Maryland District 2 Softball Local Rules
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MD-2 Softball Local Rules – Spring 2023
Rev. 3/27/23

The following are the approved Maryland District 2 Little League Softball local rules modifications for Interleague Softball regular season and round-robin mixer games.

Little League Majors, Juniors, & Seniors

TIME LIMITS:

• Regular Season: No time limit.
• Mixer Only: 1 hour 30 minutes, no new inning or drop dead, TBD by host - to be clarified and clearly communicated at the plate meeting.

UNIFORM:

• All players shall wear the Little League patch on their uniforms.

UMPIRE:

• It is the host/home team’s responsibility to provide Little League approved Umpires.
• Host league should alert District UIC 1 week from mixer date of any remaining umpire needs.

MANDATORY PLAY:

• Mandatory Play in effect, 6 defensive outs. [Regulation IV (i)]

BATTING:

• A Continuous Batting Order (CBO) shall be used. [Rule 4.04]
• The batter must remain in the batter’s box with at least one foot throughout the at Bat – with the exceptions noted in the LL rule book. [RULE 6.02(c)]

COURTESY RUNNER:

• Will be used. [Rule 7.14(b)]
• If using CBO, Special Pinch Runners does not apply [Rule 7.14(a)]

TEN (10) / FIFTEEN (15) RUN RULE:

• The 10/15 run rule is in effect for all games. [Rule 4.10(e)]
• If after three (3) innings (Junior/Senior League four innings), two and one-half innings (Junior/Senior League three and one-half innings) if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of fifteen (15) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. If the visiting team has a lead of ten (15) runs or more, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.
• If after four (4) innings (Junior/Senior League five innings), three and one-half innings (Junior/Senior League four and one-half innings) if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. If the visiting team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.

INFIELD FLY RULE:

• The Infield Fly rule is in effect for all games. [Rule 6.05(d) and 2.00]

UNCAUGHT THIRD STRIKE RULE:

• The uncaught third strike rule is in effect for all games. [6.05(b)(2) and 6.09(b)]

BASERUNNING:

• A runner may leave a base upon release of the ball. [Rule 7.08(5)(a)]

EQUIPMENT:

• 12” Little League Approved Softballs.
• Batting helmets must have a cage attached.
• Use of face masks/guards/cages is mandatory for all Maryland District 2 Softball pitchers.
  While optional for all other positions, infielders are strongly recommended to wear these.
• All other equipment and Teams must comply with Little League International Rules and Regulations. [Rule 1.11: Objectives of the Game]

Little League Minors – Player Pitch

TIME LIMITS:

• Regular Season: No new inning after 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Mixer Only: 1 hour 30 minutes, no new inning or drop dead, TBD by host - to be clarified and clearly communicated at the plate meeting.

UNIFORM:

• All players shall wear the Little League patch on their uniforms.

UMPIRE:

• It is the host/home team’s responsibility to provide Little League approved Umpires.
• Host league should notify District UIC one week from the date of the mixer of any remaining umpire needs.

MANDATORY PLAY:

• Mandatory Play in effect, 6 defensive outs. [Regulation IV (i)]
• Free substitution of players is in effect. [Rule 4.04]

REGULATION GAME:

• Must conclude with at least 3 complete innings.

BATTING:

• A Continuous Batting Order (CBO) shall be used. [Rule 4.04]
• The batter must remain in the batter’s box with at least one foot throughout the at Bat – with the exceptions noted in the LL rule book. [RULE 6.02(c)]

COURTESY RUNNERS:

• Will be used. [Rule 7.14(b)]
• If using CBO, Special Pinch Runners does not apply [Rule 7.14(a)]

TEN (10) / FIFTEEN (15) RUN RULE:

• If after three (3) innings, two and one-half innings if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of fifteen (15) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent.  If the visiting team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.
• If after four (3) innings, three and one-half innings if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. If the visiting team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.

FIVE RUN RULE:

• The fifth run scored by a team in their half inning ends the inning.  It is expected that if the fifth run is scored during a play the play will be allowed to continue to its natural conclusion and only 5 runs will be counted. RULE: DEFINITION of INNING.

