Boston Braves Softball League
Commissioner: Adam Frutman
commish@bostonbravessoftball.com
League Notes for the 2011 Season
§ Visit http://www.bostonbravessoftball.com hfor up to date news, info, and rule changes.
§ Each team needs to bring two bases to the game. We will be using a double safty bag on first base. Both bases will be set next to each other. The runner will use the right bag and the fielder will use the left bag.
§ Each team (home and away) must bring one restricted flight softball for each game. Balls will be supplied by the commish at the beginning of the year. Restricted flight balls are marked on the box, and have red stitching.
§ Each team (home and away) pays the umpire $20 at the start of each game. In the event of a forfeit (team not having enough players or the required amount of girls), the umpire still must be paid. The forfeiting team is responsible for the entire $40. If no representative from the forfeiting team is present, the team must make up the difference before the next scheduled game.
§ Teams must be ready to play at the stated time. The umpires have complete authority to declare a forfeit if a team fails to have enough players by game time. Unless otherwise noted, game times are 7:50 pm and 9:10 pm. All games are played at Carter field, on Columbus Avenue behind Northeastern University.
§ The lights turn off automatically, so players should hustle on and off the field between innings, and keep warmups after the first inning BRIEF. Full-length games are 7 innings, but results become official after 5 innings (or 4½ innings if the home team is ahead.) The early game may not begin the top of an inning after 9:10 pm, or the best judgement by the umpire (for example, only one inning left, or first game starting late). Note that the umpires will penalize teams that purposely delay games in an attempt to prevent unfavorable results from becoming official. If the lights go out, the winner will be the team that was in the lead at the END of the previous inning.
§ Each team must field at least 2 women at all times (in the field and in the batting order)
- If a team has only 1 female: That team can only field 9 players (including the one girl), and will also be penalized by having an automatic out declared after the ninth batter in the batting order (i.e., every tenth batter is an automatic out).
- If a team has no females: That team must forfeit the game.
§ Both fields have some peculiar ground rules (see below), which will be reviewed by the umpire before each game. Make sure you fully understand the umpire’s interpretation of the ground rules. In the event of a dispute or confusion, the umpire’s judgment is final.
§ If the game goes to extra innings, a runner will start on second base for both teams. The runner will be the player that made the last out the previous inning. The umpires may not know this rule so its up to the coaches to do this.
§ The ‘mercy’ rule will be in effect for all games. If a team is leading by 15 or more runs at the end of the 5PthP inning or later, that team will automatically win the game.
§ Wood bats (for men) must have the word “Softball” somewhere on the bat. Metal bats (for woman) must have a certified ASA Softball stamp on them. NO BASEBALL BATS!
Boston Braves Softball League
General Softball Rules and Notes
§ All games use ASA slow-pitch softball rules, some of which are noted below:
§ Slow-pitch softball is just that – slow pitching, with a high arc. The arc (highest point of the pitched ball) must be between 6 and 12 feet. If not, the umpire calls a pitch “illegal”, and the batter may elect to (a) let the pitch go by for an automatic ball, or (b) swing, in which case the result counts.
§ As in baseball, four balls constitute a walk, and three strikes constitute an out. If the batter has 2 strikes in the count, they will be allowed 1 foul ball as the second foul is an out. Slow-pitch softball allows for an optional extra hitter (EH). Like baseball’s designated hitter, this player hits only – he does not play the field. However, this position does not take the place of any fielder in the batting order! All players in the field must bat. In the lineup, players may switch between fielding positions and the EH freely, provided the batting order remains the same. The EH does not count as a fielding position for purposes of satisfying the co-ed requirement.
§ There is no bunting, stealing or leading. Runners must stay on the base until the pitch reaches home plate, or is a hit.
§ For safety reasons, no fake tagging allowed. (i.e. a fielder without the ball cannot “pretend” to have the ball and try to tag a runner, forcing him/her to slide.) A fielder who does this will be ejected by the umpire and feel great shame.
§ If the pitcher walks a guy with a girl on deck, the guy that was walked advances to second automatically. If there are less then two outs, the girl MUST hit. If there are two outs, the girl that is due up gets the choice to hit or take first base.
§ For all other rule questions, consult the umpire before the game.
Field and league-specific rules:
§ The “short” field (further from Mass Ave.) has a tall but close left field fence.
§ Any ball hit over this fence to the left of the light tower is a ground-rule double. Anything hit over the fence to the right of the tower is a home run. Any ball hit into the bleachers on the fly is a home run. Any ball that bounces or rolls into the bleachers on its own power is a ground-rule double. Any ball hitting the tower at or above the transformer box is a home run. Any ball hitting the tower on the fly below the box is in play. Any ball hitting the tower on a bounce is in play.
§ The “long” field (closer to Mass Ave.) has a fence beyond a clump of trees. Any ball hit over the fence is a home run. Any ball hit onto the cement area in right field is a ground-rule double. As always, listen carefully for the umpire’s call.
§ When in doubt, assume a ball is in play unless the umpire indicates otherwise.
§ The City of Boston does NOT permit alcohol on the field
§ The team at-bat is responsible for retrieving balls hit out of the playing field.
The commish and Boston Braves Sofbtall are not liable for injury on the field. If you have any questions about the rules, schedule, or the league itself, please e-mail Adam Frutman at TUcommish@bostonbravessoftaball.comUT.
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