RulesoftheGame

Pinto Rules

 

(Revised November 2023)

Play is governed by the Official Rules of Major League Baseball and the PONY Baseball Rules and Regulations. The following outlines MBA specific clarifications of and exceptions to PONY Rules.

PLAYING FIELD

  1. Distance between bases: 60 feet
  2. Pitching Distance: 38 feet (kid pitch tournaments)
  3. Home run line: 150 feet
  4. The baserunner advancement line will be placed at 40 feet from the preceding base. The line between 1st and 2nd will be placed 40' from 1st base. The line between 2nd and 3rd will be placed 40' from 2nd base. The line between 3rd base and home will be placed 40' from 3rd base.
  5. The pitcher's circle shall be 12 feet in diameter.
  6. The home team is responsible for the preparation of the field for play and for cleaning the field upon conclusion of the game.

EQUIPMENT

  1. Bats marked with the USABaseball (or USABat) stamp are allowed. USSSA 1.15 stamped bats are NOT allowed. No length, barrel size or drop restrictions. Most players will use a 27”- 28” bat with a drop between -10 and -12.
  2. Metal cleats or spikes are not permitted.
  3. The batter, players in the on-deck batting area, base runners and players coaching in the baseline coaching boxes shall be required to wear a batting helmet.
  4. Catchers are required to wear proper protective equipment including a mask, chest protector, shin guards and headgear. Any player serving as a catcher to warm up a pitcher shall wear a mask.
  5. Bats are to be kept inside the dugout, with the exception of the bat the batter & on-deck batter is using. Bats may not be left against the fence.

PARTICIPATION

  1. The entire roster of players present for the game shall bat in rotation.
  2. There is unlimited substitution.
  3. 10th defensive player: All teams are required to use a 10th player who, defensively, shall be considered a roving outfielder so long as both teams field a minimum of 10 players at the start of the game. When each pitch is made, this player shall be in a position that is entirely on the outfield grass and shall not take a defensive position on any portion of the infield “skin.” However, following a hit that fielder, as well as any other, may move onto the infield “skin” to assist in making defensive play(s).
  4. If a team fields 9 players or less, no players will sit out any innings.  If both teams field 10 players, no players will sit out any innings.  If one team fields 10 players and the other team fields 9 players, the team with 10 players will sit 1 different player each inning.  If any team fields 2 more players than their opponent (example: Team 1 has 9, Team 2 has 11 OR Team 1 has 10, Team 2 has 12, etc), then 2 players from Team 2 must sit each inning and no player may sit a second time until every player has sat at least 1 inning.
  5. Failure to field eight players at least 15 minutes subsequent to game time will result in a forfeit. Once the game has started, if because of injury or players leaving, a team falls below eight players, a game will continue.
  6. An official lineup card must be presented to the opposing team’s scorekeeper prior to the game. Scorekeepers or coaches should notify the umpire if a player is batting out of order.
  7. If a team bats out of order, then one out is awarded to the defensive team and the batting team starts over as where the problem started. Example - the first four players bat and reach base safely, then the sixth player bats instead of the fifth player. Four more players bat and three of the four get on base while one is out. Now, the problem is discovered. What happens is the batting team starts over with the fifth batter, all subsequent scores or base runners or outs in relation to the sixth batter on are wiped out, and the batting team now has one out as a penalty. 

