HCSPL slo-pitch league is an Men's adult, insured slo-pitch league registered with NSA (National Slo-Pitch Athletics of Canada Inc.).
 
  

HAMILTON CENTRAL SLO PITCH LEAGUE
This page was last updated on Friday, August 6, 2010 14:33 

24 hour hotline 905-643-9555
Email game results to scores@hcspl.com
1. All games are 7 innings.
2. The grace period for all games 10 minutes from the scheduled start of the game. For the second game of a double header the grace period is 1hour from the original start time.
3. Mercy Rule is in affect anytime after five complete innings or 4 1/2 if home team is leading. Mercy can kick in at anytime after a losing team has had five innings at bat. The mercy rule is 10 runs. (Revised explanation) If anytime after the fifth a team takes a 10 run lead the game is over no matter where in the inning the game is. If the home team is trailing you do not complete the inning after five innings.
4. Aminimum of 8 players is required to start a game. If a team has only 8 players a back catcher will be supplied by the opposing team. The catcher is only to return the ball back to the pitcher and will not be involved in any defensive plays. It will be the responsibility of the fielding team to cover any plays at the plate. Catchers must make an attempt to get out of the way of plays or fly balls. If catcher comes in contact with the ball the play is dead. If a catcher catches a ball that is hit back towards him out of habit or to protect himself the play is dead and a strike is called.( Catcher can not make defensive play so no out is called) If a catcher interferes with a ball hit in fair territory the play is dead , the runners return to their bases and the batter is out. If a team has 9 or 10 players they must supply their own catcher.
5. Team can bat as many players as they want.If a team is batting only 8 or 9 players the final spot or spots are not an out. Teams can add to the bottom of their order at anytime during the game, any additional batters will go in at the bottom of the order.
6. Substitution: If you decided to bat the traditional order of ten batters or any number below the entire roster present at that game you may substitute players into the lineup. Once a player comes out of a game the no re-entry rule applies. Re-entry is allowed in the case of injuries only.
7. Third strike foul is an out.
8. League meetings are mandatory and teams must have a representative in attendance. If a team is repeatedly not represented it will risk having their spot in the league revoked.
9. Commit line will be used in all games. Any player crossing the line will be force to go home. He must cross the line at home before the catcher standing on the plate has possesion of the ball. If a runner touches the plate he is out. If a runner interferes with the catcher or does not attempt to steer away from the plate he may be called out at the umpires discretion. If the runner is tagged out on his way home by the catcher or anyone else covering the plate the runner is safe.
10. In the case of rain delayed games it is considered a complete game after five innings or 4 1/2 if the home team is ahead. Games can be called by the umpire at their discretion of any inclimate conditions (rain , fog, snow ,etc) or any unsafe conditions. Games continued under any of these conditions are the responsibility of the teams and players involved and are in strict contradiction to the league policies and in doing so waive all the league of any responsbility.

Any game that is not cancelled one hour before the scheduled start of a game, teams are required to show up at the park. Once teams are there they are required to stay for 30 minutes to see if the rain lets up. If umpires and teams agree that the diamond is in a safe state the game will then start with a one hour time limit for each game with five innings must be played. So if in the first game 60 minutes have past and the fifth inning has not started the game continues until the fifth is complete. In these cases teams must be ready to start immediately after the game is complete. If teams or umpire determined the field to be unsafe the may reschedule the game.

11. Players ejected from a game maybe up for further disclipanary action from the league depending on the nature of the ejection. Anyone who does not leave the park when ejected will be suspended the next game.
12. There will be zero tolerance of abuse of league officals and umpires. During games they are considered coaches/ players and any abuse will not be tolerated.
13. Pitching arc is 6 foot minimum to a 12 foot maximum.
14. Seven (7) courtesy runners per game. Any player on the bench can be utilized does not have to be in the lineup.
15. Alcohol consumption is not allowed in any city parks or parking lots.
16. Any team who forfeits games continually may be asked to pay cost of umpires before being allowed to return the following season. Team that forfiet will be charged 20 dollars per game to the team they forfieted to.
17. After first inning no infield or practice ball permitted on the field.
18. Safe bag must be used at first base.
19. Insure of all league members, coaches, players and executives is covered by league fees to SPN. Manages are responsible for sending rosters to SPN.
20. Coaches are responsible for explaining league rules to all players and making sure they are understood.
21. Ground rules for Lake and Globe 4 are the responsibilty of the umpires and the teams represented.
22. Time limit rule is no new inning will start 1 hour and 15 minutes after the start of the game. On the second game no inning will start after 8:25pm.
23. Any rules not covered here will be covered by SPN rules.
24. League games will not be rescheduled for tournaments . Please schedule your tournaments around your league schedule.
25. No anticipation is allowed.. Player can not leave the bag till the batter has made contact with the ball. If the player is caught leaving before contact or with no contact the player is out.
26. Any team who has a player hurt during the game with no subsitution for him can remove that player from the line up and an out is awarded for the first time that player comes up to bat. Any additional times to the plate the batter is simply scratched from the order without being penalized an out. The only exception to this rule will be the blood rule where if an umpire determines that a player can not stop bleeding and comfortably control the blood from the wounded area, he can be removed from the game without any penalty.
27. Any team can have one player from another team in the league on their roster. Players must be from a different division in the league and can only play for one team in the playoffs. If a player is used from another team he must be declared on the roster along with the name of the other team.
28. All games must be phoned in to the league hotline or emailed to the league within 48 hours of the end of games. Email hcspl@cogeco.ca or phone 905-643-9555
29. Regular season games that are tied after 7 innings will remain a tie. No extra innings.
30. Swearing 2002 revision. The league rule will be any player who is caught excessively swearing after being warned will be ejected from the game.
31. Ejections will be handled the same way as an injury in the batting order. The player is an out first time at bat after that he is scratched from the order.
32. Homeplate must be 2 ft X 3 ft and must be made of wood or hard plastic. No rubber or soft mats allowed!
33. No anticipation is allowed. Player can not leave the bag till the batter has made contact with the ball. If the player is caught leaving before contact or with no contact the player is out. If a player is caught on the third strike it will be called as a double play.
34. Limited Home Runs. Each team is allowed 5 over the fence home runs. Auto out for each home run after your 5th one.