About the Pakenham Mixed Slo-Pitch

 2025 Rules - Updated April 1st

 TEAM REQUIREMENTS

A full team consists of 10 players on the field; 7 is the minimum number of players needed to avoid a default. (3 females on field at all time’s  (7 Male & 3 Female) or (6 Male & 2 Female) , 3 to 1 male to female ratio.

Positions (C,1ST,2ND,SS,3RD,LF,R,CF,RF,P)

When a team can’t field enough players for a scheduled game the Captain must advise the opposing Captain and the League Officials giving as much notice as possible for the circumstance.

Players may play on more than two teams during the regular season however:
 Males will not be able to be used offensively and only can be used as a defensive player while the female can bat, however her stats don’t count towards her season statistics if they are a full-time roster player on another team. If they are listed as a spare they may bat for multiple teams but must choose a team before playoffs.

Format

  • Games will be 7 innings or 65 minutes in length with no new inning starting after 55 minutes. If a game reaches the 70 minutes then the game will be called and we will go back to the score at the end of the last full inning. If the game is tied we will go into extra innings. (see extra innings rule at bottom)
  •  Four innings shall constitute a legal game in the event the game is called due to inclement weather, or for any other reason.

Pitcher

  • Pitches must arc 6’ – 12' in the air during the delivery from the pitcher to the plate. A pitch that is thrown outside of this arc, either above or below will be ruled a no pitch at the umps discretion., and a subsequent ball on the pitch count.
  • A pitch that hits any part of the plate will be ruled a strike while any ball hitting the white plate will be considered a ball.

Batter

  • A 1-1 count will be used with the exception that on a third strike foul, the batter will get another strike. Should the batter foul off another pitch, they will be declared out.
  • Any pitch which is touched by the batter, hits the batter, or comes to rest between the batter's feet, should be declared a ball on the pitch count.
  • The batter must initially touch the orange (foul) side of the safety base whenever the defense is trying to make a play on him/her at first base, or when the first baseman is covering the white (fair) side of the base. The runner may touch the white base when advancing to second base. The defense may only touch the white side. When violated, the call should be made in favor of the batting player.

A batter is called “OUT” when:

  • A fly ball is legally caught  (the fielder shows control of the ball before it touches the ground, it may be deflected by other players, base runners have to tag up on his base until the ball is caught before they can advance);
    he/she hits an infield fly with base runners on first and second or first, second and third (the infield fly rule);
  • An infielder intentionally drops a fly ball or line drive which could have been caught with an ordinary effort, with less than 2 outs. (the ball is then dead and the respective base runners return to their bases);
  • A foul tip is caught by the catcher or the batter fouls off third strike twice;
  • Batter bunt’s

Base Runners

  • The batter becomes a base runner when the batter hits a fair ball or the batters attempt at striking the ball is interfered with by the catcher or fielder (the ball is dead and the batter is given a pass to first base).
  • A base runner is any player who has completed his/her at bat until he/she is called out or until the play on which they become a runner ends.
  • A pinch runner must be declared once the batter has reached first base safely. Teams are allowed three pinch runners per game per sex.
  • If he/she pinch running is up to bat then he/she must take an additional pinch runner or he/she is out.
  • ABSOLUTELY NO STEALING BASES OR LEADING OFF. If a batter/base runner steals or leads off, they are automatically out. One courtesy step awarded on UMPS DISCRETION
  • A base runner is out if the batter hits he/she with the ball.

Base runners are entitled to advance with the possibility of being put out when:

  • the ball is batted into fair territory;
  • The ball is overthrown into fair or foul territory but remains within play or the ball is missed by the pitcher on the throw back from the catcher.

Base runners may advance without the possibility of being put out when:

  • The batter is obstructed from hitting the ball by the catcher; unless there is a force behind him.
  • a fair ball bounds or rolls out of bounds (2 bases);
  • a ball is over thrown, carried, dropped or rolls beyond the boundary lines, the runners are awarded one base beyond the last base touched at the time the ball passed out of bounds;
  • a base runner is obstructed from making a base unless trying to field a ball, has the ball to tag the runner, or is about to receive a thrown ball. It is the baseman's responsibility at any given base, must clear away from their respective base if there is no close play. Failure to do so will result in an extra base being awarded to the runner.

Base runners must return to their bases without liability when:

  • a foul ball is illegally caught and is so declared by the umpire;
  • a batter or base runner is called out for interference (when a player makes an obvious attempt to interfere with a fielders attempt to play the ball, or is struck by a batted ball, unless it is obvious that no infielder had a chance to play the ball);
  • a foul ball is not caught;
  • a pitch is ruled illegal and dead;

Base runner is “OUT” when:

  • running to any base he/she runs more than 1 meter from the direct line between a base and the next one in regular or reverse order to avoid being touched by a ball in the hand of a fielder;
  • while the ball is in play he/she is legally touched with the ball in hand of a fielder while not in contact with a base;
  • when on a force-out a fielder tags him/her with the ball or holds the ball on the base to which the base runner is forced to advance before the runner reaches the base;
  • a base runner physically passes a preceding base runner;
  • the base runner leaves his base to advance to another base before a caught fly ball has touched a fielder, provided the ball is returned to a fielder and legally held on that base, or touches the base runner before the base runner returns to his base;
  • touches home plate or is forced out at home (discussed below);
  • A base runner fails to touch an intervening base or bases in regular or reverse order and the ball is legally held on that base or the base runner is legally touched while off that base. NOTE: Any appeals at bases must be made before the next pitch or before all defensive players have left fair territory.

