approaching a base. A runner colliding with a fielder and could have avoided contact by sliding will be called out and possible ejection (unless the fielder, including the catcher, is not making a play for the ball). The purpose for this rule is to avoid injury to the runner and/or the fielder.

26.    Fake tags are not allowed. A penalty of game ejection if baserunner slides in reaction to fake tag by defensive player. No hidden ball tricks are allowed.

27.    Any pitcher hitting 3 batters in an appearance must be removed from the pitching position. Exception are made in specific division rules.

28.    Permanent cancellations of rainouts or make-up games are to be left up to the discretion of the Commissioners and league scheduler. A suspended game (if rescheduled) that has not completed 4 innings MUST resume from the point in which the game was suspended. If the game has completed at least 4 innings, then the game will be considered a completed game, and the score will be posted as the final score. If the game was suspended in an incomplete inning, then the score will be based on the final full complete inning. Clemente must complete 3 innings to be considered a complete game, otherwise the game will need to resume where the score left off.  

29.    Any runner removed because of illness or injury must be replaced by the player who made the last out. This position in the batting order is not an out during regular season league play. This position in the batting order IS an out during league tournament play.

30.    All leagues: When a catcher is on base with 2 outs, the player making the last out may pinch run for the catcher (unless it is the last inning).

31.    Each Team must have a designated “Team Parent” for each game. It is their responsibility to do the following: work the scoreboard, announce on the PA, make sure the dugouts and bleacher areas are picked up after each game, assist with raking the fields after each game, and other duties as deemed necessary. It is the coach’s responsibility to assign this position for every team.

32.    In order to work in the concession stand a worker must be part of a Wallen family

(Must be 12 years of age or older).

33.    Bat limitations do apply in the Koufax Division (See Koufax Division Rules).

34.    In order to move up to a higher aged division all of the following criteria MUST apply:

*Player must attend the correct division’s tryout;

*All board members and coaches in attendance at the tryout will evaluate the player; *Board members ONLY will make the final decision with feedback from the coaches at the tryout;

*Evaluation of the player must be higher than a "B" rating;

*Must be absolutely clear to the family that it’s an evaluation during the tryout to determine whether the player can move up.

35.    Each division is scheduled min. of 1 game a week and up to max of 3 games a week.  If have to schedule 4 games a week for any circumstances (Examples, rainouts, no fields avail. and or heat index), Wallen Complex in Baseball and Softball division guarantee 12-14 games in spring season including end of season tournament, any division may be scheduled more than 12-14 games. The spring season is April thru Middle of July.  For Fall season 8-10 games guarantee no tournament given.  Tee and Lob will not exceed 10-12 games for spring and 8-10 games in fall.  Tee and Lob will never have more than max of 3 games a week.

36.    If a team is scheduled more than 3 games a week, a pitcher is allowed 3

additional innings per week.  ONLY IN THE ADDED GAME (#4) and in following pitch counts listed in Rule #37

37.    Baseball “Pitch Counts” and rest period Guidelines, along with following these rules and the above appearances for pitchers in each division and their specific ages. Follow days rest, nothing with definitions of hours or rest.  Also if pitcher is at 5 pitches or less remaining in daily max pitch count may not start a new batter.

Ages                          Daily Max Pitches          0 Day Rest       1 Days Rest       2 Days Rest        3 Days Rest       4 Days Rest         5 Days Rest

                                                                       # of pitches      # of pitches       # of pitches       # of pitches        # of pitches         # of pitches

7-8 years                                            50                            1-20                21-35                 36-50                  N/A                    N/A                   N/A

9-10 years                                       75                            1-20                21-35                 36-50                 51-65                 66-75                  N/A

Breakdown if they pitch and the above # of pitches occur,   this is layout for all coaches to follow when the pitcher pitch again.

Examples                                                        Can Pitch again                     

38.  Rules are subject to change due to any extraordinary situation. Any rule changes will be determined and approved by the Executive Board of Wallen after it pass thru each leagues division either of Baseball, Softball or Tee/Lobb.