PLAYING RULES

  1. Batters will get 6 pitches per turn at bat. If after the sixth pitch, the batter has not hit the ball, the batter will be called out, regardless of how many strikes the batter has. Exception: If the batter fouls off the sixth pitch, the batter will be awarded additional pitches until the batter lets it go or swings and misses. If the batter gets three strikes before the sixth pitch, the batter is out.
  2. A batter is out when he has three swinging strikes. The catcher does not have to catch the third strike for the batter to be out.
  3. Bunting is not allowed. If a batter takes a full hard swing and the ball rolls slowly into fair territory, the ball is live and not considered a swinging bunt.
  4. There are no walks or hit batsmen.
  5. There is no infield fly rule.
  6. No leads and no steals. One warning per team. After that, the runner is out.
  7. Runners may not leave the base they are occupying until the ball is hit by the batter. There are no rolling starts by base runners. The runner is out if the ball is hit. Otherwise, each team will have one warning per game.
  8. If an umpire sees a runner miss a base, the runner is automatically out. There is no appeal play in Pinto, but the umpire must see that the runner has missed the base.
  9. With nobody on base, anytime there is a play at 1B and an INF throws to 1B, the runner can't advance past first.  The player must remain on first base if called first. The player must remain on first case if called safe. Otherwise (with runners on base), base runners can advance on overthrows in play with. Two bases if the ball is deemed out of play, the one the base runner is going to, plus one. 
    1. A ball is deemed out of play if it has gone into the dugout, over or under the fence, or beyond the line of the fence extended to the outfield along the first and third base lines.  If an opposing coach, player, or parent interferes with a ball in play, the baserunners will be awarded two bases forward at the time of the interference at the sole judgment of the umpire.  There is no appeal to this by coaches.
  10. Play is stopped and ruled dead when: Play is stopped by getting the ball to the pitcher-player (or another defensive player but not to the coach/pitcher) within the pitching circle. Once the ball is in possession of the defensive player and all parts of the player's body (both feet are acceptable) are within the pitcher's circle, the umpire shall call "Time" and the ball is dead at that time. Runners will return, without danger of being put out, to the last base reached safely when the play is called "dead."
    1. This rule is applicable when a ball is hit to the infield or outfield and the batter or other base runner is not put out, or when defensive players are uncertain where they should make the play. The defensive players should be practiced in getting the ball to a defensive player teammate inside the pitcher's circle. Once a player pitcher has both feet inside the circle with control of the ball, they cannot leave the circle to make a play on a base runner, with exception of a batted ball fielded inside the circle.
    2. If the pitcher-player or other fielder has a ball outside the circle and runs toward a base runner with the clear intention of making a play on that runner, play will not be stopped if the fielder then inadvertently runs through the circle in his attempt to get to the runner.
  11. Bases awarded - If you are on a base or past a base when the pitcher- player (or other fielder) has control of the ball inside the circle, you are awarded that base. If you are short of a base when the pitcher-player has control, you must go back to the previous base. If there are multiple runners on base and the lead runner does not reach his base in time (e.g. home plate) but the runner behind does reach third base in time, both runners must go back.
  12. The runner is only required to slide at the plate if there is a play there. If a play is being made at home plate, the runner must slide or attempt to avoid a collision with the fielder or he/she is out. Determination of whether or not a play was being made shall be made by the umpire and shall be the basis for determining whether the runner is safe or out. If, in the opinion of the umpire, a runner intentionally collides with the fielder while not attempting to slide, the runner is out and ejected from the game.
  13. The player pitcher must remain in the pitching circle until the ball makes contact with the bat.
  14. A ball that rolls or bounces across the path on field #6 is a ground rule double. If the ball hits on or over the path on the fly, it is a home run. A ball which rolls, bounces or flies into the right field weeds on field #7 is a ground rule double.
  15. The coach pitcher must position himself/herself within the 12-foot diameter circle centered on the pitching rubber. The coach pitcher must be in the circle prior to release of the pitch (1 foot is acceptable).
  16. If a batted ball hits the coach pitcher, the ball is dead. The pitch is a foul strike and no runners may advance. If a live ball hits the coach pitcher the ball is dead.
  17. All coaches must remain by the dugout or in the coaching boxes throughout the game. Coaches cannot be located behind or around the catcher or along the foul lines in the outfield. Also, other than the base coach, coaches shall remain on their side of the field. Coach pitchers cannot coach runners, fielders, or batters while pitching.
  18. An offensive inning shall continue until 3 outs are made or until the team earns 5 runs in inning 1-5. In the 6th inning, and any inning thereafter, an offensive inning shall continue until 3 outs are made.
  19. Official game: An official game is 6 innings or no new inning starting after two hours from the start of the game. In case of a tie after two hours, only one extra inning is allowed to break the tie. The last out of the previous inning determines the two-hour time. If a game is tied at the end of six innings, and the game is still under the two-hour time limit, three more innings can be played as long as the total game does not exceed the two-hour time limit. If the two-hour time limit is reached and the game is tied only one additional inning may be played. If the game is still tied at that point it is recorded as a tie. Umpires notify the coaches and scorekeeper prior to game time of the actual starting time they are recording on the game card.
  20. A batter who unintentionally throws a bat will receive a warning; a second occurrence will result in the batter being called out. Warnings are assessed per player and not for an entire team. A batter who intentionally throws a bat or helmet will be called out without a prior warning and is subject to immediate ejection from the game at the discretion of the umpire. If a batter is ruled out due to these rules, the out is treated like a strikeout and no runners shall advance.

