Administrative

1. ALL LEAGUE FEES MUST BE PAID IN FULL BY MAY 25TH. FIRST PAYMENT IS DUE ON MAY 1ST. Please make checks payable to “Ticker Tape Softball League”.

2. Each team is required to have a scorebook and a documented lineup.

3. Rain outs are decided by 5:30 PM. Team captains will be notified.

4. This is a recreational league. The Boston Ticker Tape Softball League, The City of Boston, and the Boston Parks & Recreation Dept. are not responsible for any injury sustained at Cusick Field.

Game Rules

1. All teams are required to bring bases to every game. The umpire will determine which set of bases to use.

2. The umpire will introduce a new ball in the top and bottom of the first inning. The umpire will decide which ball to keep in play on an ongoing basis throughout the game.

3. Umpires will provide the Cusick Field ground rules before each game. Ground rules include obstacles along the right field fence, balls that hit trees or light poles and bounce back into the field, and foul territory.

4. Home team is determined by a coin flip.

Rules of Play

1. A minimum of 9 players is required to field a team. Less than nine players by game time will result in a forfeit.

2. If a batter has 2 strikes and a foul tip is caught, the batter is out. The foul tip does not have to be above the batters shoulder.

3. On a play a home plate, the defensive player is not allowed to block the plate. The defensive player has the right to half the plate (similar to a play at first base). The defensive player can have possession of one side of the plate, either the infield side or foul territory side depending on where the throw comes in. If the defensive player blocks the plate and does not allow the runner to attempt to touch the plate, the umpire can rule the runner safe and count the run. If the umpire determines that the defensive player purposely blocked the plate, the defensive player may be ejected from the game.

4. Leading is not allowed. However, a base runner may step off the base once the pitcher releases the ball.

Slaughter Rule

1. If a team is winning by 15 or more runs after 5 innings, the game is over. The home team will have the opportunity to extend the game by scoring enough runs to close the gap in the bottom of the inning.

Rules of Conduct

1. Any player who starts a fight will be the suspended for the entire season. The league reserves the right to deny further play to any team exhibiting unacceptable behavior during the season.

Equipment Rules

1. Metal spikes are prohibited.

2. Aluminum bats are prohibited. Only wooden bats are allowed.

Playoff Format

1. Only the top 4 teams will qualify for postseason play. The regular season record will determine seedings.

2. Playoff seedings are determined by: 1. Wins and losses 2. Head to head 3. Runs scored (forfeit wins count as 1 point)

3. During playoffs, the highest seeded team is the home team for game 1, then alternate.

4. Round 1 of playoffs is typically best of three but may be single elimination based on remaining field time.

5. Round 2 of playoffs is typically best of three but may be single elimination based on remaining field time.