HYBRID PITCHING Option 1:

• Player will pitch to a batter.
• If the batter receives 4 Balls, a Coach will come in and finish the at-bat which will either end in a strike-out or a batted ball put out, or the batter reaches base. There are no walks. The coach will throw no more than 4 pitches.
• The next batter will start with Player pitch.
• Coach is not a play-maker, and should move out of the field of play as much as possible.
• In Spring 2023, starting 4/30, all games will be modified hybrid. Hybrid model is in effect for the first two innings. All remaining innings are kid pitch with 3 strikes, 4 balls.

BASERUNNING:

• Runners may advance on the delivery of the pitch at their own risk from 1st to 2nd, and 2nd to 3rd (1 Base Only).
• Runners may advance at risk on a passed ball.
  A passed ball is a ball not in the immediate vicinity, whereby the catcher has to move more than two steps to retrieve.
• Runners may advance at risk on an errant throw back to the pitcher.
• Runners on 3rd may successfully advance home on a steal once per inning.
  Otherwise, they may only advance on a batted ball put in play or a defensive play made on the runner at 3rd base.
• Overthrows to 1st base are limited to one base only.

INFIELD FLY RULE:

• The Infield Fly rule is in effect for all games. [Rule 6.05(d) and 2.00]

EQUIPMENT:

• 11” Little League Approved Softballs.
• Batting helmets must have a cage attached.
• Use of face masks/guards/cages is mandatory for all Maryland District 2 Softball pitchers.
  While optional for all other positions, infielders are strongly recommended to wear these.
• All other equipment and Teams must comply with Little League International Rules and Regulations [Rule 1.11: Objectives of the Game]

Little League Minors – Coach Pitch

TIME LIMITS:

• Regular season games: games are 1 hour 15 minutes no new inning.
• Mixers only: 1 hour 15 minutes no new inning.

UNIFORM:

• All players shall wear the Little League patch on their uniforms.

UMPIRE:

• The use of a Coach from each Team is encouraged. A Parent Volunteer may be used, but they MUST have completed a LL Volunteer Application and successfully undergone a LL approved mandatory background check. Use of non-approved volunteers is strictly prohibited.

MANDATORY PLAY:

• Mandatory Play in effect, 6 defensive outs. [Regulation IV (i)]
• Free substitution of players is in effect. [Rule 4.04]

INNINGS:

• Games will be scheduled for 4, not 6 innings.
• Alternatively, a time limit may be instated (see TIME LIMIT below).

REGULATION GAME:

• Must conclude with at least 3 complete innings.

PITCHING:

• Coach will pitch, players shall receive 7 pitches.
• Coach is not a play-maker and should move out of any play as much as possible.
•  There are no walks, there will be strike outs.

BATTING:

• A Continuous Batting Order (CBO) shall be used. [Rule 4.04]

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS:

• All players on the team roster may be given a defensive position. Only one player may occupy the catcher's position at any given time. [Rule 4.01 NOTE 1]

FIVE RUN RULE:

• The fifth run scored by a team in their half inning ends the inning.  It is expected that if the fifth run is scored during a play the play will be allowed to continue to its natural conclusion and only 5 runs will be counted. RULE: DEFINITION of INNING.

TIME LIMIT:

• Time limits may be imposed by the host coordinator for scheduling purposes.  Any time limits imposed will be clearly communicated to both team managers and the umpires at the plate meeting prior to the game.  The plate umpire will serve as the official timekeeper.

BASERUNNING:

• No Stealing
• Runners on 3rd may only advance home on a batted ball put in play or a defensive play made on the runner at 3rd base.
•  On an overthrow at 1st base, the runner may attempt to advance, is limited to one base only and does so at her own peril (ie: She can be put out).
• Coaches are encouraged NOT to have base runners continue to run the bases on overthrows by the defense. This does nothing for teaching the fundamentals of the game. Run fests are not a positive display, and benefit no one. Adherence to this will be on the honor system.

EQUIPMENT:

• 11” Little League Approved Softballs
• Batting helmets must have a cage attached.
•  Use of face masks/guards/cages is mandatory for all Maryland District 2 Softball pitchers.
  While optional for all other positions, infielders are strongly recommended to wear these.
• All other equipment and Teams must comply with Little League International Rules and Regulations [Rule 1.11: Objectives of the Game]