Mustang Rules

(Revised 2/2024)
Play is governed by the Official Rules of Major League Baseball and the PONY Baseball Rules and Regulations. The following outlines MBA-specific clarifications of and exceptions to PONY Rules.

A. PLAYING FIELD
1. Distance between bases: 60 feet
2. Pitching Distance: 46 feet
3. The home team is responsible for the preparation of the field for play and the cleaning of the field upon conclusion of the game.

B. EQUIPMENT
1. Wooden, metal, graphite or ceramic bats, manufactured specifically for baseball play, which are round and not more than two and five-eighths inches in diameter at the thickest part, nor more than 42 inches in
length, are acceptable. The USSSA 1.15 or USA stamp must be visible.
2. Metal cleats or spikes are not permitted.
3. The batter, players in the on-deck circle, base runners, and players coaching in the baseline coaching boxes shall be required to wear a batting helmet.
4. Catchers are required to wear proper protective equipment including a mask, chest protector, shin guards and headgear. Any player serving as a catcher to warm up a pitcher shall wear a mask.
5. Catchers must wear a catcher’s glove at all times.
6. Bats are to be kept inside the dugout, with the exception of the bat the on-deck batter is using. Bats may not be left against the fence.

C. PARTICIPATION
1. The entire roster of players present for the game shall bat in rotation.
2. There is unlimited substitution (see below for specific rules regarding pitching).
3. Once removed from the lineup a pitcher may return to the lineup but shall not pitch again in the same game.
4. All players must play four defensive innings. A manager who has made timely substitutions in a game which is shortened for any reason is not in violation of this rule.
5. A late arriving player will be inserted at the end of a line-up.

6. Failure to field eight players at game time will result in a forfeit. Once the game has started if because of injury or players leaving, a team falls below eight players, a game will continue.
7. An official lineup card must be presented to the opposing team’s scorekeeper prior to the game. Scorekeepers or coaches should notify the umpire if a player is batting out of order.

D. PLAYING RULES
1. During the first half of the season, base runners may NOT lead off, but they can steal any base after the ball has crossed home plate.  During the second half of the season, base runners may lead off and steal at their discretion – only if agreed to by a majority of the coaches prior to the season.
2. Base runners can advance on overthrows in play. Two bases if it enters the dugout or goes out of play. The one they are going to, plus one.
3. At any point during the season, on a passed ball, a runner may attempt to steal home. As noted above, however, the runner can't leave third base until the ball crosses home plate.
4. The catcher should be in the baseline only when he/she has the ball.
5. The runner is only required to slide at the plate if there is a play there. If a play is being made at home plate, the runner must slide or attempt to avoid a collision with the fielder or they are out. Determination of
whether or not a play was being made shall be made by the umpire and shall be the basis for determining whether the runner is safe or out. If, in the opinion of the umpire, a runner intentionally collides with the fielder while not attempting to slide, the runner is out and ejected from the game.
6. A batter is out when they have three strikes, either called or swinging. The catcher does not have to catch the third strike for the batter to be out.
7. Bunting is not allowed. However, if a batter takes a full hard swing and the ball rolls slowly into fair territory, the ball is live.
8. All coaches must remain by the dugout or in the coaching boxes throughout the game. Coaches cannot be located behind or around the catcher or along the foul lines in the outfield. Also, other than the base
coach, coaches shall remain on their side of the field.
9. There is no 10-run or wipeout rule.
10. Coaches cannot touch the players on the field or running the bases.
11. When a team is at bat, only one player may be in the on-deck circle and they must be wearing a helmet. The balance of the team must remain in the dugout in a mannerly fashion.

