Ground Rules and Approved Rulings
Ground Rules
Updated: 4/8/2010
- Trees and Other Immovable Objects: Any ball in the air which has not hit the ground and then hits a tree, light pole, wire, or other immovable object is immediately a dead ball and cannot be played or caught. If the ball is in foul territory when it hits the tree or object is it foul. If a ball is in fair territory past the home run fence and hits a tree or object it is a home run.
- Other Playing Field: A fair ball that rolls into the fair territory of the playing field not being used for the game in which the ball is hit, shall be dead and treated as a ground rule double.
- Airplanes: Any ball that hits an airplane shall be dead. If it was in fair territory when it struck the airplane, it shall be a ground rule double. If it was in foul territory, it shall be a foul ball.
Approved Rulings
Updated: 9/7/2010
There are several differences between the approved practices of the PWL and MLB rules. While technically these probably should be adopted as rules changes, they have not been, but are still observed in the PWL.
- Pegging: Pegging attempts, no matter how poor the throw, shall NOT be scored as an error for the fielder making the throw. If the umpire on the field rules a thrown ball was a peg, then the scorer shall reflect it as such. If the umpire makes no ruling on a peg, (often times not needed), then the official scorer shall use their judgement as to whether a throw was a peg or a ball thrown to another fielder. (MLB Ruling: A ball thrown off target would be an error.)
- Batting Out of Turn: Because we do not have dugouts, use lineup cards, have announcers, or dedicated coaches to help maintain the batting order, official scorers are encouraged to point out and correct an improper batter when it is discovered during their at-bat. However, between the time an improper batter has completed the turn at-bat, and before the first pitch of the next at bat, the scorer shall NOT point out the improper batter. The reason for this is that during the at-bat, there is no penalty, the proper batter just takes their place with the existing count. In between the time when the improper batter has batted and before the first pitch to the next batter has been thrown, the proper batter would be called out. In that situation, the official scorer should wait until after the first pitch is thrown to the next batter to alert the teams to the issue. After the first pitch has been thrown to the subsequent batter, there is no longer an out called for the improper batter. If, however, at any time the official scorer is asked by players from either team during an improper at bat, the scorer must respond with the correct information. (MLB Ruling: The scorer is not permitted to point out an improper batter at any time.)
- Review of Scoring Decisions: Scoring decisions made at the time of the game may be reviewed by the Commissioner’s office within one week of the game taking place upon the request of a registered player in the league. (MLB Ruling: The official scorekeeper must file their final report within 1 day.)
- Fielder Going Over Home Run Fence After Catch: Due to the temporary and short nature of our home run fence, a fly ball caught by a fielder who then goes over the home run fence, even maintaining control of the ball, shall be ruled a home run. Fielders must catch the ball and remain in the field of play to have an out. (MLB Ruling: If legal catch was made before fielder fell over fence, out.)
Previous ground rules used at Ft. Reno Park, no longer in play:
- Fences: At the point where the orange fence starts, the chain link fence behind it shall be considered out of play, and any fair ball hitting it shall be a home run. The orange fence always begins at a break in the chain link fence, so the entire section of fence, including the pole behind the orange fence shall follow this rule.
- Field 1: A ball hitting the foul pole or homerun fence of Field 2 (right field) in the air, shall be a foul ball. The Field 2 fencing is entirely in foul territory from Field 1.
- Field 2: A ball hitting the right field foul pole of Field 1 (left center field on Field 2) above the level of the orange fence shall be a home run. The stage is considered an immovable object.
JonG, Sep 15, 03:39 PM:
I love the airplane rule. Screw homeruns, I am going to try and hit a 767 this weekend!