1. Distance between bases shall be 60 feet.

2. Pitching machine distance shall be 38 feet.

3. Distance between home plate and center of second base shall be 84 feet 10 inches

4. The pitcher’s mound will be occupied by a Jugs MVP pitching machine provided by South Bay PONY. 
   

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

2. All bats MUST have the USABat licensing stamp on it to be used in PONY baseball.  Regular baseball bats must be used starting in the Pinto divisions and above, which means that Tee Ball bats are prohibited.  More details, including a list of some disqualified bats, are available on the detailed rules for each division and at usabat.com.

3. Athletic protective cups are required for all male players.

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

Pitching machine distance shall be 38 feet measured from the back of the plate to the front legs of the machine. The player fielding the pitching position may not stand closer than 38 feet from home plate. The pitcher will take position, ALWAYS 5 feet TO THE REAR OF THE PITCHING MACHINE and on the left or right side.

If a batted ball strikes the pitching machine and remains in fair territory, the ball is in play. If a batted ball strikes the pitching machine and goes into foul territory, the ball is dead, the batter is awarded first base and all runners advance one base.

The speed setting on the pitching machine should be set the same for each game per season as determined by the division VP.

• Pitching machine speed is initially set at 35 mph for the first 3 weeks of the season.  Pitching machine speed shall be increased 1 mph each week starting in Week 4, until reaching 38mph.  (Wk4=36mph, Wk5=37mph, Wk6+=38mph)  Pitching machine speed for Playoffs will be set at 38mph.

• Pitchers position will be based 5 feet behind machine and placed either to the right or left of the machine to have full unobstructed view of batter.

• 5 pitches or 3 strikes (whichever comes first) = strike out.  Foul ball on last pitch will result in additional pitches until batter either puts the ball into play or strikes out.  There are no called strikes.  If a player takes a pitch, it is considered a ball. 
  

• Caught foul tip on 3rd strike by catcher is an out.

• No dropped third strike.

• Home team will provide 4 new Game Balls for each game.

• Players of any age are NOT permitted to operate the pitching machine in any manner.

1. No new inning will be started after the 1-hour 30 minute time limit has expired.  The game will end (drop dead) at the 1-hour 45 minute mark.  At that time, if an inning is incomplete, the incomplete inning will not count and any runs counted during that inning will be voided.  Final score will revert to the last completed inning.

   • Maximum of five runs per inning except in the sixth or final inning which will be open.

   • Umpire will inform both Managers of the final and open inning prior to the first pitch of that inning.  Any inning started after 1-hour 25 minutes should be considered the final inning.

   • An uncapped inning allows all batters to bat once.  If teams have different numbers of players, the team with fewer players is allowed the same number of at bats as the team with more players (example: team of 10 vs team of 12, the team of 10 has a max of 12 at bats the final inning).

2. Ten run rule:  If the visiting team is leading by at least 10 runs at the end of four 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 fourth inning or later, the game shall be declared complete and the home team shall be declared the winner.

• We do not use substitute runners for pitchers or catchers.
  

• Teams must have 8 players to play.

  • Teams may pull players up from our Shetland National division to fill in their rosters.  Teams are only allowed to pull players up from Shetland National during the regular season.  If teams are short players and unable to play a playoff game, they may pull players up from Shetland National, but officially the game is considered a forfeit.
    

  • Teams may not use players from other Pinto American division teams to fill in their rosters.  If teams use players from another Pinto American team, officially the game is considered a forfeit.
    

  • Only registered players from South Bay PONY will be permitted to fill in rosters.

• Players pulled up from lower divisions should be placed at the bottom of the batting lineup.  They should not be placed at key positions (1st base), but they should be afforded some opportunities to play the infield.  The priority is the players permanently on the team, and all safety issues should be considered, but call ups should not be stuck in the outfield all game.  
  

  • Teams unable to field an 8 person roster will forfeit that game.

  • The league encourages a scrimmage game be played for the benefit of those present.

• In the Playoffs, during Pool Play, a game that ends in a tie is considered a tie.  During elimination games, a game that ends in a tie will continue until one team wins.

• For Playoff Pool Play, the tie breakers are 1. Fewest Runs Allowed, 2. Run Differential (Max 10 RD per game), 3. Coin Flip.
  

• Per division Commissioner, teams may play with 10 players, with the extra player only permitted to play in the outfield.  Additional players, beyond 10, will sit on the bench.  Please balance the bench time throughout the team for the season.  Every child deserves equal playing time.
  

• Should a player have to leave early for any reason, that player’s position in the batting line-up will incur an automatic out for the first time that batting spot is reached.  No out is recorded thereafter.

• Both teams are responsible for set-up and break-down of the fields before and after each game.

• Home team is responsible for four new baseballs for each game.

• 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).

• Standings: The Pinto American division is an instructional league in nature, but standings and scores will be kept.

• 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

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