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The rules have been updated for 2018. Please review below.

Main difference between current and those listed below relate to the "everyone bats" rules and the ratio of guys:gals when batting in that situation.

Please stay tuned for updated details.

FBL Softball League Rules (Updated April 2018)

PLAY OF GAME


1. GAME RESCHEDULING

  1. Games are not to be rescheduled by any teams.
  2. If a game cannot be played at the date and time noted in the official schedule, both teams must be unable to play in order to raise a request for rescheduling.
  3. The Rescheduling request will be made to the Commissioner.
  4. If the game can be rescheduled, the Commissioner will do so and inform the teams involved as well as update the schedule.
  5. The Commissioner will reschedule any games that are not able to be played for whatever reason (rain out, field unavailable, other unknown circumstances);
  6. If teams reschedule a game, they are still responsible for any league duties that they are scheduled for that week (including Bathroom, Equipment, Umpiring) unless they can acquire another team/person to perform that duty on their behalf.

2. WEATHER

  1. Games played rain or shine unless playing conditions are deemed dangerous
  2. No games will be formally cancelled until 11:30AM upon direction from the League Commissioner.
  3. If games are delayed until 11:30AM, all games are 5 innings
  4. If games start before 11:30AM, all games are 7 innings

3. SCORING

  1. 5 run max. per team per inning (for a standard game, this equates to Innings 1 through 6)
  2. The Final inning is open / unlimited (for a standard game, this equates to the 7th inning)

NOTE: Rain delayed games of 5 innings = 5th inning is open/unlimited

4. PITCHING ‘MOUND’

  1. All pitchers must be at a marked minimum distance from the plate

5. ORANGE STRIKE MAT

  1. Any untouched pitched ball that touches any part of the mat is a strike (6-12 ft.)
  2. Any untouched pitched ball that touches any part of the batter’s plate is a strike (6-12 ft.)
  3. Pitch must be between 6-12 Ft (at umps discretion)
  4. Any pitched ball that a batter does not swing at and does not touch the mat or the batter’s plate is called a ball.
  5. Illegal pitch: a pitch that is outside the 6-12 ft height range will be deemed illegal. The umpire to announce “Illegal Pitch” as soon as possible during the pitch.
  6. If batter swings at a pitch announced as "illegal pitch", the result of the swing will stand (fair, foul, strike).

6. TWO PLATE SYSTEM

  1. Two plates – regular (batter’s) plate and scoring plate
  2. The runner must touch the scoring plate in order to officially score.
  3. Runner must touch scoring plate before leaving playing field - upon leaving playing field, runner will be automatically called out by ump (defending team may appeal to ump if missed-ump has final decision)
  4. If the runner touches the regular plate, they are automatically out.
  5. When batting, if a batter hits a pitch and the ball makes contact with the batter’s plate (including the orange strike mat) as the first point of contact after hitting the bat, this will be considered a foul ball.
  6. The batter’s plate is included in the FBL Strike zone / area (orange mat + batter’s plate)

    NOTE: For item 6.E – this is different than virtually every other league, but in virtually every other league, the plate is considered a ball; as it’s considered a strike in the FBL (like the orange strike mat), it will be considered out of play and therefore and balls hit directly into the batter’s plate will be considered foul/dead    .

7. LEAD OFF

  1. Any runner who leaves the base before the ball has been struck by the bat is out
  2. A one-time discretionary call may be given by the umpires or the other team to “new to the league” players/spares

8. PINCH RUNNERS  (NEW FOR 2017)

  1. Maximize Runners allowed in a game: Unlimited
  2. You can use the same runner multiple times
  3. There are no pinch runners allowed from home plate; a player must reach base prior to receiving a replacement/pinch-runner
  4. Pinch runners are allowed from any base (1B, 2B, 3B) at any time during play other than from home plate.

