2024 Kingston Colts Major Tournament Rules
Locations:
Player Eligibility and Format
Game Play
Rules:
Pool Play (Friday and Saturday games)
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Home team determined by coin flip for Friday and Saturday Games. Team that travelled furthest calls the coin.
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Maximum 6 innings
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No new inning after 1 hour 30 minutes
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Maximum 5 runs each inning
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Maximum run rule in place of 10 runs after 4 innings is an official game for pool play games.
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Pool Play games may end in a tie
Semi Final Play
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Higher seeded team is the home team.
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Maximum 6 innings
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No new inning after 1 hour 30 minutes
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Maximum 5 runs every inning
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If a game is tied after the time limit is reached or 6th inning is played
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One extra inning is played with a runner placed on 2nd base. The runner placed on second base at the start of each half-inning shall be the player in the batting order immediately preceding that half-inning’s leadoff hitter.
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If the game remains tied after one extra inning, the higher seeded team is awarded the win.
Final Games
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Higher seeded team is the home team.
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6 inning games
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No new inning after 1 hour 30 minutes except for Championship Games in which all 6 innings will be played regardless of time. Exception: If a team is winning by 12 runs after 4 innings, the game is called in the winning team’s favour.
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Maximum 5 runs for innings 1 through 5. No run limit in 6th inning.
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If a game is tied after the time limit is reached or 6th inning is played
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One extra inning is played with a runner placed on 2nd base. The runner placed on second base at the start of each half-inning shall be the player in the batting order immediately preceding that half- inning’s leadoff hitter.
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If the game remains tied after one extra inning, the higher seeded team is awarded the win in the 3rd place games, but the Championship Games will continue until a winner is determined.
Pool Standings
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Teams are awarded 2 points for win, 1 point for tie, 0 points for loss.
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If there is a tie in pool standings, the team that won the head to head matchup will place higher in the standings.
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If the tie persists, the team with the most wins will place higher in the standings.
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If the tie persists, the placement of teams will be dictated by the ratio of number of runs allowed per defensive inning. A defensive inning is defined as having taken the field and a pitch thrown.
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If the tie persists, the placement of teams will be dictated by the ratio of runs scored per offensive inning. An offensive inning is defined as having been at bat for at least one pitch.
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If the tie persists, standings will be determined by the drawing of straws.
Pitching / Player Substitution
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Maximum of 2 innings pitched per player in a game.
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If a pitcher throws a pitch in an inning, it counts as an inning pitched.
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Coach’s discretion on pitch count. No rule.
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Only one mound visits by coach per player for the full game - unless to pull the pitcher or to attend to an injured pitcher.
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Coach’s discretion on players catching and pitching in the same game. No rule.
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Unlimited position substitution.
Batting and Baserunning
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14 players max. All players bat in succession. If a player is injured, they are skipped in the line-up with no penalty.
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Little League bat rules must be observed, USA or Wood Bats only.
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With 2 out, catcher should be replaced with courtesy runner being the most recent out.
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Stealing is permitted once pitch reaches the plate.
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Batter may attempt to reach first on a dropped swinging third strike when the base is not occupied or when there are two outs
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Ball is live on throws back to the pitcher. Once the pitcher has the ball on the pitcher’s rubber, runners return to base.
Scheduled Start Times, Grace Period & Forfeits
If one or both teams has fewer than eight players at the scheduled game start time, a
grace period of 5 minutes will be allotted to the affected team(s). If one team only has
fewer than (8) players at the end of the grace period, that team will automatically forfeit the game. If both teams have less than (8) players after the allotted grace period, the game will be ruled a “non-game.”
Grace periods may be extended if one of the teams is coming off a game that finished late. Tournament Convenor will make the decision.
Weather
In the event of rain, teams must still show up and be ready to play at their scheduled
game time. Factors such as field conditions, severity of rain and player safety will be
considered before a decision to play is made. The game may or may not proceed at the
discretion of the umpire in consultation with a tournament official. Failure to show up will
result in a forfeit or non-game.
Umpiring
Youth umpiring is as much about development as youth baseball, so please show respect to our umpires. If you wish to discuss a call, calmly request time and speak to the umpire, do not shout across the diamond. Abuse of umpires will not be tolerated and may lead to ejection of coaches and/or team from tournament.