Pony League

*Any rule not amended or listed below will defer to rules based on Cal Ripken (A Division of Babe Ruth Baseball)

1. Any profanity, physical or verbal abuse, or uncooperative attitudes by any coach or assistant coach will be grounds for immediate dismissal by the Chippewa Falls Youth Baseball Board of Directors.
2. All players present at a game must be in the batting rotation at all times, unless injury prevents that player from taking his/her turn at bat.
3. If a player arrives after the start of the game, he/she is to be inserted into the last batting position.
4. If a player fails to appear at the plate for his/her turn at bat due to an injury or situation beyond control of the manager, no out shall be recorded provided that nine players remain actively in the batting order.
5. A game may start with a team that has less than 9 players. No out will be recorded for the 8th or 9th spots in the order if only 7 or 8 players are present.
6. A forfeit is declared when a team cannot field seven eligible players at any time during the game. (You must start the game with at least 7 players)
7. All players present at a game must play a minimum of two complete innings on the field of play.
8. Each team must place nine players in defensive positions provided at least nine players are in attendance.
9. A regulation game is declared over when:
10. The visiting team is ahead after seven complete innings.
11. The home team is behind at any time after the visitors have completed their seventh at bat.
12. A game is declared over according to the ten-run rule when:
13. The visiting team is behind by ten or more runs at the conclusion of their fifth or sixth at bat.
14. The home team is behind by ten or more runs at the conclusion of their fifth or sixth at bat.
15. If a game is called by the umpire due to weather, darkness, etc. it will be a regulation game after four and one-half innings have been played if any of the following are true:
16. The visitors have completed their fifth at bat and are trailing at the moment that the game is called. (Regardless if they are at bat or not)
17. The home team has had at least five full at-bats, was behind when they completed their last full at-bat, and remains behind, regardless if they are now further or less behind.
18. If a game is called by the umpire due to weather, or darkness, while either the sixth or seventh inning is in progress, the game is a “suspended game” if:
19. The visiting team has scored one or more runs to tie the game, and the home team has not yet had its full opportunity to take back the lead.
20. The visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not yet taken back the lead, nor have they tied the game. NOTE: The overall result of the rule is that if a game is called when at-bats are not equal between the home and visiting team, and the visitor's team gained the advantage of a tie due to that inequity, the home team is given its full opportunity to win the game, or else the game is suspended. In the case where the visitors actually took the lead due to the inequity, the home team must be given its full opportunity to at least salvage a tie, or else the game is suspended.
21. A suspended game is to be continued from the point of suspension at a time agreed upon by the team managers involved and league officials. All pitching limitations, substitutions, etc. are to be as they were at the point the game was suspended.
22. All games which do not reach the regulation four and one-half (home team ahead) or five complete innings as outlined previously, shall be ruled “No Game” and are to be made up as a new game.
23. All innings pitched in a “No Game” situation DO COUNT toward the pitcher's weekly totals and any other pitching rule or restriction that would normally apply in a completed or suspended game.
24. Metal cleats are strictly prohibited.
25. Any player who throws his/her bat or helmet may be ejected from the game.
26. It is the base runner's responsibility to minimize violent collisions with the fielder at all times and locations along the base paths, whether the fielder is in the act of fielding a hit ball, receiving a putout throw, or awaiting a putout throw, by whatever means available (including sliding) when such a situation arises. Any base runner who does not attempt to minimize the collision (in the umpire’s opinion) in such a situation will be called out, and if flagrant, ejected from the game. NOTE: When a fielder, in the umpire’s judgment, is obstructing the runner’s advance (without the ball), the runner is awarded that base which he/she would have advanced to had there been no obstruction. If, however, the base runner chooses to “steamroll” the fielder rather than minimize the contact, he will be called out.
27. No head-first sliding into any base. If the runner slides head first they shall be considered out. Sliding head-first back to a base is allowed.
28. Bat Regulations
29. No longer than 34 inches
30. Only -5 bats or less may be used. (The weight of the bat must be 5oz or less compared to the bat's length in inches)
31. Legal = Bat length is 33 inches and the bat weight is 28 ounces. (-5 difference)
32. Illegal = Bat length is 33 inches and the bat weight is 26 ounces. (-7 difference)
33. Only Full wood is allowed (no composites, half & half, etc.)
34. USABat/USSSA/BBCOR bats ARE allowed
35. Pitching Limitations:
36. One pitch thrown in any inning is counted as an inning for that particular pitcher.
37. A pitcher may pitch no more than 4 innings in a single game.
38. A pitcher may pitch no more than 8 innings in a calendar week.
39. A calendar week is Monday through Sunday.
40. If a pitcher pitches more than three innings in a single game, that pitcher must be rested for no less than 2 days from the start of the game. Example: A pitcher who pitched more than three innings on Saturday may not pitch on Sunday or Monday. (The end of the calendar week does not affect the 2 day required rest.)
41. When a pitcher pitches three or less innings in a single game, there is no mandatory rest requirement, although we strongly encourage coaches to rest pitchers after each pitching assignment.
42. A coach may make only one trip to the mound to talk with his/her pitcher per inning. If a coach makes a second trip to the mound in the same inning (not counting trips due to injuries), the pitcher must be removed from the mound.
43. A pitcher who is removed from the mound cannot return as a pitcher in the same game.
44. Re-entry: Except for the pitcher as it pertains to rule 18(h), re-entry of starters or substitutes is unrestricted.
45. Score Book:
46. A scorebook must be kept for each game and by each team.
47. Home scorebook is the official scorebook. (It is strongly encouraged that both teams compare scorebooks between innings to avoid confusion and correct any discrepancies immediately)
48. The scorebook must be kept neatly and accurately.
49. Each team must be able to produce an up to date scorebook upon request of the CFYB league.
50. The team book is used to determine player participation and stats for All-Star team selection purposes.
51. Please be accurate and fair in your recording.
52. Time Limits
53. Due to time limitations, the visiting team will not come to bat in the top of a new inning when there is less than fifteen minutes remaining prior to the start of the next scheduled game.
54. No new innings may start after 1 hour and 45 minutes from the first pitch of the game.
55. Players are expected to hustle on and off the field of play
56. Coaches are reminded that intentionally stalling or giving outs while at bat to make strategic use of the time limit is not consistent with the spirit of the game.
57. A "new" inning automatically begins when the last out is called by the umpire for the previous inning and time has not expired.
58. Base-Stealing is allowed (full baseball rules including leading off, balks, etc.).
59. Batting Cage Policy (Includes Soft-Toss Net Area)
60. No one is allowed in the batting cage without adult supervision.
61. Batting helmets are always required when in the batting cage.
62. Running on a dropped third strike is allowed.
63. Bunting is allowed