9. TAGGING A RUNNER

  1. A fielder is allowed to tag a runner anywhere on the field including between home/first and 3rd/home (inclusive of commitment line/home)
  2. If the runner exceeds stepping out of running path more than 3 ft. to avoid being tagged, runner is out (only if in pursuit - ump’s discretion if ‘making a mockery’)

10. INTERFERENCE

  1. If a runner is rounding first base and is interfered with by a fielder when there is no intended play at first, runner is awarded second base (at the discretion of the umpire, runner awarded extra bases based on a realistic perceived outcome of the play at hand)
  2. Other interference infractions that occur on the base path will be up to the umpire’s discretion and the umpire may award extra bases (1 or more).

11. OUT OF BOUNDS

  1. There are three areas (and two lines) involved in this rule:
    1. Fair Area (Between the foul lines);
    2. Foul area (between the foul lines and the adjacent out of bounds lines);
    3. Out of Bounds Area (the area to the right of the out of bounds line on the 1st base side of the field and the area to the left of the out of bounds line on the 3rd base side of the field)
  2. Runner Advancement Rule: A runner(s) will advance when a ball is carried/hit/thrown out of bounds. The following situations are the rules as of the 2011 season:
    1. Pop-fly Catch for an Out: Runners only advance one base if they had not already tagged up; if they had tagged up and the runner  had already advanced at least halfway to the next base, then the runner would advance an extra base **
      ie. If runner tagged, and was ½ way between 1      st and 2nd base, the runner would be awarded 3rd base.
      ie. If runner tagged and was less than ½ between 1      st and 2nd base, the runner would be awarded 2nd base.
    2. Ground Ball / Dropped Fly Ball: A runner(s) will advance to the next base when a ball is directed out of bounds as the result of a fair ball. If the runner has already advance at least halfway to the next base when the ball goes out of bounds, the runner would advance an extra base. **
    3. Thrown Ball: If a fielder makes a play on a fair ball or during a live play and that play results in the ball going out of bounds, the runner(s) will advance to the next base; if the runner has already advanced at least halfway to the next base when the ball goes out of bounds, the runner would advance an extra base. **
** The decision of whether the runner(s) were at least halfway to the next base is entirely up to the discretion of the umpires.
  1. Making a Catch Along the Out of Bounds Line
    1. If you attempt to catch a ball that is near the out of play line, an “NFL” type rule for completions will be implemented. You must come down with “both feet in play” (not out of bounds – logically you’d have to come down in the ‘foul area’ or in the ‘fair area’ in order to be ‘in play’) in order for the catch to be legal.
    2. If you make the catch and land out of bounds entirely, with one foot out of bounds or if you take off from out of bounds (regardless of where you land in that case), it’s a dead ball and a foul ball is called.
    3. Grounds Balls or Dropped Balls Going Out of Bounds
    4. If a batter hits a ball on the ground and the result is the ball rolling out of play, the play will be called dead and all runners will advance one base (unless they are at least halfway to the next base at which point they get an additional base; e.g. a runner is  halfway to 2nd between 1st and 2nd and the ball gets rolls out of play, the runner will advance to 3rd base; if the runner was not halfway to 2nd base, the runner would only advance to 2nd – the halfway decision is at the discretion of the umpire.
  2. Carrying a Ball Out of Bounds
    1. If the fielder makes a play on the ball and the result is they carry the ball out of play while making their play, so long as the play was made ‘in play’ and not out of bounds, then the play stands and all runners advance one bag. The runner advancement rule still applies (in cases where the runner was at least halfway between the bases).
  3. Foul Ball Drop
    1. If a fielder is attempting to catch a ball in the Foul area and does not make the catch and the result of the miscue is the ball being redirected out of play, the play is considered dead. The ruling is a foul ball. No runners advance in any situation.
  4. Fair Ball Drop
    1. If a fielder is attempting to catch a ball in the Fair Area and does not make the catch and the result of the miscue is the ball being redirected out of play, the play is considered dead. The ruling is a fair ball/base hit. Runners advance as per the Runner Advancement rules above.

