Bigs and Bigs Gold Division

(We follow the National Federation of State High School rules with the following exceptions)

                                                                                                                                                                    Revised 8/23/2023
Revisions in Red   

1) Games

a) All games will be 7 innings- with 10-run run in effect after 5- No new Inning after 2 hours- if home team is leading and up to bat and the time expires the game will be ended - 20-30 minute break between games

b) Winning team should text their score to Cody at 509-860-8713. Scores will be  updated on the website,  if you see anything errors please let us know.

c) Each DH played teams will alternate home and away- each team should provide 2 new game balls- and have used game balls as backup - be sure to get baseballs back after game- if you run short on game balls during the season let us know

d) All rules from the 2023 NFHS rules will be applied- same as HS rules- exception will be catchers can wear skull cap and mask if necessary- all bats must meet HS and WIAA standards-  

e) All teams need to start with a minimum of 9 players- but can finish with 8- if a player needs to leave game just consolidate lineup- 

2) Substitutions

a) Teams can bat their entire roster (up to 13 players), or do traditional strait 9, or DH for a position player, and also have an extra hitter- A starting pitcher may not return after being replaced by a different pitcher- otherwise free substitutions are permitted

3) Courtesy Runner

a) You may use a courtesy runner for pitcher and catcher if you have a legal substitute- someone who has not yet entered the game, would need to be separate substitutes if doing both pitcher and catcher courtesy rule- as a speed up rule the last out can run for the Catcher/Pitcher with 2 outs .

4) Pitching

a) We strongly recommend coaches follow pitch count rules adopted by the WIAA- limit of 105 a game per pitcher- however this is a recommendation and not an enforceable rule- it is solely the responsibility of the head coach

** At the discretion of the umpires extra trips to the mound may be permitted

5) Coaches

a) The head coach is required to be at the home plate meeting to exchange lineups and go over ground rules- whatever coach attends the meeting is considered the head coach for that game- only head coaches are allowed to call time out and ask the umpires for rule clarifications on disputed plays

b) Coaches are allowed 3 trips to the mound per game- a pitching change or to check on a player for potential injury are not considered a trip (injury time out needs to be communicated to Home Plate Umpire to ensure a trip is not charged)

c) Only registered coaches and players are allowed in the dugout- any bat boys/girls need to have on a helmet at all times

d) Coaches are not required to wear helmets while coaching bases

6) Ejections

a) A player ejected may remain with the team in the dugout for the duration of the game- coaches will need to leave the field and not be in view the rest of the game

b) All ejections will carry a minimum 1 game suspension and possibly more depending on severity- a coach may appeal an ejection - if the ejection happens in the 1st game of a DH the player may play the 2nd game if they file an appeal- to file an appeal you will need to immediately contact Cody at 509-860-8713 - He will confer with umpires and rule on appeal before the 2nd game- video and audio evidence may be used on the appeal

7) Umpires

a) All games will be covered by umpires from local associations in coordination with local assignors- every effort will be made to have 2 umpires- tournament games will have 3 if numbers allow- umpires will make determination on playability of fields if we encounter adverse weather- if necessary a rain or lightning delay may be required

8) Appeal a Rule Interpretation

a) Let the umpire know you are playing the game under protest- the game will continue and then contact Cody after the game with the appeal- only rule interpretations are allowed to be appealed.