Fielder

  • No fielder with the exception of the catcher and pitcher may cross the base paths until the batter makes contact with the ball.
  • No outfielder other than the Rover may enter the infield area unless a ground ball has occurred or a rundown is in progress or the offense has the option of taking the result of the play, or an award of one base to the batter and all runners.
  • Fielders may not tag runner out between commitment line and home plate.

Scoring

  • To score a run, the runner must cross a line drawn from the plate to the backstop, parallel to and extending from the first base line. The plate belongs to the catcher; runners who step on the plate, or interfere with any play at the plate, should be called out. (The only exception would be an automatic home run, since this run is officially awarded.)
  • All plays at home plate are deemed forced plays after he/she has crossed the commitment line. To make the runner out, the catcher or pitcher must touch the white plate while in possession and control of the ball before the runner crosses the scoring line indicated earlier. The runner cannot be tagged after they have crossed the “committal line”.
  • The committal line is a line drawn about halfway from third to home, perpendicular to the third base line. Once a base runner touches the committal line, they must proceed to home and cannot legally return to third base.
  • A team can only score a maximum of 7 runs per inning; no runs will be counted after the 7th run has scored. The final inning of the game will be open unless time has expired.

 

Home Runs

There are 7 home runs max for males and 3 for females per game. If a home run is hit after the allotted home run total, then an out will occur.

 

Base on Balls (Walk)

If the player that is up to bat is a male and he receives a walk with a female on deck he is automatically awarded 2nd base while the female has the option of taking 1st base or taking her bat.

 

Courtesy Runners

Three courtesy runners are allotted to both male and females. You must substitute a female runner for a female, and a male runner for a male. Teams are to ensure that the pinch runner is not close in the batting order. If the pinch runner is on base, and it becomes their turn at bat and the team is out of pinch runners an OUT will occur.

 

Infield Fly

The infield fly rule is to be enforced, which is, if there is a person on 1st and 2nd base or bases are loaded with less than 2 out, the batter is out on an infield fly. Base runners may tag up and advance at their own risk.

Foul Ball

A foul ball is a batted ball which settles on foul territory on the left side of 3rd base at the light post and small fence attached to school, and down the first base line to the right. If the ball is on the other side of the small fence attached to the school then it is out of bounds.

Home Run

A home run is a ball either batted over left, center or the right field fence but a ball that is knocked over by an opposing player as long as it doesn't hit the ground will be considered a home run on an error and will not count towards the (7) allowed. (7 per game, anything after is an out)

Dead Ball

A ball striking the front portion of the plate after being hit is a dead ball.

Overthrows and Out-of-Play Balls

  • An overthrow is still in play if the ball remains in fair or foul territory. Runners advancing at their own risk can be put out.
  • An overthrow is no longer in play if the ball goes into out-of-play territory. The official should award runners one base beyond the last base touched at the time the ball was thrown.
  • The play is dead if the ball is thrown, dropped, carried, or rolls into the out-of-play area. The official should award any runners one base beyond the last base touched at the time the ball left the legal playing field. This includes wild pitches and caught foul balls that are carried out-of-play.
  • The batter is NOT out if a foul hit is caught when the ball has entered the out-of-play area.

Tie games & Extra Innings

If a game is still tied after time has expired the team up to bat will start off with a runner on 2nd base, 1 out and 2 strikes on the first batter, the other remaining batters will start with a 1 and 1 count.

 

Game Misconduct

Game misconduct includes but is not exclusive to the following behaviors':

1. Openly dispute, argue or protest a decision made by an Umpire.

2. Use obscene or vulgar language, including swearing, at any time, even if not directed at a particular person.

3. Visually demonstrate any sign of dissatisfaction with an umpire’s decision in a manner that openly embarrasses the Umpire and/or challenges his/her judgment.

4. Taunt, bait, ridicule or threaten any Umpire, player, coach or spectator.

5. Make any aggressive physical contact with any Umpire, player, coach or spectator.

6. Throw any object in the bleachers/ viewing area, player’s bench, or on the diamond.

The Umpire will stop the game when there are players/coaches/ parents/ spectators displaying any of the above behaviors.

In the case of a Player or Coach:

The ruling is at the discretion of the plate Umpire during the time of the violation.

Minimum Penalty: Game Suspensions

Maximum Penalty: League Expulsion

In the case of a spectator:

  • The ruling is at the discretion of the plate Umpire during the time of the violation.
  • The Umpire will identify the violators to the coaches for the purpose of removing the violators from the game and spectator viewing areas for the remainder of the game. Game play will not resume until the violators have left the diamond.

Any repeat offence could result in police action and possible legal charges

PLAYOFFS

  • Players must have played 8 of their team’s regular season league games to be eligible for playoffs, unless he/she has been injured or has been grand fathered in, which is when an individual has played a minimum of two seasons or was on the original roster but due to injury was unable to attend. This rule is in place so teams don’t go out and stack their team for playoffs.
  • No player can play on two teams during the Playoffs.
  • Teams must have the following positions filled for a playoff game or face an automatic forfeit.

 1st , 2nd ,3rd, , Left field, Center, Right field and Pitcher with the opposing team supplying a Catcher, but the Pitcher must make all plays at home.

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