(Amended 1/17/23)

The Pony league will conclude their season with a 1-week single elimination tournament that will be held early to mid-June. The tournament seeding will be based on the regular season records. In the case that teams end with the same record the tie-breaker will be as follows:

• 1. Head-To-Head Record
• 2. Run Differential
• 3. Runs Allowed
• 4. Runs Scored
• 5. Coin Toss

1. All rules from the regular season apply unless specifically stated otherwise below.
2. The home team for each contest shall be the highest-seeded team.
3. The umpire will call the official time
4. No new inning is to begin after 1:45 hours of play, unless in a tie (whether 1st or last game of the day) 
5. A "new" inning automatically begins when the last out is called by the umpire for the previous inning and time has not expired.
6. NO TIME LIMIT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.
7. If a game is tied or the trailing team has less than 5 at-bats and the game is called for darkness or weather, the game will be considered suspended. It must be finished ASAP and will resume where it ended.
8. To keep games on time and avoid trouble with darkness for the last game, please have your team do the following:
9. Hurry players on and off the field.
10. Warm-up pitches are kept to 4 pitches unless a new pitcher is in the game.
11. Have your players at the field one hour before game time and plan to begin the game early, if the game before you finishes early.
12. Pitching Limitations:
13. At the start of the tournament all pitchers have zero innings
14. 1 pitch thrown by a pitcher within an inning is considered 1 inning pitched.
15. A pitcher may pitch no more than 4 innings in a single game
16. If a pitcher pitches more than 3 innings in a game he must have 1 calendar day of rest.
17. A pitcher may pitch no more than 9 innings during the entire tournament.
18. Coaches must keep a written record of their pitcher's innings for inspection purposes. The pitcher's innings must be documented on the chart in the concession stand after the game.
19. A 10-run rule will go into effect after 4-1/2 innings of play. THE 10-RUN RULE DOES NOT APPLY IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
20. Appeals are decided by the league commissioner.
21. Each team is required to prep the field before and after your game. Recruit a couple of parents for help if necessary.
22. One parent from each team should be scheduled to work in the concession stand during their game.

(Amended 1/17/2023)