SUBMISSION TO RULES: Every player releases and waives any and all rights of judicial or non-judicial review of the judgment of the Commissioner.

1. "RULE ONE": The Commissioner may depart from ANY rule, policy, player assignment or regulation, at ANY time, under ANY circumstance for the purpose of promoting the Mission of the League, enhancing safety, developping better parity among teams, or for any other reason deemed to be in the best interests of the League in the absolute discretion of the Commissioner.

   1. The Commissioner shall have final authority to rule on all matters not expressly and directly determined by:

      1. These rules,

      2. The Major League Baseball Rules of Play, and

      3. Umpire judgment decisions.

   2. The Commissioner, or designee, shall participate in all protests, disciplinary actions, and complaints.

2. SAFETY: Safety is a paramount concern of the League.

   1. Batting Helmets: Safety is a paramount concern of the League. Every player is expected to purchase their own batting helmet as soon as practicable. DO NOT USE (or even ask to use) someone else's batting helmet. Batting helmets are required for all batters, baserunners and "Batboys". Helmets should have double earflaps, but the helmet must have an earflap that faces the pitcher. League batting helmets are available for use at the risk of the user and should not be used if the helmet is cracked, does not have full pads or is otherwise damaged in any way. The League batting helmets typically have the league logo or a white "M" or an "M-Ball" emblem on the front.

   2. Catcher's Helmets: Catchers are encouraged to wear a skull cap or helmet.

   3. Bats: During games, players must use a wooden bat, or a bat designed to simulate the look, feel, performance and sound of a wooden bat, as approved by the Commisioner. Every player is expected to purchase their own bat as soon as practicable. No play should USE (or even ask to use) a bat owned by another player. League bats are available for use at the risk of the user and should not be used if the bat is cracked. The League bats typically have a florescent orange knob at the handle end.

   4. Fake tags, Decoys or Collisions: Fake tags and collisions for the apparent purpose of avoiding an out, are prohibited. Any fielder who induces a runner to slide when there is no reasonable opportunity to record an out on that runner, shall be warned and the runner advanced to the base beyond the base to which the slide was initiated. That fielder shall be ejected for a second violation during that game, or for persistant violations over subsequent games. Any runner who initiates a collision for the purpose of avoiding an out, shall be declared out, warned, and thereafter, shall be ejected for a second violation during that game, or for persistant violations over subsequent games. Flagrant violations or rpeated violations may result in enhanced penalties within the sole discretion of the Commissioner.

   5. Must Slide Rule : The League will use a strict slide rule. When any fielder involved in a any play should reasonably be known to the runner as being in the path of the runner, the runner must 1) give up the out, or 2) slide.  The slide must be a directly into, and not beyond, the base and must be done a manner in which no part of the runner makes contact with the fielder above the knee of the fielder in a standing position. Penalty : That runner and any other runner may be called out. If, in the sole judgment of the Umpire, the action was malicious, that runner will also be ejected. Flagrant violations or rpeated violations may result in enhanced penalties within the sole discretion of the Commissioner.

   6. Stealing Home Prohibited: Any runner at third base who in an attempt to advance to home breaks for home before the ball has passed the catcher or strikes the batter's bat, shall be declared out, and all other players must return to their last legally acquired base. Any batter who reasonably should have been aware of a violation of this rule and who swings at or near the pitched ball shall also be declared out. An actual bunt (not including a slash bunt) is not a violation of this rule.
      
      

   7. Hit Batsmen: If a pitcher hits three (3) batters in one game, the pitcher must be removed from the mound.

   8. No Alcohol: No alcoholic beverages or non-prescription mood altering drugs of any kind are permitted on the field or on County or School Board property. Any participant suspected by an umpire to be drinking, or under the influence of alcohol or such drugs, during any game shall be ejected, and is subject to expulsion from the League.

3. SPORTSMANSHIP

   1. Without warning:

      1. Inappropriate remarks by any player for a team on Offense: Any umpire or any league Official shall declare a strke on the batter if any player on the team then on offense:
         1. questions a judgment call by an umpire or

         2. utters any inappropriate comment to or about anyone other than the batter or

         3. utters any expletive.

         If the inappropriate comment is made to or about the batter, then the next batter for that team shall be charged with a strike. It shall not be necessary to determine the precise source of the comment. Inappropriate comments shall include but shall not be limimted to any comment about a previous play by the player who is the subject of the comment. Any doubt about whether a comment is inappropriate shall be resolved in favor of a determination that the comment is inappropriate. If the strike would be the fourth strike on the batter, then the strike shall be declared on the next batter for that team. Flagrant violations or repeated violations may result in enhanced penalties within the sole discretion of the Commissioner.

      2. Inappropriate remarks by a player for a team on Defense: Any umpire or any league Official shall charge a "ball" pitch to the pitcher if any player on the team then on defense.
         1. questions a judgment call by an umpire or

         2. utters any inappropriate comment to any other player, including players on that team

         3. utters any expletive.

