Tournament Rules

Meriden Youth Travel Baseball, Inc. will be sponsoring our nineth annual July 4th Silver City Grand Slam tournament, Friday July2, 2010 through Sunday July 4, 2010.  The tournament will include a 14-U, 16U and for the first time an 18U division (18u wood bat only).  This will be a three-day tournament with pool play.  Monday July 5, 2010 will be available as the rain date.  Weather permitting this will guarantee each team a minimum of four games.  The top team in each pool of each age division will advance to the Sunday championship game(s).   See pool tiebreakers below.  Pools will be randomly selected after all teams in each age division have committed with a deposit to the tournament.

Dates, times and/or sites of tournament games are subject to change at the discretion of the designated Tournament Director and/or the Tournament Committee.

Each team will be provided with a “rain” information number at check-in.  We recommend this number be limited to managers only.  Please do not give this number to team families as this can cause an excess of calls – and managers may be unable to get through as needed.  Each team is required to provide the Tournament Director with a telephone number(s) where each team can be reached during their participation in this event.

Tournament entry fee is six hundred dollars ($600) per team.  The entire entry fee with completed team registration is required to hold a spot in the tournament.  Check should be made payable to “Meriden Youth Travel Baseball, Inc.”.  The balance must be paid in full by May 15, 2010.  

Rosters and team photos for the tournament program should be sent to Meriden Youth Travel Baseball by June 1, 2010.  If a digital team photo is available it can be sent via email to mytbaseball@yahoo.com.

Teams will need to check in at least one-half hour prior to your first game.  There will be a site director at each location.  Medical release forms will be required at this time.  Any player(s) without a parent/guardian signature on these forms will not be eligible to play in the tournament.  Please have copies of birth certificates or drivers license available.  Your cooperation regarding these matters is appreciated.

All teams are expected to carry proper accident and liability insurance for their players and coaches. The tournament will not carry excess liability insurance due to prohibitive costs". "These Rules subject to modification without prior notice".

A player will be allowed to participate on only one team’s roster during the duration of the tournament.
 
All players must be of the proper age as of May 1st.  Age group is determined by the player’s age before the first day of May of the preceding season.  No exceptions to the age rule – please do not ask.
                    
Any team knowing using an illegal player will forfeit the game in question and any other game that the player has competed.

REFUNDS:  If tournament is cancelled or shortened due to weather will be issued as follows:  
0 games completed ……….  Full refund.
1 game started ……………. 50% refund.
2 games started …………… 25% refund.
3 games started …………… NO REFUND
LATE DROPOUTS ……… NO REFUND (within three weeks of start of tournament).

If a written cancellation notice is provided within three weeks before the first day of the tournament, reservations may be cancelled and fees returned except for a fifty-dollar processing fee.

A hospitality package will be available to out-of-state teams participating.  This will include hotels, restaurants, etc.

Concessions will be available at each site.  Tournament shirts will be printed on-site.

Home team will be determined by a coin flip and will occupy the third base dugout.  Lineups (full names and number for each starter and reserve) and all changes must be given during the game to the official scorer.

No pre-game infield or batting practice will be allowed.  Players should warm up in the outfield areas prior to their game.

Meriden Youth Travel Baseball will supply baseballs for this tournament.  However, when balls go out of play, it is the responsibility of the team on whose side the ball went to recover them.

Bat(s) weight/length for the all the divisions will be –3.  Bat(s) weight/length differential.  (16U/14U)

18U Wood Bat only

A minimum of (9) nine players must be available to start a game.  If there is an injury during a game and that injury leaves the team with only eight (8) players, the position that the injured player occupied in the batting order will NOT be considered an out.  If that player is injured running the bases and is unable to run any longer, he will be replaced by the player whom made the last out.  If that player is a batter and he is unable to complete his turn at bat, and there are no available players on the bench, he must be replaced by the next batter in the lineup that would then inherit the injured batter's count.  If there is one remaining player that has used up his eligibility for that game, he will be allowed at no penalty to replace the injured player. When there is more than one healthy player on the bench and all players have used up eligibility for that game, the opposing manager will select the player to replace the injured player.  If, however, another injury takes the team down to seven (7) players the umpire-in-chief will forfeit the game.

