1. The baseball coaches will meet on Monday, March 19, 2012, 4:30 p.m., at 360 Colborne, Cafeteria (fifth floor).

    

2. Baseball practice may start on Monday, April 2, 2012.

    

3. Coach or school athletic director is responsible for hiring the umpire for each home game. They must also forward, in a timely manner, the Officiating Services Report to the District Office so that umpires are paid. Coaches will NOT be paid for umpiring their own games.

    

4. Games will be played as scheduled. The team listed second on the schedule is the home team.

    

5. Beginning in 2012, the teams will be divided into three divisions, utilizing the previous year's results as a guide.
   1. Red Division -- Capitol Hill, Highland Park, Murray
   2. White Division -- Battle Creek, Ramsey, Washington
   3. Blue Division -- Farnsworth K-8, Humboldt, Linwood Monroe

   From the regular season standings, teams will be eligible to participate in one of two playoff brackets (see playoffs below).

    

6. City championship is awarded to Championship bracket playoff winner.

    

7. Each school's athletic director will make the necessary arrangements for permits for the use of the playgrounds for scheduled games.

    

8. If weather conditions, before 1:00 p.m., necessitate postponement of the game, the home team will notify all concerned, including umpire. If weather conditions are doubtful, a postponement determination will not be made until 1:00 p.m. It is impossible for the District Office to anticipate or know definitely the condition of the fields, so the home team coach must accept the responsibility to notify the District Office if a postponement is necessary. Postponed game dates will be set for make-up by the schools involved.

    

9. National Federation Baseball rules will be followed.

    

10. Ground rules must be agreed upon with the umpire before the game starts. In case an agreement is not made, the decision of the umpire will be final.

     

11. The home team will furnish bases (if not supplied by playgrounds) and the necessary number of baseballs to complete the game. All balls will be returned to the home team.

     

12. All participating players must be in uniform. Each batter and base runner must wear a head protector.

     

13. Cleats, metal or rubber, are acceptable.

     

14. Requests to play non-conference games must be made through the Athletic Director.

     

15. The two coaches should do everything in their power to start the ball game on time and to keep it moving so as to retain the interest of the players and spectators.

     

16. The coach may act as a third base coach.

     

17. Five innings must be played whenever possible to constitute a game. The regulation game shall be seven innings. The ten-run rule is in effect after five innings have been completed.
    1. Any game called before five innings will be rescheduled on the next available date and will resume at the exact point it was called. The line-up, batting order and game situation shall be the same as it was at the time of the suspension.
    2. Any game that is called after it is a regulation game with a tie score, shall be a suspended game. A suspended game shall be continued from the point of suspension at a later time. The line-up, batting order and game situation shall be the same as it was at the time of suspension.

     

18. No inning will be allowed to start two hours after the first pitch.

     

19. A team's turn at bat is over if they bat the order before three outs are made and their lead is seven or more runs.

     

20. Protests on decisions involving judgment or because ground rules have not been agreed upon will not be accepted.

     

21. The results of the game should be called in by the HOME coach to John Vosejpka by phone (767-3490) or e-mail (john.vosejpka@SPPS.org) for Web site posting.

     

22. Coaches shall prohibit their pitchers from pitching on an outside team during the junior high schedule.

     

23. Students and coaches are to travel on bonded carrier. Coaches must accompany students on the bus.

JUNIOR HIGH BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

1. Five teams will qualify for the Championship Bracket playoffs with the remaining four teams qualifying for the consolation bracket playoffs.

    

2. The Championship Bracket is formed from the top two teams from the Red Division; top two teams from the White Division; and the top team from the Blue Division. All others are placed in the Consolation Bracket.

    

3. Tie-Breakers to determine the above:
   1. Head-to-head;
   2. Least runs allowed in all games played head-to-head for teams tied;
   3. Most runs scored in all games played head-to-head for teams tied;
   4. Coin flip

    

4. Game sites: Best record, regardless of division. Tie goes to the highest division (exception is Game 4 below which is played at Red1; and championship game).

    

5. Championship Bracket:
   1. Game 1 (May 21) -- White2 vs. Blue1
   2. Game 4 (May 23) -- Game 1 winner vs. Red1
   3. Game 5 (May 23) -- White1 vs. Red 2
   4. Game 7 (May 29, site TBA) -- Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner

    

6. Consolation Bracket:
   1. Game 2 (May 22) -- Red3 vs. Blue3
   2. Game 3 (May 22) -- White3 vs. Blue2
   3. Game 6 (May 24) -- Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner