NKB End of Season (EOS) Tournament Rules
These rules are specifically for the NKB EOS Tournament. All other rules not addressed in this list will follow the posted NKB rules for that division. Any rules-related questions should be directed to the applicable division coordinator.
UMPIRE & BASEBALLS
The league will handle payment to all umpires. The coaches do NOT need to pay the umpires for NKB EOS Tournament games.
The league will also work to provide 2 game balls per tournament game.
PLAYERS
A team must consist of a minimum of 8 players in order to start a game. Teams not having at least 8 players at the start of a game will forfeit the game. Forfeit time is 15 minutes after the scheduled start of a game. A game may NOT begin until both teams have at least 8 players present.
The ninth spot in the batting order for a team playing a tournament game with 8 players will not be counted as an out.
If a team playing with 8 players loses a player as a result of injury or any other reason dropping them below 8 players then the team may NOT continue the game and must forfeit at that time.
If a player is ejected from the game for any reason then that spot in the order will count as an out when that player’s spot comes up in the order.
If a player leaves the game for any reason other than ejection resulting in the team still having 8 or more players then that spot in the batting order will be skipped without penalty to the team.
PICKING UP PLAYERS FOR TOURNAMENT GAMES
If a team elects to pick up players to reach the standard number of players for a game (9 players for 9U and above and 10 players for 8U and below) then the following guidelines MUST be met for the player to be eligible:
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The team has 9 or less players from their NKB registered regular season roster. If the team has 10 players from their NKB registered regular season roster then they will NOT add any players for that game.
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The player must be a current NKB registered player.
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The player must come from the division below. For example, if a 10u Majors team needs a player then the player must come from a 10u Minors team or below; If a 10u Minors team needs a player then player must come from a 9u Majors team or below).
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The player that is added to the team for the EOS Tournament is NOT allowed to pitch during the tournament.
TIME LIMIT / EXTRA INNINGS
The 1 hour 45 minute time limit will still be observed during the NKB EOS Tournament. A new inning (Top Half of Inning) should not be started after the 1 hour 45 minute time limit has expired in 9U-13U. In 7U and 8U a new inning should not be started after 1 hour and 30 minutes. If an inning is started prior to that time limit then that inning should be completed even if it extends past the time limit. The time limit decision is dependent upon when the last out of the previous inning occurred in relevance to the time limit and NOT the first pitch of the next inning.
If a game is tied once the time limit is reached then teams should proceed as follows. If a game is tied after a regulation game (6 innings for 12U and below and 7 innings for 13U and above), but before the time limit then normal play should proceed until the time limit is reached and the rules below begin.
The only game where a time limit is NOT observed is the Championship Game of the NKB EOS Tournaments.
PITCHING LIMITATIONS
NKB End of Season Pitch Count limitations and required rest are listed below:
NOTE – A player is held to their league age for the entire season. That is, the player’s age as of May 1st. To illustrate, if a player that has a league age of 10 is pitching in the 11u division then that player is held to the 10u pitching rest requirements all season (including the tournament).
If the pitcher reaches the maximum pitch count limit while facing a batter, he may continue to pitch until the batter reaches base safely or is put out.
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Coaches must report their pitch counts within 24 hours or 2 hours prior to their next game. If a coach fails to report the pitch count by the established timelines, then the team is subject to forfeit of their next game.
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Intentional Walk Rule – An intentional base on balls may be given by the defensive team by having its catcher or coach request the umpire to award the batter first base. This may be done before pitching to the batter or on any ball and strike count. The ball shall be declared dead before making the award.
- All pitchers must adhere to the pitch count rest requirements before pitching in another tournament game.
- All players have full pitching eligibility at the beginning of the tournament.
- If a game is forfeited before it becomes a regulation game, include no records. Report only the fact of the forfeit. This means the pitching eligibility in the Cal Ripken, 13-15 and 16-18 Baseball Divisions would be the same as it was prior to the forfeited game. The pitching eligibility for the next game would be the same as it was prior to the forfeited game.
- In a game suspended by darkness, weather, or other causes and resumed the following calendar day, the pitcher of record at the time the game was halted may continue to the extent of his/her eligibility for that day, provided said pitcher has observed the required days of rest.
Example 1: A league age 12-year-old pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on Wednesday. The pitcher is not eligible to pitch in the resumption of the game because he/she has not observed the required days of rest.
Example 2: A league age 12-year-old pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on Thursday. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 85 pitches in the resumption of the game because he/she has observed the required days of rest.
Games in which an ineligible pitcher has been used, as specified above, shall be declared forfeited.
The withdrawal of an ineligible pitcher after that pitcher is announced, or after a preparatory (warm-up) pitch is delivered, but before that player has pitched a ball to a batter, shall not be considered a violation. Tournament Officials are urged to take precautions to prevent protests.
HOME TEAM
The highest seeded team is the home team during the EOS Tournament.
MERCY RULES
The mercy rule for the NKB EOS Tournament will be 10 runs after 4 innings. This is the ONLY mercy rule that will be in effect for the NKB EOS Tournament. The mercy rule will still be in place for the Championship game.
EJECTIONS
If a coach is ejected from a game, he will be suspended for the remainder of the game and for the next game the team plays. If a player is ejected during a game, he will be suspended for the remainder of the game. If the player is ejected for poor sportsmanship such as pushing, punching, name calling, etc. then the player will also be out at least the next game and possibly longer. The Division VP will make the call regarding the extent of the player’s suspension. The name of the ejected player will remain in the batting order during the game the player is ejected and count as an out when the batting order reaches that player.
MAX GAMES
The maximum number of games a team will play in one day during the NKB EOS Tournament is 3 games. If the schedule should result in a team needing to play a fourth game in a day then the Division coordinator should be contacted to make alternate arrangements.