All games will be played under modified National Federation High School rules.

Game time is forfeit time.  All games must start promptly as scheduled.

Teams will be permitted to use a nine or ten player batting order with the tenth player being an EH (extra hitter).  The EH can bat in any spot in the lineup, however, he cannot play a defensive position in the field and he can NOT re-enter the game.  IMPORTANT:  The EH is not the DH!  He can NOT play a defensive position in the field.  If the original EH is replaced he may NOT re-enter the game.  The player replacing the EH is not eligible to play a defensive position in the field.

The designated hitter rule is in effect and is optional to each team for the pitcher only.

Any starter EXCEPT the EH may re-enter the game once.  He may re-enter the game in his original position in the batting order.  The starting pitcher may re-enter the game if when he is taken out, he moves to a position on defense.  He may NOT re-enter as the pitcher.

It is permissible to pinch-hit or pinch-run for a pitcher and then have him re-take the mound, providing he was in the starting batting order and has not yet been replaced.  If a pitcher whom was a starting position player is removed to the bench (except for a pinch-hitter or pinch runner), he may not re-enter has a pitcher in that game.

NO courtesy runner(s)!  Hurry up rule in effect for catcher.  A substitute runner may be used for the catcher whenever there are two outs.  The runner will be the player having made the last batted out (or having been forced out in the case of a fielder’s choice).  

A twelve run mercy rule will be in effect.  

Weather related, mercy rule game or “act of god” will be considered official after four and one-half innings with the home team ahead or five complete innings with the visiting team leading.  If a game is tied or has not completed the minimum required innings as previously stated, the game shall be suspended and resumed from that point, when safe play can be assured.

There are no pitching limits and/or restrictions concerning the number of innings a player may pitch.

Each team will be allowed one trip to the mound each inning.  A second trip in an inning, the pitcher must be replaced.  Each subsequent trip to the mound in an inning will require a pitching change.

Any player throwing his bat or helmet, using abusive language or conduct toward any individual or in any way displaying poor sportsmanship will automatically be ejected from the game by the umpire in charge.  Any player ejected from a game will be required to sit out the team’s next game.

Other than age challenges there will be NO protests.  If your roster is questioned the burden of proof is on you.  Your inability to prove a player’s via a birth certificate will result in a forfeit.  ALL UMPIRE DECISIONS ARE FINAL.  Conversations with an umpire should be conducted after a time out has been called and held in a calm and professional manner.  Verbal abuse of an umpire will not be tolerated and may result in an ejection from the game.  Any coach or manager’s ejection will result in his team’s forfeiture of that game and the coach or manager  will also be required to sit out the team’s next game.  All players, coaches and spectators are expected to display good sportsmanship at all times.  Profanity of any kind is strictly prohibited.  Managers are responsible for the conduct of his players and fans.

INDIVIDUAL GAME TIE BREAKER

If after the end of seven innings the game is tied, the last scheduled hitter for both teams that inning will start at second base and the complete inning is played out.  This will continue until there is a winner.  Championship game(s) only will be played to their entirety without the tiebreaker.

POOL PLAY TIEBREAKER GUIDELINES

The Silver City Grand Slam Tournament will feature three (3) pools consisting of four (4) teams in both age divisions. Each team in the pool will play every team in their pool once. At the conclusion of pool play teams will be ranked one (1) through twelve (12) in both age divisions. The top four (4) ranked teams in each age division will compete in the semi-final games. The top seeded team will play the fourth seeded team in one semi-final game while the second seeded team will play the third seeded team in the other semi-final game. The winners in both age divisions of the two semi-final games will compete for the Silver City Grand Slam Tournament championships. The remaining eight (8) teams will play their fourth tournament game regarding their tournament seeding has follows: #5 vs #6; #7 vs #8; #9 vs #10; #11 vs #12.