12. REGULATION TIES

  1. If a game is still tied at the end of regulation (either 7 innings completed or time restricted innings completed), international tie-breaking rules apply:
    1. New inning-begins with 1 out
    2. The last scheduled batter of the inning will start on 2nd Base. (SPN quote) "If the person who is to start at 2nd base in that team’s half of the inning is not available because they left the game due to injury, ejection or any other reason, and their spot in the batting order is the automatic out, then the person batting before them in the line-up will start out as the base runner on 2nd base and there is one out. In Coed, if the automatic out is a female, then the runner at second will be the previous female in the batting order. If the automatic out is a male, then the runner at second will be the previous male in the batting order. For a simpler version:
      - If you swing the bat and the result of that swing causes the last out, via single out,  double play, triple play or strike out (thus completing your at bat) you will be the runner that goes to 2nd base in the following inning.
      - If a runner causes the last out via leading off, the batter in the box at that time will be the first batter next inning and the person in front of them (immediately before them) in the line-up will be the runner that goes to 2nd base.
    3. This procedure repeats each inning until a winner is declared.
NOTE: This does NOT apply during the championship game in the playoffs unless darkness limits playtime.

13. SUBSTITUTIONS, PICK-UPS & AUTO-OUTS

A team must field the minimum number of players from their team in order to be eligible for play without automatic forfeiture.
  1. Male: 5 males from the team roster or outside the league rosters
  2. Female: 1 female from the team roster or outside the league rosters
If a team cannot meet these minimums prior to the start of the game, they will automatically forfeit the game.
  1. If a team has 10 able bodied players from your team, you cannot pick up a spare unless you do not meet the minimum requirements for female players (this does not apply to meeting male minimums) - in other words, you must play your roster even if you have 5 guys and 5 girls - you cannot pick up additional guys;
  2. A team is not restricted to how many games per season they pick up players
  3. Equal Ability - the player substituting/filling in a roster spot for a missing player must be of similar (or less) ability as agreed upon by both managers and agreement provided by the umps.
  4. Injuries and Substitutions - If an injury occurs during a game, regardless of the number of pick-ups/substitutions, the injured team will be allowed to substitute a player-agreed upon by both managers and both umps (if a female is hurt, she must be replaced by a female; a male may be replaced by either female or male); the preference is of equal ability, but this situation will allow some lenience with the umpires and team managers' discretion.
  5. Tournament Play - See Tournament Rules for clarification on how this applies. (Section 51)


  1. The maximum  number of pick-ups from within the league are:
    1. FEMALE: A team may pick up 1 female to meet their minimum, but if they have 3 from their roster already, they may pick up unlimited after that;
    2. MALE: A team may pick up 2 males to meet their team minimum; there is no situation that allows for more than 2 males to be picked up.

NOTE: If you have a girl who is on your team at the field, that girl MUST be played prior to picking up any male players. (See rule 13.C)

  1. If a team cannot field 2 females from their roster:
    1. They can field 1 girl from their team + 1 pick-up girl from another team and then consider the 3rd girl (absent) an auto-out and play with 9 players in the field.
  2. If a team starts with an auto-out and a player from their team arrives late, they may insert that player into the roster so long as it still meets the standards for fielding a team (e.g. you cannot field a guy in the auto-out position if the team is still short a girl) and does not violate any pick-up/substitution rules.
     
