Local Rules - AA Machine Pitch

1. Continuous Batting - will take place in both divisions.  If a player arrives late, they will be placed at the end of the lineup without penalty.
2. Time Limit – AA will have a 1 hour and 30 minute time limit for all regular season games. In both leagues, for tied regular season games, extra innings are allowed within the time limit of the game. If the time limit has been exceeded, then a single extra inning is allowed. Playoff games will have no time limit. Playoff games will not end based on weather or darkness; they will be suspended based on the “Suspended Game” rule.
3. Slaughter and Run Rules –

• 5 run maximum for each team in the 1st inning.
• For 2nd to 5th innings - if team is behind they can catch up and then go ahead by five runs.  If ahead, team can only go ahead by five additional runs.
• Sixth inning only there is no run limit. 
• A ten (10) run rule applies beginning in the 4th inning for all games.
• 15 run rule after 3 innings

4. Bats – USSSA Not Allowed.  All bats must contain the new USA baseball stamp or sticker.   
5. Bunting and slashing (fake bunt then swinging) – Not allowed.

• Penalties:   

• 1st incident – team is warned and all runners return back to the previous base.       
• 2nd incident - batter is out and all runners return back to previous base.

6. Substitution – free substitution for all players (Cal Ripken rule). No player may sit more than two innings in a six inning game. No player may sit two innings consecutively. In the event of an injury, both coaches must agree to the proper thing to do.
7. Minimum Players – Teams in Machine Pitch need a minimum of 8 players to start and finish a game and 9 in the playoffs. There will be no automatic out for the 9th spot in the lineup. If a team does not have the minimum number of players required for a regular season game, a substitute player from the next league down may play during the regular season.  The substitute player must bat last. Teams that are not able to start and finish a game with the minimum number of players forfeit the game. No regular season substitutions are permitted for teams that have the minimum number of players from their own roster. No substitutions are permitted in the playoffs. When a team is playing with the minimum number of players, in the event of an injury and a player is not able to return to the game within 5 minutes of the injury, it is at the discretion of the opposing coach whether the game can be continued or is forced to forfeit. The decision must be made before the next pitch is made. 
8. Player Positioning – AA and AAA teams which start a game with less than 10 players must have all infield positions filled, remaining players will play outfield.   Outfielders must be in the outfield grass when the play begins.  No rover (short fielder) or additional infielders will be allowed. Outfielders may come into the infield to back up a play or cover a base vacated by a long play such as a run-down situation. Outfielders may only cover bases on overthrows and other non-force plays. outfielders can run the ball in and make an out, but not a force out. 
9. Base Runner / Fielder Contact – must try to avoid contact.  Umpires have full discretion to make the correct interference and obstruction calls when contact occurs that affects the play.
10. Head First Sliding – only allowed when returning to a base.  Sliding into first base is NOT allowed.
    
12. Playoffs - In the playoffs, the higher seed is always the home team.  The only situation where this does not apply is during a double elimination championship game in which the loser’s bracket team beats the winner’s bracket team.  Determination of the home team for the final game will be by coin flip.
13. Ejections – Any coach or player that is ejected from a game for any reason, will be required to leave the facility immediately and will be suspended from the next game regardless of regular season or playoffs. Minimum number of players rule applies (see rule #7).
14. Overthrows -    AA - Runners may not advance on overthrows at any base.
15. Stopping Play  AA - If the batted ball is stopped by an infielder the play is live until the lead runner gives up his effort to advance. All runners can advance a maximum of one base on an infield hit. If the batted ball is in the outfield grass, runners may continue to advance until the defensive player throws the ball to an infielder standing on the infield dirt. As soon as the thrown ball hits the dirt or is touched by an infielder or an outfielder runs the ball into the dirt, the runners are only allowed to advance to the base that they are currently trying to advance to.  Time is not called until runners have reached base, returned to previous base or are deemed out.
16. Pitching Machine  AA – The front of the pitching machine will be located 42 feet from the back of home plate. Settings on the machine will be 6/4/3.

• The operator must stand behind the pitching machine.
• The player must stay behind the front of the pitching machine (on either side) until the pitch is released. 
• If the operator intentionally touches a hit ball, or a fielder, the batter will be called out and all runners on base will return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. (*\if the operator touches the ball to protect the child in the pitcher's position, the batter will be awarded 1st base).
•  If the operator did not intentionally interfere, the ball will become dead at the time of the interference and the batter will be awarded 1st base.  All runners already on base will be awarded one base.
  
• A batted ball that hits the pitching machine before touching a fielder will be a dead ball and the batter and any runners will be awarded one base.
• If a batted ball touches a player before touching the machine or the operator, the ball will remain live.
• A thrown ball that hits the pitching machine remains live.
• If a batted ball hits the pitcher's body or glove and then goes to the outfield it is considered an infield hit and runners are only allowed 1 base. If a batted ball hits a glove or body of any other position and goes to the outfield, it will be considered an Outfield hit.

17. Team Responsibilities –

• HOME TEAM:

• 1st base dugout
• Warmups - cages then infield
•  Line the field
•  Clean 1st base dugout and bleachers after game.     
•        VISITOR TEAM:
• 3rd base dugout
• Warmups - infield then cages
• Rake around the bases after game and fill in any holes at bases (including home plate)
• Clean 3rd base dugout and bleachers after game.

18. Plays at Home Plate – There is no catcher in AA and therefore any player can make a play at home plate.