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Bronco Division Rules

Rules By Division - Bronco Division

POLICY / PURPOSE STATEMENT

The Board of Directors of South Bay PONY Baseball has adopted the following policies and procedures for South Bay PONY Baseball Specific Playing Rules.

The South Bay PONY Board of Directors is committed to ensure the best possible baseball experience for the members of our league.  League policies and procedures have been established and agreed upon by a majority decision (vote) by the Board of Directors in accordance with the following:

  1.  The best interest of safety for the league;

  2.  The best interest of the majority of the league;

  3.  The best interest of an individual (when it does not conflict with #2);

  4.  The progressive direction and vision for the future of the league (when it does not conflict with #1, #2, or #3)

The following information is designed to define and clarify the playing and administrative rules that will be followed during the 2022 season at South Bay PONY.  Play shall be governed first by:

  1.  Official Baseball Rules: “The Sporting News” edition;

  2.  With only those exceptions which are necessary in a youth program as listed in the Official 2021 PONY Baseball Rules and Regulations book;

  3.  In all instances unless otherwise noted here in the South Bay PONY Specific Playing Rules.

This addendum shall take precedence over any previous version.

These policies / procedures may only be amended by a majority vote of the South Bay PONY Board of Directors prior to the start of the regular season.

TEAMS

Teams shall be composed of no more than fifteen (15) players and should not exceed more than eight (8) players of older age.  The names of these players shall be registered with the league Players Agent. The only exception shall be made in compliance with South Bay PONY Team Placement Policy.

PLAYING FIELDS

  1. Distance between bases for Bronco shall be 70 feet.

  2. Pitching distance shall be 50 feet.

  3. Distance between home plate and center of second base shall be 99 feet

  4. The Pitcher’s mound provided by SBPL shall be used at both fields for games.

EQUIPMENT

 

  1. All bats must contain a USA Stamp.  Wood bats are OK.  No USSSA or other bats are allowed.  No tee ball bats allowed.  If an illegal bat is used during a game, the batter will declared out, runners will return to the base and the manager and player will be ejected from the game. No more than 2 5/8" diameter bats.

  2. Rubber soled or rubber cleated shoes are permitted.  Metal cleats are prohibited.

  3. Athletic supporters with cups are required for all male players.

  4. No jewelry shall be worn by any player, except for medical identification.

  5. Cell phones, pagers or any other type of communication devices cannot be used on the field of play.  The only exception is a phone or tablet used for score keeping purposes, or league-related business.

 

PLAYING RULES

  1. It is REQUIRED that each player on the team play in at least three (3) innings in the field of each game.  A game ending early is no excuse for not playing three innings.

  2. During the regular season, no player should sit twice until every player has sat once.  This rule does not apply during the playoffs.

  3. In the Bronco Division there is no requirement for infield playing time, but coaches should work with players to understand their goals and help them work to earn the opportunities to play their desired positions.  Everyone should have opportunities to play in the infield during the regular season.  During the playoffs it is expected that team will put their best players in the key positions to maximize their opportunity for team success.

  4. If a player arrives after the start of the game, the player will bat last in the line up.  There is no penalty for the team during the regular season.  During the playoffs, the late arriving player will bat last in the line up and an out will be recorded before their first at bat.  If a late arriving player arrives before their first at bat, there is not impact or penalty.

  5. If a player leaves a game early, there is no penalty during the regular season.  Please alert the opposing team scorekeeper.  During the playoffs, if a player leaves early for any reason other than for injury, an out will be recorded the first time the player’s spot in the batting order comes up.  No further out will be recorded for subsequent times the leaving player’s spot comes up in the batting order.

  6. Each team must bat their entire lineup.

  7. Runners may lead-off and steal bases, as in Official Baseball Rules.

PITCHING RULES

  1. During the regular season, teams should not pitch a player more than 3 innings or 85 pitches.  If you are short pitchers and need to make an exception, please discuss with your opponent before the game.  The goal of the regular season is to develop players.  During the Playoffs teams will follow PitchSmart guidelines for Pitchers Pitch Count limitations.  There is no innings limit during the playoffs.

  2. As soon as a pitcher delivers one pitch to a batter, the pitcher shall be considered to as having pitched in one inning.

  3. Any pitcher withdrawn from the mound shall not be permitted to pitch again in the same game.  If a team has multiple games in the same day, pitchers are allowed to pitch in both games.  The pitch count simply continues for rest calculations and daily limitations (e.g., if you throw 35 pitches in game 1, your first pitch in game 2 is considered #36).

  4. There are no warnings for balks.

LENGTH OF GAMES

  1. Game length shall be seven (7) innings, if completed in the time allotted. 

  2. During the regular season, time rules are 2:00 No New Inning and 2:15 Drop Dead.  During the Playoffs, time rules will be announced by the commissioner.

  3. If the visiting team is leading by at least 10 runs at the end of 5 or more complete innings, the game shall be declared complete and the visiting team shall be declared the winner. If the home team is leading by at least 10 runs after the visiting team has completed batting in the 5th inning or later, the game shall be declared complete and the home team shall be declared the winner.

Calling Up Players

  • If a team expects to be short players, they may “call up” a substitute player from the Mustang below. 
  • Mustang players cannot pitch in Bronco games.  Call-ups should bat at the bottom of the lineup.  Otherwise, Call-ups should be treated as any other member of the team, and be given opportunities to play in the infield.
  • Players should not substitute in for other teams in their own division. Sometimes it is necessary to allow a game to play, but every effort should be made to call up players from the division below.
  • Players may not participate as a substitute two levels above their registered level. 
  • Children not registered with South Bay PONY may not participate as substitutes.

SBP UNIQUE RULES

  1. How to deal with problems:

    • Parents sign a Code of Conduct form.  If their behavior is inappropriate, ask them politely to stop. If they still don’t cooperate, call the park enforcement officer and walk away.  Notify the league so the league can deal with the parent directly.

    • Any person(s) that interfere with you and/or your team during a game or practice (including unauthorized use of fields) should be dealt with in the same way.

    • Park Enforcement Officer – Brent Malatesta (310)345-1141

    • If P.E. Officer is unavailable, contact the Police Dept. Front Desk (310) 802-5140

  2. We are a ‘Hustle League’ and expect players to run on and off the field.

    • At the discretion of the umpire, a team that does not hurry can be assessed balls or strikes as a penalty for delay of game (Two minutes from the last out of the previous inning).

    • You can designate a courtesy runner for a pitcher or catcher, with any number of outs, so that they can get ready for the next inning.  Courtesy runner must be the last out recorded.  If you use 2 courtesy runners, you use the last two outs recorded.  You may use a courtesy runner multiple times if the team bats around their lineup and the pitcher/catcher come up a second time.

  3. Miscellaneous

    • It is ok to play with eight players.

    • Both teams are responsible for set-up and break-down of the fields before and after a game.  This includes cleaning the dugouts after the game.

    • Each team is responsible for one new baseball for each game.

    • No fan may stand or sit within three feet of the backstop during games.

    • Any manager that is ejected from a game will receive an automatic 1 game suspension and review for any further disciplinary action.


Contact

South Bay PONY Baseball
 
Manhattan Beach, California 90266

Email: [email protected]

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