  3. Various other scenarios are available and are listed below:
    1. 9 players (1 girl, 8 guys) – in this situation, the team is allowed to pick up 1 additional girl from another team. Even having 10 total, you cannot field more than 7 guys at a time and will have to play with an auto-out and 9 players in the field. They cannot pick up 2 additional girls.
    2. 8 players (1 girl, 7 guys) – in this situation, the team is allowed to pick up 1 additional girl from another team. Even though they are still short, they cannot pick up another guy or another girl and will have to play with an auto-out and only field 9 players in the field.
    3. 8 players (2 girls, 6 guys) – in this situation, the team is allowed to pick up 1 additional girl from another team to fulfil their female quota. In order to bring their team to 10 players, they can pick up either another female or a male player. Assuming they pick up another player, they will bat 10 and field 10 players.
    4. 8 Players (3 girls, 5 guys) – in this situation, the team is already fulfilling their female quota. To fill the missing 2 spots – they can choose to fill them with 2 guys, 1 guy & 1 girl or 2 girls. Whichever option they choose, they can bat and field 10 players.
    5. 6 players (1 girl, 5 guys) – in this situation, the team may pick up 1 additional girl and 2 guys and play with one auto out (9 players total); Alternatively, they can pick up 3 additional girls and no guys and play with an auto-out (one additional girl to count towards the female quota and 2 girls to count as replacements for the male quota).
    6. 7 players (3 girls, 4 guys) – this results in a forfeit as the team has NOT met the minimum number of male players required even if they can fill the gaps with females.
    7. 6 players (2 girls, 4 guys) –  this results in a forfeit as the team has NOT met the minimum number of male players required even if they can fill the gaps with females.
    8. Maximum of 1 auto-out is allowed; if 8 players only, the game will be an automatic forfeit.


14. BATTING

  1. A team manager will have the option to choose either batting preference below
    1. Bat 10 or less players in any order (no limit to # of guys/girls in a row)
      OR
    2. Bat all of their players (more than 10) as well as adhering to the following:
      1. A ratio of guys to girls must be a minimum of 1 Girl for every 3 guys; if a team cannot meet this minimum when batting more than 10 players, then they must bat 10 only
      2. A team may NOT bat more than 3 guys in a row (3 is ok, 4 is not, including the wraparound from bottom of the order to the top)
      3. If batting more than 10 players and meet the female/male ratio minimum, it's required that everyone bats; you cannot opt to bat 13 of 14 player unless an injury occurred
  2. Female pick-ups must bat after all regular roster females have batted.
  3. Male pick-ups must bat after all regular roster males have batted.
  4. Auto-outs are allowed and will occur in the 10th batting spot.

15. UMPIRING

  1. Umpiring duties as noted on the season schedule and may result in a team providing 1 umpire for a game, 2 umpires for a game or no umpires.  
  2. Penalty for late or missing umpires for each game, each week will be applied as follows:
    1. 5 runs deducted from your team’s score applicable on the day of lateness for day of game if a valid excuse is not provided/agreed to by the managers of the affected game.
    2. Late arrival to be determined and agreed on by both managers of that game late means more than 10 minutes after SCHEDULED game time (10 mins grace included here)
    3. Excuses for lateness shall be deemed valid or not by both managers of that game
    4. If late, the umpire forfeits their free-umpiring beverage.

16. STANDINGS-TIES

End of the regular season ties-determining seeding order for the tournament as follows:
  1. 2 Teams Tied
    1. Head to Head Record – simply W-L record between the two teams tied (score does not matter); if still tied then
    2. Better Winning Percentage Against the Highest Ranked Team Not Tied – the team with the better winning percentage against the highest ranked team that is not in the tiebreaker (e.g. if two teams are tied for 2nd, then it would compare winning percentages against the team in 1st).
    3. Better Winning Percentage Against the Next Highest Ranked Team Not Tied – the team with the better winning percentage against the next highest ranked that is not in the tiebreaker (e.g. continuing the example from 15.A.iii above – winning percentage would be compared against the team finishing in 4th);
    4. if the tie remains in place, this repeats through each team in the league in order of their final standings (5th, 6th, 7th…10th)
    5. if the tie remains, a coin flip will determine the tiebreaker.
  2. More Than 2 Teams Tied
    When more than two teams are tied, the following tiebreaker is used to determine the ranking of the teams in the tiebreaker. The goal is to establish a single team as the highest ranked of the teams tied. This section is used only when     more than 2 teams are tied. If one of the tiebreakers in 15.B breaks a tie and denotes a team as the higher ranked team the tie breaking system will revert to 15.A if two teams remain. If more than 2 team remain tied, 15.b will continue until a decision is made and 2 teams remain tied (which reverts to 15.A).
    1. Better Winning Percentage in Games Between Teams in Tiebreaker – The team with the better winning percentage in games between the teams in the tiebreaker (e.g. Team 1, Team 2 and Team 3 are in the tiebreaker and Team 1 has a combined record of 2-1 (0.667) against Team 2 and Team 3, Team 2 has a combined record of 1-1 (.500) and Team 3 is 1-2 (.333), Team 1 would be awarded the tiebreaker and the best remaining seed). If two teams remain tied, please go to Rule 15.a (2 Teams Tied). If all teams are still tied then;
    2. Better Winning Percentage Against the Highest Ranked Team Not Tied – The team with the better winning percentage against the highest ranked team that is not in the tiebreaker (e.g. if Teams 1, 2, and 3 were all tied for 2nd, then it would compare winning percentages against the team in 1st)
    3. Better Winning Percentage Against the Next Highest Ranked Team Not Tied – the team with the better winning percentage against the highest ranked team that is not in the tiebreaker (e.g. if Teams 1, 2, and 3 were all tied for 2nd, then it would compare winning percentages against the team in 5th)
    4. If the tie remains, a Roll of a Die will determine the winner (the highest roll being awarded the highest seed, the next highest roll being awarded the next highest seed, and so on). If a tie occurs that results in the highest roll of the die being tied between multiple teams, those teams shall continue and roll in a secondary round after the previous round is completed. This continues until a victor is determined.

