Create a fun, safe, and competitive environment for the youth of our community to play baseball in Lafayette and Erie Colorado. Develop the qualities of citizenship, discipline, character, and teamwork amongst the players.
The following rules are specific to the Rookies League. New in 2019, the Rookies League will be Machine Pitch or Coach Pitch. Each coach can determine how to maximize the success of each batter. If a child may be more successful from a ball thrown from a coach, the coach can elect to do that batter by batter during the course of the game.
Batting Rules
Three swinging strikes is an out. Foul balls count as strikes just like normal baseball.
There are no walks
There are no called strikes (looking)
Each batter gets 6 pitches
The 6th pitch is a "must swing" pitch regardless of the count
If the 6th pitch is not put into play or fouled, the batter is out
If the 6 pitch is fouled, the batter gets a 7th pitch
If the 7th pitch is not put into play or fouled, the batter is out
If the 7th pitch is fouled, the batter gets a 8th pitch
If the 8th pitch is not put into play, the batter is out
A batter hit by pitch from a coach pitch is not entitled to a base
A batter hit by pitch from a machine pitch can select to take a base or continue the at-bat
If the pitching machine and/or coach who is pitching is hit by a baseball, the ball is dead and the batter is awarded one base
Any coach pitching should make an effort to get out of the way of the baseball and certainly shouldn't reach out to glove a baseball. In the event that occurs (a coach actively fields the position), the batter should still be awarded the base (they hit the ball!). If a run scores, it does not count. If no run scores, if the runner awarded first eventually scores it will not count
Fielding Rules
Rookies will play 10 players on the field with 4 outfielders
Once a ball is possessed in the infield (on dirt on Lafayette Field #3), then base runners may not advance.
If a base runner is halfway or more when the ball is possessed, then the runner can continue
If a base runner is less than halfway when the ball is possessed, then the runner will return to the previous base at the end of the play
When the ball is possessed, runners off the base are live and can be tagged out
The intent of the rule is to teach kids how to run bases once kids are skillede enougth to make throws and catches to retire base runners. For example, a runner would never run to home after rounding third if a fielder in the infield had the ball.
If the player who possesses the ball attempts to make a play on a runner, play countinues until another player possesses the ball
One base on all overthrows regardless if in play or not