Tournament Rules

General Rules

• Prospect Network will follow standard baseball rules unless otherwise noted below.
• The tournament director has final authority on tournament format, schedule changes, protests, and rule interpretations.
• The home team will be determined by a coin flip before each game unless otherwise listed on the official schedule.
• Both teams are encouraged to keep an official scorebook or use a scorekeeping app. If a score dispute occurs, teams without a scorebook or scorekeeping record may have difficulty defending their score.

Age Requirements

• For 14U-18U, a player must be eligible based on the tournament age cutoff date.
• Players may play up in age division, but players may not play down.
• Teams must be able to provide proof of age if requested by the tournament director.

Rosters

• Each team must submit a roster before the start of its first game.
• If a team is found using an illegal player, that player will be removed immediately and the team may forfeit any game in which the illegal player participated.
• Players may not play for or be listed on the roster for two teams in the same division.
• Teams should have copies of birth certificates or age verification documents available for all rostered players.

Field Dimensions

For 14U-18U:

• Bases: 90 feet
• Pitching mound: 60 feet 6 inches

Game Length

14U Games

• Pool play and non-championship games: no new inning after 1 hour and 50 minutes.
• Championship game: no new inning after 2 hours.

18U Games

• Pool play and non-championship games: no new inning after 1 hour and 50 minutes.
• Championship game: no new inning after 2 hours.

California Tie-Breaker

• If a playoff or championship game is tied, the next inning will begin with a runner on second base.
• The runner will be the last batted out from the previous inning.
• This process will continue each inning until a winner is determined.

Lineup Rules

Teams may bat:

• 9 players
• 10 players with an extra hitter
• The entire roster

• Any player in the batting lineup is considered in the game and may be inserted or removed from any defensive position.
• If a player is removed from the batting lineup for a substitute, that player may re-enter later only in the same spot in the batting order.
• If a team bats the entire roster and a player is removed due to injury, there is no automatic out when that spot comes up. However, the injured player may not return to the game.
• If a spot becomes empty due to an ejection and there is no legal substitute, an out will be recorded each time that spot comes up.
• A team may play with fewer than nine players, but outs will be recorded for missing lineup spots up to nine players.

Pitching Rules

• There are no specific pitching restrictions.
• Coaches are expected to use good judgment and protect their players' arms.
• A pitcher may not be removed from the mound and return to pitch in the same game.
• A player is considered to have entered as a pitcher once they throw one warm-up pitch from the mound.
• For 14U-18U, balk rules will be strictly enforced.
• A fake-to-third move by a pitcher who does not first step off the rubber is not a balk.

Bat Rules

For 14U/18U, only the following bats are allowed:

• BBCOR bats
• Wood bats

• Illegal bat penalty: the batter is out once the batter steps into the box with an illegal bat.
• If the batter is allowed to hit before the illegal bat is brought to the umpire's attention, the result of the play will stand.

Courtesy Runners

Courtesy runners are allowed for:

• The pitcher currently in the game
• The catcher for the next inning

• A courtesy runner is mandatory for the next inning's catcher with two outs.
• If the team is batting the entire roster, the courtesy runner must be the last recorded out.

Intentional Walks

• No pitches need to be thrown for an intentional walk.
• The manager may notify the umpire at any point during the at-bat.

Slide or Avoid

• Base runners must slide or avoid contact when there is a play being made.
• If a runner does not slide or avoid contact, the runner may be called out.
• Malicious contact may result in ejection and possible suspension for the next game.

Mound Visits

• Each pitcher is allowed two mound visits per game without removal.
• On the third visit to the same pitcher, the pitcher must be removed from the mound.

Pace of Play

• There will be 90 seconds between half innings.
• Teams are expected to hustle on and off the field.
• Repeated delay may result in penalties, including balls or strikes being issued at the umpire's discretion.
• Stalling is not allowed. If the umpire believes a team is intentionally delaying the game, the umpire may take action to keep the game moving.

Metal Spikes

• Metal spikes are allowed for 14U/18U.
• If a portable mound is being used, metal spikes may not be allowed while pitching, depending on field rules.

Mercy Rule

The mercy rule applies to all games, including championship games.

• 12 runs after 3 innings
• 10 runs after 4 innings
• 8 runs after 5 innings

Seeding Tie-Breakers

Tournament seeding ties will be broken in this order:

1. Head-to-head record among tied teams
2. Run differential for all games, max of 8 per game
3. Runs allowed for all games
4. Coin flip

For three-team ties, once one team is selected, the remaining tied teams return to the first tiebreaker.

Protests

• Protests are only allowed for rule interpretations.
• Judgment calls cannot be protested.
• A protest fee of $100 is due at the time of protest.
• The tournament director will resolve protests immediately.
• If the protest is successful, the $100 protest fee will be returned.

Tournament Director Authority

• The tournament director may adjust schedules, game times, field assignments, game lengths, or tournament format due to weather, field conditions, delays, or other issues outside of Prospect Network's control.
• Teams will be updated as soon as possible if changes are made.

Baseballs

• 2 game baseballs will be provided by Prospect Network.
• Teams are expected to help return foul balls when possible.