MID-SEASON TOURNAMENT RULES
SMBA RULES AND REGULATIONS
It is recommended that all coaches are familiar with the Soo Minor Baseball Association Rules and Regulations (Revised August 2021) prior to the commencement of the Mid-Season Tournament. Some of the key rules are outlined and summarized below. These rules and regulations are in effect for all divisions in the Mid-Season Tournament.
ALL DIVISIONS: (as applicable)
DOUBLE KNOCKOUT
Home field in double knockouts will be determined by a coin toss. In the championship final, the undefeated team will be declared the home team. If the championship goes to the "if necessary" game, a coin toss will determine the home team.
R.13.1 - In all SMBA tournaments (except 9U which is 5 innings) games shall be 7 innings in length, (6 ½ if the home team is leading) or until a winner is declared. A game stopped due to weather, darkness, or light failure shall be resumed at a later date. 10 run mercy rule is in effect as per rule 1.14.
R.13.2 - A forfeited game does not count as a suspended game.
R.13.3 - The game shall be resumed from the exact point of suspension. All runners count; on the batter and outs shall be exactly as at point of suspension.
R.13.4 - Any player who is absent from the completion of a suspended game shall be removed from the batting order and all other batters will move up 1 spot.
R.13.5 - Any player who is absent for the suspended game shall be placed last in the batting order for the continued game.
R.13.6 - Any player who has pitched in the suspended game shall not be allowed to pitch in the completion of the game unless he was the pitcher of record at the time of suspension, and is a legal player.
ROUND ROBIN
Home field in round robin games will be determined by a coin toss.
Round robin games will end in a tie after regulation is complete.
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS
Semi-Finals:
After Round Robin play, seeding into the semi-finals will based on:
1) Points
2) Head to Head
3) Run Differential
4) Least Runs Against
5) Coin Flip
Home field for the semi-final games will be the higher seeded team from the round robin.
Semi-final games will go to extra innings until a winner is declared.
Finals:
Home field for the championship game will go to the team who won the head to head game from the round robin.
The championship final game will go to extra innings until a winner is declared.
SCOREKEEPING
Each team requires an official scorekeeper and is be identified before the start of each game. The winning team is required to get the game sheet signed by a coach and by an umpire. The scorekeepers will confirm the score and the pitchers used in the game.
All scores and pitchers must be reported to the Convener after each game by the winning team.
MERCY RULE
9U
R.7.12 - All 9U games shall be 5 innings or until a winner is declared. A 15 RUN MERCY RULE will apply during the Mid-Season Tournament and Playoffs. If a team leads by 15 runs after 3 innings (2 1/2 innings if the home team is leading), it will be considered a complete game. If the teams agree, the remaining 2 innings may be played for fun with no further score kept.
All other divisions:
R.1.14 - A 10 RUN MERCY RULE will apply to all divisions, except 9U. If a team leads by 10 runs after 5 innings, (4 1/2 innings if the home team is leading) it will be considered a complete game. If the teams agree, the remaining 2 innings may be played for fun with no further score kept.
R.6 PITCHING RULES – ALL DIVISIONS (except 9U)
R6.1 - EACH TEAM MUST DEVELOP AND ROTATE A MINIMUM OF 4 PITCHERS.
R6.2 - In all cases, pitchers will be charged with the exact number of innings pitched. Any player assuming the pitching position in an inning is charged with an inning pitched.
R.6.3 - Managers shall make pitching changes through the plate umpire, and will keep a record of all pitchers’ innings pitched.
R.6.4 - In regular season, playoffs, and tournaments in all divisions, no player may pitch more than 4 innings in any 1 game, and no more than 7 innings in any 2 consecutive games. In the event a player pitches 5 or more innings in two consecutive games, he/she may not pitch in their teams’ next game. For playoffs and tournaments innings pitched start at zero. Violation of this rule must be made known to the SMBA executive prior to midnight of game day. If a team is in violation of this rule, they will forfeit the game.
R.6.5 - Any pitcher who deliberately throws at a batter shall be suspended indefinitely.
R.6.6 - A pitcher once removed from the pitching position, shall not return to pitch in that game.
R.6.7 - No call-up player may be allowed to pitch.