2023 Lakeland League Baseball Rules

RULES APPLYING TO ALL  DIVISIONS

1. All players will be registered with Baseball Alberta
2. All BBA rules apply. Lakeland League rules apply first. Alberta Baseball rules apply thereafter.
3. All games start at 6:30 pm.
4. No innings will start after 8:30 pm. Games can continue beyond 8:30 pm if mutually agreed upon by each coach.
5. All players coaching 1st or 3rd base must wear a helmet.
6. A team can play with 7 or 8 players without the 9th position being an automatic out. We want to encourage all kids to play.
7. Home team will provide game balls, umpires, and prepare diamonds. If the home team cannot supply an umpire, they may access umpires from other communities.
8. Players are allowed to pitch and catch in the same game. Baseball Alberta rule does NOT apply.
9. Teams are allowed 3 overage players on the field at one time. Can only play if they do not have a team to play on at their own level in their community. Overage players must be from one year older than the team they are playing on. Overage players must be indicated on team line up PRIOR to game.
10. Overage players cannot pitch or catch at any time except for 18U Boys. 18U Boys can have two 19 year old players on the team provided they do not turn 20 in the current year. They may catch or Pitch.
11. Female athletes have the option to play one year overage at each division of play and compete at Provincial Championships (11U, 13U, 15U in A, AA or AAA categories). 

Interpretation:  To clarify the rules on overage female players, Lakeland League officially adopted the Baseball Alberta overage female playing rule on March 3, 2020.  A one year overage female player may participate without any overage player restrictions (pitching, catching, number of players on field).  The player does not count towards the team’s 3 overage player limit.

12. Each team must submit a completed roster to Lakeland League executive each year. Each team must carry an official roster with them to each game. Rosters must be entered on the LMBL.ca website prior to league play beginning.
13. Host team must provide the official scorebook which must be shared between the two teams. The official score that is sent to the league is what is recorded in the official scorebook
14. Teams canceling games due to reasons OTHER THAN INCLIMATE WEATHER must do so a minimum of 24 hours prior to game time. Games cancelled within this time limit will result in no points awarded to either team and may be re-scheduled. Games cancelled with less that 24 hours notice for reasons other than weather will result in the cancelling team forfeiting the two points to the other team.
15. All players are in the batting order on the scoresheet
16. Substitutions are unlimited (Baseball Alberta substitution rules will not be followed for league games)

 Pitching Rules Regular Season

U11 (Mosquito) players are only allowed to pitch one inning per game during all regular season contests.

U13 (Pee Wee), U15 (Bantam), U18 (Midget) - A player may pitch two consecutive innings per game

There is no interpretation of these rules. Any appearance in an inning by a player will be considered to be an inning pitched regardless of the number of pitches thrown, runs scored or outs recorded. This rule is meant to promote the development of pitching at every age level by allowing a different player to throw in every inning.

Pitching Rules May Weekend and Final Tournament:

11U*, 13U, 15U, 18U pitching rules for the final tournament will follow Alberta Baseball Provincial Championship Play Pitch Count rules. Coaches should be aware of these rules prior to the final tournament. The pitch count rules are taken from the Baseball Alberta Handbook (baseballalberta.com > About > Resources > Baseball Alberta Handbook).  Provincial championship play pitch counts are on page 56 of the 2023 handbook. *11U pitch count limits will be raised by 5 pitches.

9U: SEE U9 & 9U modified rules tab

U11: (bases - 60’, point of home plate to front of pitcher’s plate - 44’)

1. An inning is ended when there are 5 runs scored OR 3 outs are recorded (whichever occurs first)
2. Maximum of 6 innings per game, the last inning is open. Last inning must be declared  by umpire before it starts.
3. No breaking balls permitted and includes knuckleballs.
4. Stealing permitted when ball crosses plate. No leading off.
5. 3 strikes player is out. Player is not permitted to run to 1st even if catcher does not catch ball on third strike.
6. Bunting is permitted

**NEW RULE introduced in the 2023 Season** 

7. NO WALKS modified rule for 11U- Baseball

The modified walk rule for 11U baseball will not apply for the May weekend and year end tournaments.   The weekend league games on May 27 & 28 and June 23,24 & 25, will be pitch count. NO modified walk rule.

ALL games (excluding the weekends with pitch count) pitchers will only pitch 1 inning per game 

RULE: If a pitcher gets four balls, then the coach comes in and pitches the remainder of strikes. The batter either hits or strikes out.  No matter the count the coach can only throw the remaining pitches, whether it's one, two, or three strikes remaining.  They must NOT throw over that, if the batter does not hit the pitch that is thrown by the coach they are out. There will be no walks. 

CLARIFICATION - Hit by Pitch still takes a base

If a coach has to come in to throw the remainder of strikes they must throw Overhand  pitches from the pitching rubber or 1 step in front of the rubber. The coach that comes in must be from the hitting team and must NOT interfere with the play when the ball is hit.  The pitcher on the field stays in the pitching position and will continue to pitch for the next batter.  

U13: (bases - 70’, point of home plate to front of pitcher’s plate - 48’)

1. An inning is ended when there are 5 runs scored OR 3 outs are recorded (which ever occurs first)
2. Maximum of 7 innings per games, the last inning is open. Last inning must be declared by umpire before it starts.
3. No breaking balls permitted and includes knuckleball.

U15: (bases - 80’, point of home plate to front of pitcher’s plate - 54’)

1. An inning is ended when there are 5 runs scored OR 3 outs are recorded (which ever occurs first)
2. 7 innings per game, the last inning is open. Last inning must be declared by umpire before it starts.
3. Ten run mercy rule after 5 innings is in effect.
4. Only BB-core bats.  15U are allowed to use a -5 or -3.

U18: (bases - 90’, point of home plate to front of pitcher’s plate - 60’6”)

1. An inning is ended when there are 5 runs scored OR 3 outs are recorded (which ever occurs first)
2. 7 innings per games, the last inning is open. Last inning must be declared by umpire before it starts.
3. Ten run mercy rule after 5 innings is in effect.
4. Only BB-core bats