Keystone Little League
Junior Division Baseball Rules
Spring Season
Goal
Junior Division baseball is an important part of the Keystone Little League program. Its goal is to create and emphasize a positive experience for the 12, 13, and 14 year old players allowed at this level. Coaches should use positive reinforcement to develop basic baseball fundamentals. This division is the first division where games are played on a regulation sized infield (60/90) and is an important year in the player’s development.
Interleague Game Rules
In the event of a conflict, Interleague Division Rules override Keystone Little League Rules for District 6 Interleague Games.
Game Length
Games are seven (7) innings in length or no new inning after 2 hours and 30 minutes have elapsed – whichever occurs first, except if the game is tied. There are no drop dead time. There are no forfeits, or ties. Teams in need of player(s) to field a team (up to 10 players) must contact their Player Agent who will assign a player or players from the player pool. The 10 run rule is in effect at the 5th inning. Note: teams are allowed 1-minute or 8 pitches, whichever is less, for warm ups between innings. The 1-minute clock begins when the pitcher and catcher are in place to begin warm ups.
Player Roster
Each attending player shall bat (continuous batting order). Each player shall play at least 6 defensive outs. Free substitutions are allowed while playing with a continuous batting order, unless the game is shortened for any reason. Home team not batting in the bottom of the seventh inning does not constitute a shortened game. Refer to the little league rule book for details on this rule.
Base Stealing and Sliding
Any runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag. If the umpire determines that the runner deliberately attempted to injure the fielder, the umpire could eject the runner for unsportsmanlike conduct. Similarly infielders including the pitcher and catcher cannot block a base or home plate if they do not have the ball and/or are not in the process of making a tag.
Pitching:
Pitch count limits will be followed as outlined in Part VI – Pitchers of the Little League Rule
Book.
Section VI Pitching
(e) Any player on a regular season team may pitch. Exception: Any player, who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game, is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day. This means any portion of 4 innings.
(f) A pitcher removed from the mound but not from the game can return as a pitcher once in the game.
(g) The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:
League Age 13-14 95 pitches per day
12 85 pitches per day
Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI(c) for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs:
1.That batter reaches base; 2. That batter is put out; 3. The third out is made to complete the half- inning. NOTE: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
(h) Pitchers league age 14 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements **:
• If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 51 - 65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 36 - 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 21 - 35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
** NEW: Days of rest is determined by the pitch count at the beginning of the last batter faced, not total pitches thrown.
On-field Coaches
The offensive team shall station two coaches on the field during play, one occupying the first base coach’s box and one occupying the third base coach’s box. A coach must be in the dugout at all times. No other coaches from either team are allowed to be on the field during play. All gates must be kept closed. Refer to XIV Field Decorum (d) in the Little League
Rule Book. All managers, coaches, and approved volunteers must wear their lanyards for the duration of the game.
Field Preparation
The home team is responsible for lining the field before the game. The home team will keep the official book and pitch count log. Both teams shall fill in holes in the batters box and on the pitchers mound, water the field as necessary, and drag the field at the completion of the game. Both teams are responsible for cleaning up their dugout and bleachers at the conclusion of the game.
Post-Game Duties
Teams must ensure that their dugout and bleacher area are cleaned up after the game. Home team should rake out high traffic areas.
If you are holding a player meeting after the game, please clear your dugout and move outside the field of play for your meeting - if there is another game scheduled after your game.