         Inappropriate comments shall include but shall not be limimted to any comment about a previous play by the player who is the subject of the comment, and any comment by the catcher to the batter other than an obviously friendly greeting or compliment. Any doubt about whether a comment is inappropriate shall be resolved in favor of a determination that the comment is inappropriate. If the strike would be the fourth strike on the batter, then the strike shall be declared on the next batter for that team. Flagrant violations or repeated violations may result in enhanced penalties within the sole discretion of the Commissioner.

      3. Any umpire, the Commissioner or any Commissioner may eject any play for serious profanity, dangerous play, malicious conduct, including any action reasonably interpreted as likely to cause injury or damage to any equipment, property or facility.

   2. After warning: Any umpire may eject any play for unsportsmanlike conduct, including especially taunting and any derogatory comments to, or about the opposing team, or any umpire, protest or objection to any umpire's judgment call. It shall not be a defense that the player was only "joking".

   3. Any player ejected from a game is suspended until reinstated by the Commissioner.

   4. No umpire shall be required to file an ejection report unless the ejection is protested in writing.

   5. Appeals from suspension must be received by the Commissioner not later than the end of the second business day after the ejection. An appeal fee of $15 must be paid with the appeal, which may be refunded, in whole or in part, if the appeal is successful. Appeals shall be heard by the Commissioner and the Managers, or their designees.

   6. Discipline. It is the responsibility of managers to ensure that discipline is not necessary. Any managers who fails to fulfill this responsibility may be removed from office.

   7. Uniforms. Every player should take pride in their participation and appearance. Every player must purchase and wear a baseball cap and colored T-shirt, with at least short sleeves, which matches the major league "Diamond Collection" batting jersey appropriate for their team name as closely as possible. Every player should purchase and wear the major league "Diamond Collection" batting jersey appropriate for their team name. Proper shirts may be available for purchase from the League. Unless excused by the Commissioner or Assistant Commissioners, every player must wear baseball pants. Any player who does not wear a proper uniform, and wear it properly, may be challenged by any league official. If a player does not adequately match, then that player 1) may be assigned to play for another team that evening, or 2) may be charged a first strike at every at bat during that game, or 3) may charged with a strike at your next at bat, or 4) may be prevented from playing until they conform to this rule, but will still be charged for the game, all within the sole discretion of the Commissioner.

   8. No Tobacco No tobacco products of any kind are permitted on the field (including the dug-outs). Violations will result in ejection.

4. PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS: Team parity decisions are based upon "full participation" from the players assigned to each team. "Full participation" means that any player who misses 3 consecutive games or who misses a large number of games, even if not consecutively, can expect to be tranferred to the Taxi Squad without prior notice. Attendance standards will be strictly enforced with 3 unexcused may be grounds for removal to Taxi Squad. Absence presumptively will be unexcused if not communicated to Commissioner or David Montgomery, Sr. BEFORE the absence and reason for absence is objectively appropriate and credible (except that in case of bona fide emergency, post absence notification by player may be deemed acceptable in discretion of Commissioner).

5. REGISTRATION AND ACCOUNTS: No Registration is accepted until approved by the Commissioner. The Commissioner may revoke any player's registration at any time, for any reason and without cause.

   1. Any team using ineligible or unregistered players shall forfeit that game and the manager is subject to removal from that position.

   2. Security Deposits - The Commissioner may require a security deposit for the use of any League equipment.

   3. The Commissioner may assign any player to play with a team for one game, despite any objection of the opposing manager.

   4. Re-Assignment and Transfer: Players may be reassigned from teams to other teams within the sole discretion of the Commissioner. Players may request a transfer to the roster of another team at any time, which request will be honored whenever possible and whenever it will not impair balance between teams in the League.

   5. All regular roster player accounts will be charged game fees for each scheduled game, whether or not that player actually attends that game.
      
      

   6. Any player who has not paid all fees in full and on time may be denied the opportunity to play in a game (which may occur whenever doing so will not prevent the game from being played).

   7. Any player account which has an unpaid balance greater than 1 game fee may be assessed a $2 late fee every time that a new game fee entry is made.

   8. Rain-Out Policy.
      
      

      1. Any game which is rained out prior to the first pitch will result in no player being charged for the game, and no umpire fees will be earned.
         
         
      2. Any game which is rained out after the first pitch but before the game is official, will be declared a suspened game which will be resumed at the earliest next opportunity, but may be limited to a total of 7 innings. If the game is not resumed, the players will be charged one-half of the normal fees and umpires will earn one-half of their normal fees.
         
         
      3. Any game which is rained out after the game is official, will be declared a suspened game which will be resumed at the earliest next opportunity, but may be limited to a total of 7 innings. If the game is not resumed, the players will be charged the normal fees and umpires will earn their normal fees.
         
         

6. MANDATORY RULES OF PLAY.

   1. Except as otherwise modified herein, all rules of the National League of Major League Baseball shall apply in these Leagues.

