Hutchinson Junior League Baseball Association

Bases:  65 feet, pitcher 46 feet (pitching machines will be used for approximately 1/2 of the games).  No walks allowed when the pitching machine is used.

Pitching:  Pitching machine will be used for the first 5 games.  Kid pitch the last 5 games.

Bats:  Metal or wood, maximum diameter 2 3/4 inches.

Participation:  Each player plays 6 outs prior to the start of the 5th inning.  Must use 10 players in the field if available, if one team has only nine players then both teams may only use nine players.

Game:  6 innings, regulation after 4 innings.

Time limit:  2 hours.

Slaughter Rule:  12 runs after 5 innings.

Dropped third strike:  Batter is out.

Batting order:  All players bat or 3 outs whichever comes first.  Batting order is equal to the team with the most players.

Base running: No stealing, leading off, or advancing on passed balls/wild pitches.  No advancement of the runner on any overthrow to any base is allowed.  May leave base when ball is hit.

Balks:  Not called.

Pitching: 2 Innings pitched per game, innings must be consecutive. No more than 6 Innings in any 7-day period.  One pitch will constitute an inning.

No breaking pitches will be allowed.

Playoffs:  Team pairings will be seated randomly.  No time limit on games. Pitching machine will be used.    

General League Rules for 10 year olds  

Game Length:

1.  2-hour time limit.  Game equals 6 innings, regulation after 4 innings.

Mercy Rule:  After 5 innings if a team has an 12 run lead.

                        Early Termination:

1.  More than 30 runs scored by both teams combined and

2.  One of the teams is then leading by a margin greater than (3) runs.

3.  Supplement (DOES NOT REPLACE) mercy rule.

Limitation on Pitching: 

1.  For the safety and well being of the players, no player may pitch more than 2 innings in a game, innings must be consecutive; no player may pitch more than 6 innings over a 7-day period.

2.  All Pitchers must have one day of rest between appearances.

3.  The throwing of one pitch constitutes an appearance.

4.  Live pitching will be used throughout entire season and through playoffs.

5.  Pitchers are only allowed to throw fastball.

6.  Balks not called, coaches/umpire use this opportunity to instruct player on corrections.

7.  The Pitcher must be on the pitching rubber when taking signals from catcher.

Base Stealing:

1.   Base stealing is not permitted, unless it’s an overthrow from a ball hit in play; the base runner may only advanced one base at a time and be held at 3^rd base.  No advancing from 3^rd to home plate on an overthrow.

2.  Batter can advance on dropped third strike as long as 1^st base is unoccupied; base runners on 2^nd and/or 3^rd cannot advance (even if there are 2 outs).

3.  Leading off is permitted once the ball hits the catcher mitt or contact with bat.

4.  No base runner can advance on a wild pitch delivered from a Pitcher, coaches are instructed to teach the base runner to react to the pitch but the base runner must return to their original base.

Equipment:

1.  No metal spikes allowed.

2.  Bat may be wood or non-wood and must not exceed 42” in length or 2 ¾ inches in diameter.

Bases:

1.  Distance between bases shall be 65’.

2.  Pitching distance shall be 46’.

Participation & Re-entry:

1.  Each player plays 6 outs prior to the start of the 5^th inning.  Must use 10 players in the field if available, if one team has only 9 players then both teams may only use 9 players.  Team must have a minimum of 8 players to play a game.

2.  All players bat or 3 outs, whichever comes first.  Batting order is equal to the team with the most players.

3.  Free substitution is managed at coaches’ discretion as long as each player has played 6 outs prior to the start of the 5^th inning; each player must play a minimum of 9 outs per game.

Playoffs:

1.  Team pairing will be seated randomly. 

2.  No time limits on each game.

3.  Each team is guaranteed two games.

4.  See Limitation on Pitching for rules; penalty for violation shall be forfeiture of game.

 The primary goal is to teach fundamentals, teamwork, sportsmanship and discipline.  Fundamentals will be stressed in the art of pitching, defensive responsibilities, offensive execution and reacting to the elements of the game.  All players can expect to play a minimum of six outs prior to the start of the 5^th inning and free substitution will be managed at coaches’ discretion.  Players will be given an opportunity to try various defensive positions with an ending goal of allowing players to be positioned for success.