DPL Special Blend Softball Rules:

Game

Basic rules of the game

Standard softball rules. Specifically DPL rules below.

Game Time

Games will last 7 innings, or 55 min. No new inning can start after the time limit.

mercy/slaughter/obliteration

Mercy rule – Game ends if one teams leads by at least 10 runs after 4 innings.

Slaughter rule – 15 runs after 3 innings

Obliteration – 20 after 2 innings.

Note: Don't let these rules scare you, it is rare that these happen. Without these rules, things can get ugly.

Team

A full team consists of 6 males and 4 females. (There is no ratio rule. If a team is short handed a few males/females, they do not have to reduce numbers to level out the ratio.)

Teams may be larger than this but no more than 6 and 4 playing in the field. See Defense.

You may field a minimum team of 6, at least 2 of which must be female.

Short-handed teams may use subs from other teams or from any other source. Be sure they sign the waiver and thank them afterward. Keep the ringers to a minimum, the other team will not like it so much.

ALL PLAYERS MUST SIGN THE WAIVER COMPLETELY TO PLAY. These waivers, once signed, state that you acknowledge that Denver Pirate Leagues or affiliates are in no way responsible for injuries.

ALL DUES MUST BE PAID BY WEEK 1 or your team will be dropped from the league and replaced with a team willing to support the league.

Balls and Strikes

Offense

Batting

Team

Batting orders rotate gender every other Batter.

If guy:girl ratio is not equivalent, then 2 Batting orders exist. A male order and a female order.

You do not have to submit copies of the order to officials, just make sure its understood through out the team.

All players on the team bat, even if they aren't playing the field.

Individual

No Bunting, ever, from anyone.

All batters will start with a 1 and 1 pitch count.

Base Running

No leading off. You must wait until the ball is hit to advance toward the next base. Runners caught leading off will be called out.

You may slide into a base at your own risk. You assume all responsibilities of your actions. Foot first slides will be allowed.

(Be safe on your slides. Malicious sliding will result in an out and ejection from the game.)

You may over run first base. If you over run second or third, you are off base and can get out if you are caught off.

Runners may advance one base on an over throw. This does not count the one the player is already running to.

(note: This is not an automatic base. You have to get there on your own, if the other team can get you out before you get to that base, then you will be called out. Put some hustle in those legs.)

Base runners may tag up after a ball has been caught and advance bases. There is no limit to the number of bases a runner can take on a tag up.

Base runners may tag up on a foul ball that is caught. This is a live ball.

Once the pitcher has possession of the ball, it is a dead ball as long as the pitcher is near the mound. If the pitcher is behind home plate, in center field, on the bench, or anywhere else on the field, runners may advance.

Defense:

Positions

 All fielders must stand inbounds.

Outfielders must stay in the grass until the ball is hit. Any violation will result in the batter getting first base.

Infielders must stay behind the baselines until the ball is hit. Any violation will result in the batter getting first base.

Your team may not field more than 10 players at a time. No more than 6 of them are males, however, you may field an all female team. The normal team is 6 males, 4 females.

Teams must play a catcher.

All defensive players must stand in fair territory.

Fielders can not intentionally block base runners from advancing. Granted, if by chance you are in the baseline, but trying to make a play on the ball then the blockage is coincidental and thus legal.

Infield Fly – Make the catch, don't try to cheat a double play.

(what is an infield fly? An infield fly is when there is less than 2 outs and there is a base runner on 1^st and at 2^nd, then a batter hits a fly ball higher than 10ft and stays in the infield. The batter is automatically out and is a dead ball to prevent the defense from purposely dropping the ball in order to make more than one out.)

A player may not controllably bobble a ball in order to make a double play.

(note: if you throw the ball at a base runner and it hits them, out or not, this is a live ball still and runners may advance at will. Your consequence for throwing the ball.)

What is an out?

All batters will start with a 1 and 1 pitch count.

Two fouls/strikes is an out.

(Strikes are any pitch swung at and missed, or a pitch between 6' and 12' high at its peak and lands on the DPL Strike zone.)

A fly ball is caught, fair or foul.

A base runner does not tag up after a fly ball and the base or runner is tagged before the player gets back to the base the player was on.

A player is forced to run and the base was tagged before the runner could get there. Force out.

Intentional Interference

Base runner interference: intentionally disrupts the natural direction of the ball movement.

ex. Base runner is tagged out of base then launches the ball into the outfield to help another runner advance. Due to the runners actions, the ball is called dead and all runners have to go back to the base where they were when the out occurred.

Fielder interference: Intentionally puts the ball out of play.

ex. Fielder throws the ball out of play in hopes to stop a runner from scoring with the 1 base rule. In this case, all runners score.

Bench/base coach interference: People on the bench or base coaches should not touch the ball.

ex. Bench player stops a ball from going out of play. Base coach stops a foul ball thats catchable by the defense. This will be a referee judgment call as to what consequences offending team may face.

Bottom line, don't do it. It is poor sportsmanship and will not look good on your resume when you want to question the refs calls in the future.

Officials Judgment

Please keep in mind that the officials try their best to call a fair, unbiased game, with their very best judgment and perception. Although, we can not see everything from every angle. Until instant reply is available, you can make this a lot easier by fallowing the honor code. If you were out and know it, just accept the out and lets have some fun. Arguing with the ref will not make the situation better. Feel free, however, to ask nicely and peacefully for clarification of particular rules and why the ref called it that way. This will help the official better understand the game and will help us refine the rules as needed.