The Game
A. LENGTH - All Division games are scheduled for 7 innings, or (90 minutes) 1 hour and 30 minutes in duration. At 70 minutes after the umpire starts the game, if the next inning is not the seventh inning, the umpire will call (up to and before the first pitch of the next inning) the next inning to be the last inning. There will be a (5) minute break between double-header games before the clock starts for the 2nd game.
B. COMPLETED GAMES – A completed game is 7 innings (6.5 innings if the home team is ahead). A game called by the umpire due to time, darkness, or severe weather, will be a complete game if 5 innings (4.5 innings if the home team is ahead) have been played.
C. SUSPENDED GAMES – A game stopped because of severe weather or darkness with the score tied at the last complete inning, will be a Suspended Game. If the game is suspended after 5 innings and the score is tied after the last complete inning, the game will be completed from the point of suspension. If a game is suspended prior to being a complete game, it will be picked up at the point of suspension. If a game is suspended after the completion of 7 innings and the score is tied, the tie breaker procedure will be used when the game is resumed.
1. If lightning is seen by anyone at any of the SL games being played at that time, there will be a mandatory 20-minute delay on all fields. Any additional lightning sightings will start another mandatory 20-minute delay.
D. FIVE RUN RULE – When a team scores 5 runs in its half inning, their turn at bat is ended. This Five Run Rule does not apply to the 7th inning or beyond, or to a last inning imposed by a time limit.
E. HOMERUNS:
1. All Divisions will play with a ‘5 home runs then out’ rule.
2. It is not necessary to advance to the next base or touch first base on home runs.
3. The team that hits a home run must retrieve the ball if it can be retrieved.
4. All home runs hit over the fence will count towards the team’s total of five per game.
F. TIE BREAKER – If the game is tied at the conclusion of the seventh inning or last inning, the Umpire(s) and Managers will meet at home plate and review the Tie Breaker Procedure. Each team will start their half inning by placing ANY participating player as their designated runner at second base. This player may not be used as a courtesy runner for the duration of that inning and cannot be used as the designated runner at 2B in any other extra innings.
1. All batters come to bat with a 1 and 1 count.
2. Extra innings will continue until a winner is decided.
G. MERCY RULE - If a team is ahead by fifteen (15) or more runs after five (5) innings have been completed, or by ten (10) or more runs after six (6) innings have been completed, the game shall be declared a complete game.
H. There is no “flip-flop” rule. There will be no changes to who the home team and visiting teams are in the last inning, regardless of the score.
I. LEAGUE BALL – All Divisions will be assigned game balls by the Silver League Board.
J. INTENTIONAL WALKS - Each manager will select two (2) players as Designated Hitters that cannot be intentionally walked. The umpire is to be notified prior to the start of the game which players are designated. A DH can be walked if they have had at least one (1) strike pitched to them. If they are walked without getting a strike, they are awarded second base on the walk, forcing any runners ahead of them to the next base. If a runner is not forced, he does not move.
K. PITCH HEIGHT – Pitches must be delivered with an arc no less than six (6) feet and no more than twelve (12) feet high. Any pitch outside these limits will be considered “illegal”.