Delwood is a PONY recreational baseball league and follows all rules from the previous year’s Official Baseball Rules from MLB plus PONY modifications, with the following exceptions or clarifications:
4U Baseball
The 4U baseball program predates the PONY age level. While 6U rules below will generally apply, the major difference is we encourage parents to be on the field when their kids are fielding to help direct them to the ball and where to throw it.
Parents should not touch the ball and no egregious moving of their kid (helping their kid stand up is fine, carrying them across the field isn’t).
4U is coach-umpired, meaning the head coaches make umpire decisions. The point of this age level is teaching the broad strokes of teamwork and baseball, so there should be zero argument about calls.
6U Tee-Ball Rules
1. Game Length
PONY Rule: Six innings (or 5.5), no time limit. Five run-rule except in the 6th or extra innings when a 10 run-rule applies. Game is called when mathematically impossible for team to win (up by 16 at end of 4th, up by 11 at end of 5th).
Delwood Rule: No inning shall start after 50 minutes have passed since the start time as noted by the umpire. Game will “drop-dead” at 60 minutes. If the game drops dead, the current inning is nullified and the result of the game is as of the last full inning completed. Same run-rule applies.
2. Balls and Equipment
PONY Rule: Any PONY baseball can be used in local league play. All bats must be USA Bat certified.
Delwood Rule: The official game ball will be a Level 5 RIF ball. Diamond DFX-LC5 PL balls are distributed at the beginning of the season to teams to use for games and shall be used for tee-ball games at Delwood. All bats must be USA Bat (tee-ball or regular) certified. Older tee-ball bats are allowed with the USA Baseball tee-ball bat sticker.
Note: If a hardball is used, metal tee-ball bats can not be used. Metal tee-ball bats are marked with “For use with approved tee-balls” and thus can not be used with hardballs. Wood bats are allowed. Our DFX-LC5 PL is on the USA Baseball Approved Tee-Ball List which is why it is our official ball.
3. Number of Players Defensively
PONY Rule: Ten players can be used defensively with four outfielders at least 15 feet beyond the baselines.
Delwood Rule: When playing other Delwood teams, 11 defensive players are allowed with four outfielders (15 feet beyond) and six infielders (a “1st base shortstop” added).
Note: Since this is our only playing rules modification, we will observe this for “in-house” games against other Delwood teams only. When we are hosting other teams, as good hosts welcoming guests to our fields, we will not surprise them to a different rule.
4. Number of Batters
PONY Rule: All players on the roster shall bat.
Delwood Rule: Eight players are required to begin a game with a 15-minute grace period. All on the roster shall bat. There are no automatic outs.
Note: When playing with fewer than the allowed players, some leagues make the 9th or 10th spot on the lineup an automatic out for not having enough. Delwood does not do this.
10U Kid-Pitch Rules
1. Game Length
PONY Rule: Six innings (or 5.5), no time limit. Maximum of nine innings.
Delwood Rule: Games are 90 minutes long from when umpire declares play ball, with umpire discretion on if to start a new inning after about 75 minutes.
2. Run Rule
PONY Rule: No run-rule.
Delwood Rule: 5 run limit per inning.
3. No Slashing
PONY Rule: n/a
Delwood Rule: Slashing, when a batter squares up to bunt, then pulls back and swing at the ball, is not allowed. Penalty: Batter is out.