GENERAL INFORMATION

MUSTANG 10U™ LEAGUE begins PONY Baseball and Softball belief that rather than change the rules of Baseball and Girls Softball to make it possible for young people to play the game, it is more logical to change the size of the diamonds, to adjust them to the physical potential of the players.

Use of diamonds matched to their capabilities permits younger players to play in the same proportionate position as the Major Leaguers and to make the same plays as a Major Leaguer. The double play, the squeeze play, the force play, etc. all become probabilities instead of remote possibilities.

Beginning with MUSTANG 10U™ LEAGUE Baseball, the players are playing real baseball in accordance with The Rules of Major League Baseball as well as specific PONY rules that are in place to supersede the MLB rules where appropriate such as pitching, substitution, re-entry, etc. MUSTANG 10U™ LEAGUE Girls Softball plays in accordance with the PONY Girls Softball Rulebook.

With scaled down bases and pitching distances, players react quite favorably to the greater challenge of the game and have little difficulty mastering the transition.

RULES

1. Game times will be, no new inning after 1:35, and drop dead after 1:45 or 6 innings.  The final score is the last completed inning. If time runs out and the inning is not completed, the score will revert to the last completed inning.
   
2. 46’ Pitching distance from the tip of home plate to the front of the rubber.
   
3. 60’ Bases.
   
4. All players are required to wear a cup, girls recommended.
   
5. Maximum of three coaches on the field during a game. 
   
6. Continuous batting order
   
7. If you have 9 players to start the game but a player will be showing up late, you have to put them at the bottom of the line-up and let the umpire and other manager know they will be arriving late.  Once the player arrives, let the umpire and other manager know and they will bat in the last batting position.   The player will not be considered an out because you have 9 players.
   
8. If you only have 8 players to start the game and a player is showing up late, if the 9th player does not show up before the 9th batting position bats, it will be an out only the first time around. The second time around will not be an out and the late player cannot enter.
   
9. If a player leaves the game for any reason (with the exception of a medical need), it will be an automatic out that batting position for one rotation.
   
10. Scorekeeping will be done in Game Changer and should be kept by the Home Team.  Home Team is the official scorekeeper of the game unless both teams agree Visitors are the official scorekeeper prior to game. 
    
11. For the first half of the season, max 5 runs per inning. The 5th and 6th innings are open. After the first half of the season, innings are open.
    
12. Daily Max pitches per Pitch Smart chart. Pitchers reaching their maximum number of pitches in a day while pitching to a batter, may finish pitching to that batter before being removed.  Rest days equal full days after the day played. Pitch Counts in Game Changer will be the source of record to manage Pitch Smart. 
    
13. For the first 5 weeks of the season, each pitcher will get a one warning for a balk. Second warning, all runners advance one base. After the first 5 weeks of the season, balks can be called from the start of the game.
    
14. Major League Baseball rules apply i.e.: stealing, lead-offs, drop 3rd strike, infield fly.
    
15. Every player must play 2 innings.
    
16. If there are 2 outs in an inning, you can substitute a pinch runner for your catcher, or pitcher.
    
17. No steel cleats.

The Official Baseball Rules published by PONY apply to all instances unless superseded by MPK Baseball rules.
Last Revised: 031324

FIELD REGULATION

BASES : 60 feet

PITCHING : 46 feet

FAIR PLAY AREA : Within the first base and third base foul lines and a fence or marked line 200 feet from home plate. A ball hit beyond that distance on the fly will be a home run. A minimum home run distance of 175 feet or a maximum of 275 feet will be recognized, with the recommendation that the home run distance be 225 feet at the foul lines and 275 feet in center field to a six or eight foot barrier wherever possible.

BASES, PLATES : The home plate, pitcher's rubber and the bases shall be official size as used in regulation baseball.

PITCHING MOUND : Shall be raised by a gradual slope to a height of four inches above the level of home plate and the base paths.

RESTRAINING LINE : Located along first base, beginning 35 feet from home base and extending three feet beyond the first and second base line. The line, paralleling the first base foul line and extending three feet (36 inches) into foul territory, shall be marked with chalk or other white material two inches wide.

DISTANCE TO BACKSTOP : Recommended distance from home plate to the backstop is 20 feet.

CATCHER'S BOX : By local option, the catcher's box may be rectangular in shape 43 inches wide and eight feet deep from the point of home plate or it may be triangular in shape extending eight feet from the rear of home plate, being a continuation of the foul lines, in which case the line closest to the backstop shall be 16 feet in length.

FIELD DIMENSIONS DRAWING :

---