12. A batter who unintentionally throws a bat will receive a warning; a second occurrence will result in the batter being called out. A batter who intentionally throws a bat or helmet will be called out without a prior
warning and is subject to immediate ejection from the game at the discretion of the umpire.
13. Disciplined players must be announced before the game with the reason for the disciplining.
14. Rescheduling of games is not permitted except for reasons of weather, field conditions, or in rare instances at the discretion of the Commissioner. Requests or rescheduled games must be submitted to the
Commissioner. Prior to the start of a game, cancellation due to weather or field conditions is by mutual consent of both teams’ managers, keeping in mind the safety of the players. Once the game has begun, cancellation is under the authority of the umpires.
15. The home team’s scorekeeper is always the official scorer for the game.
16. Official game: An official game is 6 innings or no new inning starting after two hours from the start of the game. In case of a tie after two hours, only one extra inning is allowed to break the tie. The last out of the
previous inning determines the two-hour time. If the two-hour limit is reached and the game is tied only one additional inning may be played after the two-hour limit. If the game is still tied at that point, it is recorded
as a tie. Umpires are to notify the coaches and scorekeeper prior to game time, the actual starting time, as watch times vary from person to person.
17. If a game is called for any reason, it shall be a complete game if 4 innings have been completed, or if the home team has scored more runs in 3 innings or three and a fraction innings, than the visiting team has scored in 4 completed innings.
18. There are no balks or infield fly rules. A ball which rolls or bounces across the path on JM field #6 is a ground rule double. If the ball hits on or over the path on the fly, it is a home run. A ball which
rolls, bounces or flies into the right field weeds on field #7 is a ground rule double. A ball which flies into the weeds on field #2 is a home run. A ball which rolls or bounces into the weeds on field #2 is a ground rule double.

E. PITCHING RULES
1. A combination of Pony Rules, MBA Rules and Pitch Smart Guidelines will govern all pitching rules.

2. Any team member may pitch, subject to the restrictions of the pitch count and rest requirements as recommended by Pitch Smart Guidelines for 9-10 year olds.

3. First half of season: Pitchers shall not pitch in more than two innings on the same calendar day. Second half of season (including post season tournament): Pitchers shall not pitch in more than three innings on the
same calendar day. (MBA Rule).
4. When pitching in more than one game on the same calendar day, pitchers may pitch any combination of innings in those games provided they do not exceed the above maximum number of innings in a calendar
day. (PONY Rule 10.E.)
5. Innings pitched are determined by thirds of an inning. For example, for the first half of the season a pitcher may record a maximum of six outs on the same calendar day. In the second half of the season, a pitcher may record a maximum of nine outs on the same calendar day. (MBA Rule)
6. Any pitcher withdrawn from the mound and/or lineup, or a pitcher who is withdrawn from the mound and stays in the game at another position, shall not be permitted to pitch again in the same game. (PONY Rule 10.I.)
7. Pitchers at the Mustang level are not allowed to throw curve balls. (MBA Rule)
8. The pitcher may bring their pitching hand in contact with their mouth or lips while in the pitching circle as long as they wipe off their hands or fingers prior to making contact with the pitching rubber. (PONY Rule 10.M.)
9. If a relief pitcher comes in “cold” the umpire shall allow the pitcher to warm up properly with at least ten warm up pitches. (Pony Rule 10.J.)
10. Each team is to report the game score and the pitch count for their pitchers for each game to the league commissioner.