Kingston Limestone City Showdown Rookie Tournament 2025
Game Play
Rules: Unless exceptions noted below, the tournament is played under normal Little League Rules
Pool Play
Home team determined by coin flip for Games. Team that travelled furthest calls the coin.
Maximum 5 innings
No new inning after 1 hour 30 minutes
Maximum 5 runs each inning
Maximum run rule in place of 10 runs after 4 innings is an official game innings met for pool play games.
Pool Play games may end in a tie
Quarter Final & Semi Final Play
Higher seeded team is the home team.
Maximum 5 innings
No new inning after 1 hour 30 minutes
Maximum 5 runs every inning
If a game is tied after the time limit is reached or 5th inning is played
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.
If the game remains tied after one extra inning, the higher seeded team is awarded the win.
Final Games
Higher seeded team is the home team.
Maximum 5 innings
No new inning after 1 hour 30 minutes except for Championship Games in which all 5 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.
Maximum 5 runs for innings 1 through 4. No run limit in 5th inning.
If a game is tied after the time limit is reached or 5th inning is played
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.
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
1. Teams are awarded 2 points for win, 1 point for tie, 0 points for loss.
2. If there is a tie in pool standings, the team that won the head-to-head matchup will place higher in the standings.
3. If the tie persists, the team with the most wins will place higher in the standings.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. If the tie persists, standings will be determined by the drawing of straws.
Pitching
Coaches pitch to their own team
Hard balls are used in tournament
Coaches can kneel and use over or underhand throws as per LL rules
There are a maximum of 5 pitches or 3 strikes.
Pitcher is approx. 35’ from batter. Bases are 60’ apart.
Beside the coach is a defensive player called the "pitcher’s helper" who is required to always wear a helmet while in the field.
An additional pitch is allowed on a fouled last or subsequent pitch. However, as with regular baseball rules, if a foul tip is caught by the catcher on strike three or the last pitch the batter is out.
An attempt to return the ball to the player pitcher that goes errant is not considered a play. If the ball is put back in play, it is considered back in the infield after the throw to the pitcher is started
Batting/Base Running
All players are included in the batting order.
Batter-runner cannot slide into first base but can slide back into any base and can slide (not head-first) into second, third, or home plate.
NO HEAD FIRST SLIDES
Maximum 5 runs per inning.
Batters can not intentionally bunt
Walks or stealing are not permitted.
Runners must remain in contact with their bases until the ball is hit. There is no stealing in rookie. There is a limit of one base on an overthrow by an infielder in an attempt to retire the batter-runner or another runner
The infield fly rule is NOT in effect in Rookie
The ball is considered “dead” immediately upon an outfielder returning the ball to the infield (from the outfield grass to the infield dirt or gravel) unless a play is being made on a runner (i.e. tag attempt or throw to a base in an attempt to get a runner who is being forced to said base). A runner may advance to the next base only if he/she is adjudged by the umpire to be more than halfway to the succeeding base when the ball is returned to the infield. While advancing or returning to a base, the runner is still in jeopardy of being put out if tagged while not in contact with a base or a defensive player being in contact with a base to which the runner is being forced
Umpiring
Host will provide one ump per game. In the event that an ump is unavailable the home team will supply a volunteer plate umpire with the visiting team providing a base umpire.
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
Others
Parents and spectators should be there to have fun and cheer on children.
Coaches are volunteers
Players are to be within Rookie LL age requirements