17. PITCHING

  1. Pitches must be delivered underhand and with no side or back spin.
  2. Knuckle ball pitches are not allowed.
  3. All spin must be overspin (the opposite of backspin).
  4. All pitches are to be delivered within the 6’-12’ height range, any pitch outside of that range will be deemed illegal, announced as such during the pitch by the umpire. The batter may still swing.
  5. The pitcher must pitch from within the marked area in the pitcher’s area. This is for safety purposes and will not be adjusted.


EQUIPMENT

30. DUTIES

  1. Each week, a designated team is required to pick up all equipment, including bathroom related materials, and bring to the field from the league storage facility. This team is also required to set up the field for play for the 930am game, including securing down bases, pitching mat, batter's plate and scoring plate and all required cones for field outline.
  2. Each week, a designated team is required to set up the bathrooms (male and female) prior to beginning play.
  3. Each week, a designated team is required to take down the bathrooms (male and female) and clean the materials and package them for transportation.
  4. Each week, a designated team is required to transport all equipment, including bathroom related materials, from the field to the league storage facility.
  5. Each game will designated umpiring duties to a team or two teams; 

31. BATS

  1. Only league bats are permitted in league and playoff games - even if a player possess the exact same model, size, weight as a league bat
  2. If 31.A is found to be in violation, the team in question will automatically forfeit their game, regardless of score or agreements by managers.
  3. If a bat becomes damaged, it will be taken out of play for the remainder of that day;

32. MUSH BALLS (The Henri Rule)

  1. The umpire can call for a replacement ball at any time during an at-bat or between at-bats or between innings if they deem the ball in play is sub-par. The pitcher must adhere to this decision immediately.

