Event Rules
1. Unless noted prior to the event, National Federation High School Rules will be used with the following notations. Pathway Baseball reserves the right to enforce particular invitational tournament rules.
2. Adverse Weather: Pathway Baseball tournaments will be played in adverse weather conditions. The format may be changed to lesser time limits, fewer innings cancellation of games or seed advancement to complete the tournament. Awards distribution may be based off pool play seeding, in instances where games are played without an elimination finish. If weather becomes a factor, we may revert back to the first Pool Play game or ½ of the official game time for the playoff seeding. Coaches and players accept these conditions when entering the tournament. Tournament Philosophy: Score Early, Win Early, Stay Winning. Play to win every game!
3. Refund Policy: There will be administration fee charged for complete rainouts the fee is a percentage of the entry and this amount is available in the team's confirmed registration for the event; 1 game played = 50% refund; 2 or more games played = no refund.
4. All teams MUST check in prior to play and MUST have ONE TEAM REPRESENTATIVE at the managers meeting. Teams not having a representative at the managers meeting forfeit their right to coin flip and choice of home or away for the first pool game.
5. Pathway Baseball will provide 1-dozen baseballs to each team at check-in prior to the start of your first game. We recommend teams bring additional game balls or purchase extra at the event.
6. Infield Warm-Ups: All teams are encouraged to warm-up as much as possible before game time. No pre-game infield.
7. Game Time: Starting time is forfeit time, unless delay is created by Pathway Baseball. Game time starts at completion of plate meeting.
8. Home Team: Determined by coin flip in pool play. Higher seed is awarded the choice of home team in playoffs and championship games. The exceptions to this rule are in the case of a double elimination bracket the undefeated team will always have choice of home or away, regardless of their seed and in a "If" Game, the team that won the "first" Championship Game has choice of home/visitor. Home team is required to keep the official book. If two equal seeds meet then we will use a coin flip. Any seeding disputes will be determined by tournament staff.
9. Rosters: May not exceed 25 players during the tournament for 15u-18u. No players may be added to a roster once the tournament has begun. Players may not participate on more than 1 team in the same tournament (regardless of age / divisions) All players must have an authorized signature to be eligible. All players must have amateur status.
10. Age Requirements for Pathway Baseball:
15u Division – Player turning 16 prior to May 1 of current year is NOT ELIGIBLE, unless player is in 9th Grade
16u Division – Player turning 17 prior to May 1 of current year is NOT ELIGIBLE, unless player is in 10th Grade
17u Division – Player turning 18 prior to May 1 of current year is NOT ELIGIBLE, unless player is in 11th Grade
18u Division – Player turning 19 prior to May 1 of current year is NOT ELIGIBLE, unless player is in 12th Grade
11. Player Minimum: A team must start with a minimum of 9 players but can finish with fewer, taking outs in the vacant batting order positions. Batters not listed defensively will be extra hitters (EP or EH) and may rotate anywhere on the field like any other starter. 14u and older may choose to bat 9, 9 + EH, 9 + DH, or 9 + EH and DH.
12. Pitching: No pitching limits for Pathway but we expect coaches to manage properly.
13. Visits to the mound: As per NFHS rules, each team is allowed three charged visits to the mound within a game. A charged visit is a trip in which the manager or coach does not remove the pitcher. After the three charged visits are used, every trip to the mound will result in the pitcher being removed. A visit is not "charged" when the manager removes the pitcher from the mound. Remember, charged visits are cumulative for the entire game (visits are not tracked "per pitcher"). No restrictions on visits per inning.
14. NCAA rules followed for catcher mask (2-piece allowed)
15. Courtesy Runners: The NFHS rules apply for the pitcher and catcher. However, if you are batting the entire roster or do not have any eligible substitutes on the bench, you may use the last batted out for either player.
16. Metal spikes are not allowed on turf fields or turf mounds unless noted otherwise on a per event basis. Molded cleats, baseball turf shoes and tennis shoes are allowed on turf. Metal is allowed on all natural grass and dirt fields.
17. BBCOR and wood are allowed for Pathway events. ---14u and older: -3 weight/length ratio only. All -3 bats must be stamped BBCOR.
Wood Bat Rule: To be considered a wood bat, a bat must be made of a single piece of wood. All other bats such as bamboo or two-piece must meet the BBCOR standards and have the BBCOR stamp. Bat rules apply to the age division you are playing in (not the age of the player or team). Penalties for illegal bats assessed per the NFHS rule book.
18. Tie-Breaker System: Games may
NOT end in a tie. If a game is tied after all innings have been completed (regardless of time remaining) the California tie-breaker rule will go into effect. If the 2-hour time limit comes first and game is tied, no matter the inning, game goes to California tie-breaker. Starting the new inning in extra innings a runner (last out) will be placed at second base and full innings will be played until a winner is determined. Championship game excluded as game will go to regular inning with no California tie-breaker in effect.
19. Run Rules: (15U-18U) 15 runs after 4 innings, 10 runs after 5 innings, or 8 runs after 6 innings. All ages have a 20-run rule after 2 complete innings (home team gets last bat, if necessary)
20. Time limit is 2 hours for all games, exception the Championship Game: No time limit. No Tiebreaker. Run rule still in effect.
21. Protest Fee: $100 cash (on rule interpretation only). Protests must be made prior to the next pitch being thrown. Umpire(s) must be informed first of a protest made during the game. The Tournament Director will make the final decision on all protests.
22. No Show: Team(s) that no-show will forfeit the entry fee and may be subject to suspension from competition in Pathway events for the following season.
23. Uniforms: Unique numbers mandatory (no repeat numbers), matching uniforms recommended.
24. In the case where the event has a required lodging policy, all teams must be in compliance with lodging policy or risk not be bracketed into the tournament. Policy can be found on the main tournament webpage.
25. Hotels/Motels/Condos: Teams that leave unpaid bills or damages will be removed from the tournament and reported to their respective leagues.
26. A player or coach that exhibits unsporting behavior and is ejected from a game will at a minimum be required to leave the immediate playing field and exit to the closest parking lot. The situation will be reviewed and any additional consequences may include the player/coach ejection from additional games, or player/coach ejection from the tournament.
27. A fan/spectator that is exhibits unsporting behavior and is removed from a game will at a minimum be required to leave the immediate playing field and exit to the closest parking lot. The situation will be reviewed and any additional consequences may include the fan/spectator non-admittance for additional games, or the remainder of tournament.
28.
One-Way Communication: The use of exclusively one-way electronic communication devices that transmit pre-recorded message(s) or signals for the purpose of relaying the pitch or play call from the dugout to the field (to the pitcher or other defensive or offensive players) is permitted. The use of an in-ear communication device with direct or live audio remains restricted to the defensive position of catcher.
PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to the coach of the team involved and the next offender(s) of that team will be ejected, along with the head coach.
29. Decisions: Event Director shall have final decision on all tournament questions.
Seeding Teams for Bracket Play
- Win/Loss Record
- Head to Head (only if all tied teams played each other)
- Total Run Differential (Maximum + or - 7 per game)
- Runs Allowed
- Runs Scored
- Coin Flip