The top three (3) seeding are reserved for the winners of each pool regardless that one of the remaining eight (8) teams would have a higher seeding than the winner of a pool. The fourth semi-final team will be the highest seeded non-pool winner.

In the event two or more teams are tied for first in their pool at the end of pool play, the following tiebreakers will be used:

POOL SEEDING

1) Team with the highest pool percentage won-loss record.
2) Head to head record versus the teams involved in the tie.
3) Lowest runs-allowed-ratio versus tied teams.
4) Head to head record versus the remaining teams involved in the tie
5) Lowest shutout-innings-ratio versus tied teams.
6) Head to head record versus the remaining teams involved in the tie
7) Number of innings ahead versus the tied teams.
8) Head to head record versus the remaining teams involved in the tie
9) Number drawing or coin flip if only two teams.

NOTE:  There is NO minimum for number of runs allowed in a game for tiebreaker purposes.

All teams will be ranked using the following tiebreakers for seeding one (1) to three (3) for the pool winners and seeding four (4) through twelve (12) for all non-pool winning teams. The top non-pool winner will be seeded #4 in their age division and compete in the semi-finals versus the top ranked team. NOTE: the three (3) pool winners will be seeded 1, #2, and #3 regardless of the tiebreakers.:

TOURNAMENT SEEDING

1) Team with the highest percentage won-loss record.
2) Lowest runs-allowed-ratio.
3) Lowest shutout-innings-ratio.
4) Number of innings ahead versus the tied teams.
5) Number drawing or coin flip if only two teams.

NOTE: Pool Play Seeding will decide the top three teams regardless of Tournament Seeding. It may be possible that a team would be seeded higher in the tournament rankings than a team that wins their pool via the pool play rankings. The pool play rankings would take precedent.

Lowest-Runs-Allowed-Ratio

The total number of runs given up, divided by the total number of half-innings played on defense. This provides the number of runs given up per half-inning by that team. The team with the lowest-runs-allowed-ratio number advances.
Note: If a team only plays a part of a half-inning on defense before a game is ended, that will count as a full half-inning for the purpose of computing the ratio.

Lowest-Shutout-Innings-Ratio

The total number of shutout innings, divided by the total number of half-innings played on defense. The team with the lowest-shutout-innings-ratio number advances.

Note: If a team only plays a part of a half-inning on defense before a game is ended, that will count as a full half-inning for the purpose of computing the ratio.

Games Called Due to Darkness:

Any game that has gone at least (5) complete innings before being called because of darkness (on an unlighted field) will be deemed a complete game or regulation game for pool play purposes. The Tournament organizers will do its best to see to it that travel times between games are minimized so that games can begin on time and games scheduled on fields without lights can begin on time and be completed with 7 innings of play. If a game during pool play has past (5) complete innings and the game is called due to darkness by an umpire before the bottom of the inning is complete, then the score of the game will revert back to the previous inning and the game will be ruled complete.

Games Called Due to Rain:

Any game that has gone at least (5) complete innings before being called because of rain, will be deemed a complete game or regulation game for pool play purposes. The Tournament organizers will do its best to ensure that all pool play games are given every consideration to complete as many innings as possible (to be determined by the tournament director) in case of rain. If a game during pool play has past (5) complete innings and the game is called due to rain by an umpire before the bottom of the inning is compete, then the score of the game will revert back to the previous inning and the game will be ruled complete.

Individual and team trophies will be given to the teams reaching the championship.

The Tournament Director and Site Director(s) shall have the final decision on all tournament questions.  
 
If you would like to join us this July fourth weekend please fill out the enclosed application.  All applications will be handled on a first come, first served basis.  Please note that entries are not official until a deposit is received.   

Please feel free to write, call or email with any questions or concerns.

We look forward to your participation and anticipate some great baseball!