   2. The Home Team shall:

      1. Occupy the first baseline dugout;

      2. Provide the best available replacement baseballs to the umpires throughout the game;

      3. Be listed second on the schedule; and

      4. Keep the official scorebook for both teams, which book shall be open to examination by the visiting manager. Any discrepancy in scoring shall be resolved in favor of the accuracy of the official scorebook unless a material error expressly appears and the proper scoring readily apparent.

   3. A complete game shall consist of 9 innings, 8 1/2 if the home team is leading. A rain shortened game shall be official after 5 innings, 4 and one-half innings if the home team is leading. Ties ended by lights out will be broken at the end of the season and only if it wouild effect the standings. Ties in standings which otherwise cannot be determined will be decided by the result of the last meeting betwen the same teams.

   4. Batting Practice: All batters shall stand as close to the backstop as is practicable during batting practice, and the pitcher shall throw from the claim around home plate.
      
      

   5. Protests: Game protests must be reported to the Plate Umpire prior to the first play after the decision protested. The games protests or ejection protests must be submitted in writing to, and received by, the Commissioner not later than 24 hours after the conclusion of the game. A protest fee of $15 must be paid with the protest, which may be refunded, in whole or in part, if the protest is successful. Protests shall be heard by the Commissioner and the Managers, or their designees.

   6. Courtesy Runners: Players who need courtesy runners shall have their manager notify the opposing manager prior to the start of the game. If not so notified, the opposing manager may deny the request. Each team will be allowed 2 players per game who can be run for each time that they reach base. The number of courtesy runners may be increased before the start of the game as long as the opposing manager agrees. The player who runs as the courtesy runner is the last batted out, except that the Manager of the team on offense may designate the pitcher of record who need not serve as a courtesy runner. Once the game begins if a player sustains an injury, an additional courtesy runner may be used but the runner shall be selected by the opposing manger. The courtesy runner must enter the game at the first opportunity. If not, then that player shall be deemed to have waived the courtesy runner for the rest of the game. If the runner is not replaced within 30 seconds, then the original runner must run and the right to use the courtesy runner for this particular batter will be forfeited for the balance of the game. The 30 second time limit will begin at the time the umpire calls for time to allow replacement for the runner or selection by the opposing manager. Any violation of this rule discovered after the ineligible runner has safely advanced at least one base, shall result in the ineligible runner being removed from the base and an "out" recorded. If the ineligble runner has scored, then the run shall not count and the runner shall be declared out unless the last out of the half inning already has been recorded.

   7. The half-inning shall end at the conclusion of the play during which the 5th run is scored.

   8. No pitcher may pitch more than 4 innings.

   9. Any pitcher replaced before the third out of the one-half inning only may be replaced, but the pitcher replaced and the pitcher replacing, are ineligible to return to the mound, unless in the judgment of the umpire, the pitcher initiated the replacement or the pitcher has incurred an injury which reasonably prevents him from continuing to pitch in that game. The umpire should reslove reasonable doubts in favor of disqualification. The Commission may determine that this rule shall not apply to a pitching change necessitated by the suspension of the game.

   10. The rule of other baseball programs that a pitcher may move from the mound to another defensive position and return to the mound during that inning shall not apply.

   11. No pitcher may return to the mound more than once after the inning during which his team acquires or maintains a 5 run lead but returns to full eligibilty if the lead is reduced to less than 5 runs.

   12. Any questions about the rules or their application should be answered before play continues.

   13. Umpires shall return all baseballs to a league official after each game.

   
   

7. POST SEASON TOURNAMENT.

   
   
   1. Typically, after the end of regular season play in the Fall portion of the season, the eague may conduct a Post Season Tournament which will be, essentially a double elimination tournament except that the team from the "winner's bracket" shall play in only one championship game that year.
      
      
      

   2. Presumptively, the first place team will host the fourth place team; and the second place team will host the third place team.
      
      

   3. The Commissioner may permit any team playing in the tournament, which has not less than 10 regular roster players in attendance at that game who have had acceptable recent attendance, to refuse to accept any unregistered players onto their team provided that team pays the difference in registered player game fees between the number of regular roster players in attendance and 12 players, or 11 players if there would not otherwise be a non-registered player available; and provided that any player on that team who is not available to bat shall be recorded as an "out" at their place in the batting order.

8. "SPECIAL GAMES".

   
   
   1. The Commission may specifically designate games to be "Special Games".
      
      
   2. In "Special Games";

      1. Before or when first arriving at the fields, both managers for a game may report to the Commissioner that they agree to request that any or all special league rules be suspended. The Commissioner shall have absolute discretion regarding any such request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no safety or sportsmanship rules be suspended.

      2. Taxi Squad players and walk-on players may be assigned to play on the team selected by that player, subject to ensuring an adequate number of players on each team; it being understood that such assignment shall not to any extent create any precedent for future assignments of that player on a team.

   3. "Special Games" shall not effect season standings.