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 Rules of Play will be based upon Major League American League Baseball Rules and National By-Laws and Mountain State Classic Tournament Rules.  There will be some amendments to these rules that we use in the MSC which will be listed below.

For bad weather and field updates call 304-TBA SOON 3/13/06.  This number must also be used to call in all results.  Please tell us your division name, team name, opponent and score.

• Please check with the tournament director and make sure everything is the same as on the schedule.  It is the managers responsibility to check time or field changes.  A schedule will be provided and their field director will have the schedule also. 
• Winning team is to report their scores to the 304-TBA asap.  We need cooperation with this so we can have your Saturday night and Sunday games filled in quickly. All teams must play their scheduled games to be eligible to advance.
• The pool winners will be seeded 1-5 using the tiebreaker rule and we will also take the 2nd place team out of each division.  These teams will then be seeded 6-10.  Seeded teams 7,8,9,&10 will play a play in game on saturday night to advance to the final eight.  All championship games are single elimination and time limit will be in effect except for the championship game.
• Playing Rules not specifically covered shall follow the Official Major League Baseball Rules.
• The NCAA slide rule will be in effect for the tournament.  Any intent to injure a player will lead to ejection.
• The tournament director and committee reserve the right to adjust the schedule and fields however they see fit to insure a quality event due to unforeseen circumstances. 
• We have had rare occasions where a diamond may be rained out for two games or the day but all other diamonds would be playing.  Dont assume your game is a rain out.  Make sure you check with the field director or the info number.  We want to help accomodate you in every way possible but remember we are answering calls for over 50 teams so please have patience.
• All pool games will be finished by saturday night.  In the 18U age group we have 30 teams.  The division winners will be seeded 1-5 and the runner up in each division will be seeded from 6-10.  To avoid a team playing four games on Sunday the play in games for the single elimination will be the last two games on Saturday night.  At the time posted, the #10 seed will play #7 and the #8 seed will play #9 to see who proceeds into Sundays play.  Due to these games being the last game of the night, the winners of these games will play the 2nd game the next day.  We are very aware of travel and we will get teams out of town as quickly as possible for your trip home.  Remember finishing your pool games could have an effect on the tournament and the teams advancing. 
• In the 18U bracket it will take 8-9 games to win it all and in the 16U it will take 7.  All teams are guaranteed 5 games, weather permitting.  Dont forget every effort will be made to play each game but if a field needs to shut down for two games or whatever time length they need to get the field ready, those games will not be made up due to field restraints and each team is credited with a win, unless it is a short delay.  If this comes into effect, then the tie break on runs will be an average of actual games played. 
• A DH may be used for the pitcher only.
• Courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher and/or catcher. Must be an eligible substitute.  This must be done with two outs.
• Any starter may be removed from the game once, including DH, and then re-enter; provided that the starter re-enters in the same batting position.   So basically the re-entry rule is in affect.   ONE EXCEPTION - A pitcher that is removed from the game as a pitcher MAY NOT reenter to pitch again in that game.
• Please if you have questions be sure to ask.  We are here to help all teams and insure a quality event.
• There is to be 1 minute between each 1/2 inning, or 5 warm-up throws. Teams will need to hustle on and off the field.
• We also ask that teams help out on foul balls on each teams side when possible.  We appreciate your cooperation with this.
• Mercy Rule : 15 after 3 innings and 8 after 5 innings.

• All games will be scheduled 7 inning contests with a 2 hour and 10 minute time limit. If an inning starts with the home team trailing, that inning will be completed.
• If the game is tied after the TIME LIMIT, 1 extra inning will be played. If still tied, each team will be credited with a tie game, and for standing purposes, each team will receive a tie. If the game is tied within the time limit, the game will continue until time limit comes into effect and then if the game reamains tied, 1 more inning will be played.
• Any game will be considered complete if it is canceled due to unforeseen circumstance after 4 innings, or if the home team is leading after 3 1/2 innings.
• All possible efforts will be made to play every game scheduled, including short delays if necessary. However, some diamonds do not have lights and we must stay on schedule. If any games are rained out, they will not be made up, and will count as a win for both teams for standing purposes as outlined above.
• It is totally up to the discretion of the tournament committee to determine scheduling due to unforeseen circumstances.  For messages or rain information please call 304-TBA.
• There will be no infield before any games. All fields have areas for teams to loosen up prior to the game. It is the coaches responsibility to have your team ready to play at the scheduled game time unless told otherwise by a tournament official.   All batting cages will be shut down at all fields being used due to schedule conflicts for cages, throughout the event.
• Teams need to be at the field 30 minutes prior to scheduled time. This helps keep all diamonds on time and early when possible.  If a game finishes early and we can start early, we will do so.
• Home team will be determined by coin toss for all games in pool play.  The higher seed will be the home team in the championship rounds.
• The home team will be responsible for keeping the official score. It is strongly recommended that both teams keep a book and check with each other after every inning. This will enable the visiting team to assist should there be a discrepancy. The umpires may help mediate should a discrepancy occur. However, if unresolved, the home team is official book.  Most facilities will have an operable scoreboard during the event.
• Team rosters will consist of no more than 20 players, 3 coaches, and 1 scorekeeper.
• All pitching limitations governing innings pitched will be left up to the sole discretion of team management.

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• All decisions by the umpires are final. No protests will be allowed unless for player eligibility.  There will be a $100 protest fee that will be nonrefundable if the protest is not upheld.

• The following will be used to break ties in Pool Play Final Standings and for Seeding of Pool Winners and wild cards, regardless of whether there are 2 teams or multiple teams involved. However, once you pass a certain level in the tie-breaker, it never resorts back to that level again, for that tie-break.

1. Won - Loss Record

2. Head to Head.

3. Fewest Runs Allowed.

4. Most Runs Scored.

5. Winning percentage of your opponents that you defeated.

6. Coin Toss.

• For the tie-breaking procedure, a maximum of 15 runs per game will be counted for runs scored and runs allowed.
• Forfeits count toward a teams overall won-loss record. However, for any games involving a forfeit or a rain out, no credit will be given for runs scored or allowed. The tie-breaking procedure in these cases will use an average of runs scored and allowed for actual games played.  If it is a rain shortened yet official game then the runs will be counted.

• Daily Admission price will be $4.00 for all patrons 13 years of age and above. 12 and under will be admitted for free.
• The Daily Admission will admit patrons for the entire day at any facility where tournament games are played.

• All teams may be required to produce birth certificates for all players if necessary.
• No coolers will be allowed on the premises at any site except team coolers within the dugout areas.
• The head coach listed on the roster will be responsible for the behavior of his/her staff, the players and the fans. Tournament officials may eject any person whose actions become an embarrassment to themselves or their team; or are detrimental to the wonderful game of baseball.
• Once the tournament starts, no refunds will be given to any team for any reason.
• All trophies will be awarded on Sunday with the exception of the jerseys if the winners choose that option, which will be shipped directly to the winners once all info is provided.
• Please dont forget the info number is and all teams need to call in their scores 304-TBA.  Teams may also report them to the site director.

Water will not be available for teams at all sites. You may want to carry your own water coolers.  The tournament committee runs the actual event, however local high school teams and colleges use their facilities as a fundraiser for their teams and the work and effort they put in.    We will need to gather all missing information before the first game.  Again, all batting cages will be shut down at fields.  OAK HILL HIGH SCHOOL will be the main site.  Beckleys Best is our host motel.