Every player must play a minimum of 2 consecutive innings (except for disciplinary reasons, or as the game allows)
Teams must bat their roster (every girl is in the lineup who is present)
6 run rule limit per half inning
Run rule limit for games: 12 after 3 innings, 10 after 4 innings, 8 after 5 innings
Game Length: T-ball & 8U (55 mins), 10U-14U (70 mins)
There is no ITB, games can end in ties
Must have a minimum of 8 players at game time to prevent forfeit
Teams may pickup players allowed under the following conditions:
Girls MUST be MESA registered players
Girls must be from that age division or lower
Pickup players must play outfield only
Pickup players must bat last in the order
Teams may only pickup players to reach a maximum of 9 players for the game (10 players maximum for 8U)
In 2010, MESA is beginning to split the age groups as allowed based on team participation into separate divisions. "A" divisions will be more competitive and follow tournament play rules except the above MESA Local Rules. "B" divisions will be more of a recreational league and will allow girls to develop who are newer and have rules in place to help newer teams/pitching. Our local rules regarding the divisions are listed below:
8U - B division - machine pitch
Rules follow standard ASA softball and machine pitch rules
NO STEALING
No dropped 3rd strike rule
8U - A division - machine pitch
Standard ASA softball and machine pitch rules
10U - B division - player pitch
Modified pitch rules - when a team has walked 3 batters in any inning, and there are 3 balls against the current batter, the batting team's coach may come in to pitch to the batter.
No dropped 3rd strike rule
No stealing home
10U - A division - player pitch
Standard ASA softball rules (with local MESA Rules)
12U & 14U
No division splits currently
Standard ASA softball rules
Machine Pitch Rules:
Each team's coach will feed the pitching machine to his/her own players from the 35' pitching rubber. Machine adjustments ARE NOT ALLOWED unless approved by the umpire.
Machine pitch speeds will be between 35-37 mph
Each batter will be allowed 5 pitches total. If on the 5th pitch the batter does not make contact with the ball, the batter is out. A ball that is not in the strike zone will be called a "no pitch" by the umpire unless the batter attempts to hit the ball. On the 5th pitch, unlimited fouls are allowed.
No walks
If the ball is hit and strikes the pitching machine or pitching coach, the umpire will call "dead ball" and all runners advance one base
The pitching coach must remain by the pitching machine at all times.