AREA OF PLAY

40. PLAYGROUNDS

  1. SE Diamond (Regular FBL Diamond closest to the woods)
    1. If a ball is hit into the playground in the air containing the swings (right field) and lands within the extended lines of fair territory, it will be considered a home run.
    2. If a ball ends up in the playground, it is automatically a ground-rule double if the ball landed in fair territory on the ground. The batter is awarded 2nd and all other runners advance 2 based from where they started the at bat. (Note: this is different than the ball hitting the tree ruling).
      1. If the ball is purposely directed into the playground by the defensive player, the batter will be awarded a home-run.
      2. If the ball is deflected in the air (in fair territory) off a defensive player (whether on purpose or accidental) and subsequently lands in the playgrounds (in fair territory), this will be awarded a home-run (the Jose Canseco Rule)
      3. If the ball is deflected in the air (in fair territory) off a defensive player (whether on purpose or accidental) and subsequently lands in the playgrounds (in foul territory), this will be awarded a ground-rule double
      4. If a ball is hit into the playgrounds along the first base foul line in the air, it is immediately declared a dead ball and a foul/strike is awarded (not a 3rd strike).
  2. NW Diamond (Normally only used for tournament play)
    1. If a ball is hit in into the playgrounds in the air and lands within the extended lines of fair territory, it will be ruled a home run.
    2. If a ball ends up in the playground, it is automatically a ground-rule double if the ball landed in fair territory on the ground. The batter is awarded 2nd and all other runners advance 2 based from where they started the at bat. (Note: this is different than the ball hitting the tree ruling).
      1. If a ball is purposely directed into the playground by the defensive player after the ball lands in fair territory, the batter will be awarded a home-run.
      2. If the ball is deflected in the air (in fair territory) off a defensive player (whether on purpose or accidental) and subsequently lands in the playgrounds (in fair territory), this will be awarded a home-run (the Jose Canseco rule)
      3. If the ball is deflected in the air (in fair territory) off a defensive player (whether on purpose or accidental) and subsequently lands in the playgrounds (in foul territory), this will be awarded a ground-rule double.
  3. University Hill North Diamond
    1. These location specific ground rules will be documented by mid-June 2017 prior to the league moving its operation to this site for the remainder of the 2017 season.
  4. University Hill South Diamond
    1. These location specific ground rules will be documented by mid-June 2017 prior to the league moving its operation to this site for the remainder of the 2017 season.

41. BALLS HITTING TREES

Simplified version of the tree rule as of 2012:
  1. Trees (In the Air): if a ball hits a tree in the air; dead ball; automatically foul regardless of where the tree was hit;
  2. Tree (On the Ground): if a ball hits a tree after being declared a base hit, the play is considered over; the batter is awarded a ground rule double; all base runners advance two bases from the last base they acquired while running when the ball hit the tree(e.g. runner was halfway between 1st and 2nd when the ball hit the tree, the runner is awarded 3rd base; had the runner reached 2nd base safely before the ball hit the tree, the runner would be awarded home plate)
    NOTE: This is different than a standard ground-rule double.

42. FIELDS

  1. The SE field is the regular FBL diamond used all year
  2. The NW field is the opposing field closest to 16th Ave (to be used during the tournament only or make up games)
  3. UHN is the North field at University Hill
  4. UHS is the South field at University Hill

TOURNAMENT SPECIFIC RULES

All standard FBL rules will remain in place, where applicable, for the league tournament. In addition, the follow tournament specific rules are in effect:

50. MINIMUM GAMES PLAYED (updated for 2018)
Player Eligibility For Playoffs
A.      To be eligible for the playoffs for the current year, a player must meet one of the following requirements:
                     i.   Minimum number of games played for the current season must be met - 1/3 of the games played in the regular season; 
Example: 14 games (2018 season) are played by a team, the player must play in at least 5
 - rounding up to the nearest whole number - 1/3 of 14 = 4.67, rounded up to 5
                    ii.    Minimum number of games from the previous season (1/3) combined with an injury in the current season preventing them from meeting the minimum number of games in the current season
                   iii.     For New teams to the league in the current year, players who did not meet either of the two above stipulations will be voted on for approval by the league managers at the pre-playoff managers meeting prior to the playoffs.
Please note - being at the field is NOT "playing" a game. You must play in order to qualify.,

B.      The “Grandfather” clause may be implemented under special consideration and would require unanimous approval from all managers at the Managers Meeting prior to the playoffs. Exceptional circumstances must be present.
C.       All Tournament Rosters must be presented after the regular season ending at the manager's meeting and all players qualifications must be indicated (meeting minimum games, grandfathering request, etc.).

51. PICK UPS

  1. A team may pick up a player if they are short players as per the Substitutions, Pick-Ups and Auto-Outs rules (Rule 13)
  2. If you have 10 players from your team, you cannot pick up a spare unless you do not meet the minimum requirements as stipulated in the Auto Out rule.
  3. Managers of the two teams involved in the game and the umpires must agree that the substitute player is of equal or lesser ability for the player being replaced prior to the game starting (or the substitution happening if an in-game / injury substitution).

