2025 Sparks Babe Ruth City Tournament Rules

Below are the Babe Ruth National tournament rules that will be enforced through the City tournament.
The Game:

• Home/Visitor will be decided by coin toss prior to game start by team Manager/Coach.
• Home team will reside in the 3rd base dugout only.
• Any TEAM (home/visitor) will maintain the scoreboard (not scorebook)
• Home scorebook (paper) will be managed by Sparks Babe Ruth staff.
• See below rules regarding substitution and/pitching changes (IN RED)
• Home team scorebook (tablet) will be needed for all games by home team.
• The VISITING TEAM on field 6 will have snack bar responsibility.
• All games are scheduled to run the normal 7 innings, but no new innings will begin after two hours.
• Official clock belongs to the head umpire.
• Mercy rule in effect:

If any team is ahead by fifteen (15) or more runs after 3 1/2 or 4 innings, the game shall be terminated immediately.

If any team is ahead by ten (10) or more runs after 4 1/2 or 5 innings, the game shall be terminated immediately.

• Only the Final Championship game will run a full 7 innings, no time limit (with exception to mercy rule)
• Ties will be played out through completion including suspended games (if necessary). Suspended games due to time of night shall be continued next day.
• Ties will have MLB rules in effect starting in the 8th inning, i.e., one extra innings runner-on-second rule per extra inning after 7. The runner placed on second base at the start of each half-inning in extras is the player in the batting order immediately preceding that half-inning’s leadoff hitter, or a pinch-runner. So, if the No. 7 hitter in the order is due to lead off, the No. 6 hitter (or a pinch-runner (unused substitute) for the No. 6 hitter) would be placed on second base.
• Forfeits apply; please ensure your lineups are prepared in advance.
• Head-first slides, vaulting and intentional collision rules apply in accordance with local league rules (specifically home plate will be an immediate out). Head/homeplate umpire DOES NOT need for a request to be granted based on this rule. This is NOT an objective play.
• Player minimum play time rules still apply in accordance with local league rules, i.e. 1 at-bat, 2 innings field play or that player MUST play the ENTIRE NEXT GAME

• 13-16 Division:

16 year old regular season pitching rules apply, i.e., no more than 2 innings pitched per game, maximum of 5 innings for the week.

There are no limitations on the number of innings a 13-15 year old pitcher may pitch in the tournament (bracket or pool play) game with exception to 16 year old pitchers. All pitchers no matter the age are subject to the following pitch count limitations:

1-45 pitches = no rest needed.

46-75 pitches = 1 calendar days rest needed.

76+ = 2 calendar days rest needed.

• All pitching changes per tournament game MUST be made via the PLATE UMPIRE. All other position and/or substitution changes should be made at the scorekeeper’s table.
• Game protests:

Regular season game protests rules apply. At the time of the incident notify the head umpire that you are protesting an interpretation of the rule so that it is noted in the scorebook. The protest committee will convene to hear the protest immediately after the head scorekeeper notes the protest and closes the game. A decision will be forthcoming immediately. If you do not file a protest immediately after the call and the inning continues, your protest will be ignored, after the fact.