2008 EAST SHREVEPORT/SOUTHEAST
MACHINE PITCH RULES
All rules from the Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules manual are in force unless modified or altered below.
Time Limit: 1 hour or six innings, whichever comes first for 7 MP
1 hour 20 minutes, or six innings, whichever comes first for 8 MP
NOTE: if less than 5 minutes remain, a new inning will not begin.
Ten players in the field, 4 must be beyond the white line in the outfield.
Everyone must bat each time through the line up. The batting order shall contain the entire roster of players. Players arriving late are placed at the end of the batting order.
Everyone must play in the field a minimum of two innings. Additionally, players may not sit out two innings in a row. Free substitution in the field is allowed.
For 7 MP, there is NO official score book.
The home team for 8 MP shall maintain the official score book and communicate the score to the Shreveport Little League Office and to the Machine Pitch Coordinator. Coaches confer at the end of the game to agree on the score. If there is a dispute, it is resolved by the umpire.
Inning Limitation:
3 outs or 5 runs maximum or through the lineup, whichever occurs first for 7 MP.
For 8 MP, 3 outs, 8 runs maximum, or through the line up, whichever is first.
6 pitch maximum. If 6 pitches and no hit, an out is recorded (if no swing on the sixth pitch, player is out). If last pitch is hit foul, keep batting. There are no walks.
There is no stealing and no leading off. Runners may only advance at the moment the bat makes contact with the ball.
11 foot pitcher’s circle — ball is in play until the pitcher or an infielder has control of the ball in the circle. When the pitcher or infielder has control of the ball in the circle, runners who are less than halfway between bases must return to the previous base (unless there is a force play on). Runners who are more than halfway between the bases at the time the pitcher or infielder has control of the ball may advance.
Batter/ Base runner must never remove helmet while on the field. Player is out if he does.
The pitching machine shall be operated either by the umpire or by a coach of the team at bat. The team at bat is to determine if the umpire or its coach is to operate the pitching machine.
7MP. Only 2 coaches allowed between the lines at one time if a coach is operating the pitching machine: the coach operating the pitching machine for the team at bat and one coach for the team in the field. If the umpire operates the pitching machine, only one coach for the team in the field is allowed between the lines during play.
8MP. If a coach for the at bat team is operating the pitching machine, the operator of the machine is the only coach allowed between the lines during play. No other coach is allowed between the lines during play.
Pitching speed: 7 MP 36 mph
8 MP 42 mph
Ball: 7 MP use Worth RIF (Reduced Injury Factor)- Level 5 baseball.
8 MP use regulation Little League baseball
Distances: 7 MP—Pitchers plate 46 feet
Bases 50 feet
8 MP—Pitchers plate 46 feet
Bases 60 feet
Each team must have 8 players to start a game. If a team does not have 8 players at the start of the game (game time), the team must forfeit the game. If there is a forfeit, a scrimmage may be played during the allotted time without officials.
All injuries must be reported to the Machine Pitch Coordinator and to the Shreveport Little League President.
Coaches of the last game of each day are responsible for returning the pitching machines to the shed. Each team is responsible for field preparation. After each game, each team is responsible for cleaning and removing the trash from each dugout.
Teams will shake hands after the game.
Rain outs—Replay only if there are more than 2 rain outs.
ALL STARS MP 8
8 MP---All Star Teams selected at year-end. We will have try outs. 8 MP Coaches can nominate up to 4 players from their team to participate in the try outs. 7 MP Coaches can nominate up to 2 players from their team to participate in the try outs. As long as players from the team participate in the try outs, at least 1 player from each 8 MP team must be selected to play on the All Star team. The Coordinator will choose the coach(es) for the All Star team(s). Consideration will be given to how the teams finished in the season. Only 8 MP Coaches will be selected to coach the All Star Team(s). One team per District (from Shreveport Little League Districts 2 and 3) is guaranteed, provided there are a sufficient number of players to field a team.
D. Brennan Hussey
Machine Pitch Coordinator
Office Tel: 221-3221