52. UMPIRES

During the tournament, the following rules apply pertaining to umpiring:
  1. Only umpires from the designated list are allowed to umpire games. (see Tournament Umpire List to be updated each year at Managers meeting prior to tournament)
  2. No "stand-ins" are allowed at any point unless it is another designated umpire from the list.
  3. Umpiring duties for the semi-finals and finals will be determined ad-hoc, but will still require umpires from the designated Tournament Umpire List)
  4. Umpires on the list may volunteer to umpire any game in which they do not play the winner if the need arises.

53. HOME vs AWAY

  1. A coin flip performed by the home plate umpire will determine who the home team is for all game, including the championship game *
    * Voted and agreed at 2016 Season Wrap Up Meeting

54. TIE-BREAKERS IN DIVISIONAL STANDINGS

  1. If two teams are tied in a division at the end of the round robin, the tie-breaker will be determined by the result of their head-to-head matchup, with the winner finishing higher in the standings.

  1. If 3 or more teams are tied in the division at the end of the round robin, the tie-breaker will be determined by the following and once the tie breaker is broken the winner will advance. If teams remain tied, they will continue in the tie breaker.
    1. Best Record of the tied teams involving ONLY the games played between the teams tied
      Ex. If 3 teams are tied for 2      nd, the individual results against the 1st place team and the 5th place team do not matter.
If a team is determined to have the best record, they will advance. The remaining two teams would then apply rule 54.A to break their tie.
  1. If all teams remain tied, then the highest run differential only in the games played between the teams tied will advance.
    Ex. Team 2 (2-2) has a Run Differential of +14, Team 3 (2-2) has a Run Differential of +8 and team 4 has a Run Differential of +4, Team 2 would advance.
    If a team is determined to have the best Run Differential, they will advance. The remaining two teams would then apply rule 54.A to break their tie.
  2. If all teams remain tied, then the highest Runs For only in the games played between the teams tied will advance.
    Ex. Team 2 (2-2; +10) has a Runs For of 7, Team 3 (2-2, +10) has a Runs For of +5 and Team 4 (2-2 +10) has a Runs For of +24, Team 2 would advance.
    If a team is determined to have the best Runs For total, they will advance. The remaining two teams would then apply rule 54.A to break their tie.
  3. If all teams remain tied, then the result against the highest remaining team not in the tie breaker would be used in the same order as i,ii, iii above (record, +/- in the game, runs For in the game).
    Ex. Team 2 (2-2; +10, 8 Runs For) lost 7-3 to Team 1, Team 3 (2-2, +10, 8 Runs For)  lost to team 1 8-2, and Team 4 (2-2 +10, 8 Runs For) lost to Team 1 6-5, Team 4 would advance (best +/- of (-1)).
     If a team is determined to have the best Runs For total, they will advance. The remaining two teams would then apply rule 54.A to break their tie.
  4. If all teams remained tied - numbers would be drawn to determine the final order; one item will be marked with "Advance", the other items will be marked with "Does Not Advance"; The team drawing the "Advanced" marker will win the tie breaker; The remaining two teams would then apply rule 54.A to break their tie.

55. MERCY RULE

Mercy Rule in the  Playoffs
  1. During the round robin, the Mercy Rule applies (+15) after the 5th inning. The game is automatically over at that time (whether that be after 4.5 innings if the home team is leading or 5 complete).
  2. There is no mercy rule established for the Playoff Semi-finals or Championship game.
    NOTE: It can be called out of sportsmanship if a game is extremely out of hand.
  3. For Standings purposes, a maximum of +10 can be applied to a +/- in any given game (even if the mercy was +15).

56. EXTRA INNINGS

Extra Innings in the Playoffs
  1. During the round robin and in the playoffs, if a game goes into extra innings, the same rules apply from the regular season as noted in section 13.

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