MacIntosh Youth Baseball League

Serving the Towns of
Ayer – Dunstable – Groton – Littleton – Shirley



2010 Minor/Major League Rules

This program is affiliated with Cal Ripken Baseball and is governed by the latest issue of the Cal Ripken Rule Book. In addition, the following local rules have been also adopted.

Major League Baseball Rules

1) Team rosters will have a minimum of 12 players and a maximum of 15 players.


2) Every team member will be in the batting order and bat.


3) All players must be in the game for 6 consecutive defensive outs. This rules applies to regulation 6 inning games. Failure to comply with this rule will result in an automatic forfeit by the team not complying. However in a shortened game (darkness, weather, etc.) failure to comply will not result in an automatic forfeit.


4) Free substitution shall be permitted between innings (pitcher exception MacIntosh League Rule 11). When making player substitutions, each Manager MUST ANNOUNCE the changes to the other Manager. Every team member will be in the batting order and bat.


5) If a team cannot field 9 players within 15 minutes after the scheduled start time of the game, the game will count as a forfeit for that team (loss). All regular season weekday games will start promptly at 6pm. For weekday games, no inning will be started after 1 hour and 45 minutes has elapsed since the official start of the game as determined by the umpire. All regular season weekend evening games will start promptly at 5:30 pm. For weekend evening games, no inning will be started after 2 hours and 15 minutes has elapsed since the official start of the game as determined by the umpire. The umpire has full authority to call the game earlier than the time limits above due to weather, darkness or any other mitigating circumstance. The umpire should make every effort to notify both teams of the official start time at the commencement of the game. (Example: Monday game – The umpire announces to both managers that it is 6:02pm according to his watch and no inning will be started later than 7:47pm)


6) Both teams will be able to have the playing field for a 15-minute warm up before the game begins. Visiting teams should allow for travel time and arrive 30 minutes before game time for their warm ups. The home team will warm up first and the visiting team will begin their warm up 15 minutes before the start of the game. NO PRE-GAME, ON FIELD BATTING PRACTICE IS ALLOWED.


7) Any player intentionally throwing the bat will be out and the ball dead. Play stops and the runners will return to their original occupied bases and the player will be removed from the game.


8) There shall be no slashing. Slashing is defined as: The pitcher is on the pitching rubber and the batter fakes a bunt to draw the infielders in and then the batter swings away. The pitcher does not need to be in his windup, the ball does not need to be struck. This is a safety issue, with the batter showing bunt, the charging third baseman does not stand a chance of protecting himself against a line drive off an aluminum bat. Penalty: Batter is out and ball is dead. A second offense will result in the batter being ejected.


9) There is a no-contact rule in effect on a tag play. The runner must slide and the defensive player can not block the base/plate if they do not possess the ball. Headfirst sliding into a forward base is not allowed. Headfirst sliding returning to a previously occupied base is allowed.


10) Regular season pitching rules will follow “Pitching Limitation” regulations 0.06 in the Cal Ripken rule book. In Summary:

    • 6 innings per week, 1 pitch constitutes an inning

    • Week is Monday thru and including Sunday

    • 2 calendar days rest when pitching more than 2 innings


11) Pitching substitution may be done during an inning, the substitution must be a 1 for 1 swap. In other words, if the incoming pitcher was on the bench, the existing pitcher must go to the bench. Free substitutions of positions can resume in between innings.


12) Playoff pitching rules will follow “Tournament Regulations” 11.05.4 in the Cal Ripken rule book. Specifically stated for MacIntosh League play: No pitcher in the Macintosh League playoffs shall be allowed to pitch in more than six innings in any two successive playoff games. All players have full eligibility at the start of league playoffs. (Pitcher eligibility is not re-set again after playoffs begin. League playoffs are considered a single level when interpreting rule 11.05.4)


13) All playoff games must be completed to their natural end. In the event a game is not completed it shall be considered a suspended game.


14) Only coaches, assistants or team members will be allowed to warm up the pitcher. (everyone must wear a catcher's mask)


15) Protest

    a) Must notify umpire of the protest prior to play resuming.

    b) Must be made in writing and turned into the Town Director or the Umpire in     Chief within 24 hours of the protest.

    c) Only the team manager can file a protest.

    d) The Town Director/Umpire in Chief will then notify the League Board of Directors of the protest. The Umpire in Chief will either make a ruling on the protest or request a meeting to review the protest with the League Board of Directors. Please try to work out all problems on the field.


16) Game Scores

    • The coach of the winning team MUST POST SCORE on the MAC     LEAGUE website.

    • http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=macintosh

    • Both teams must also report the number of innings pitched by all players regardless of a win or loss. Enter last name, uniform number and total innings pitched in the comments section. This information will be used by the Macintosh League, Local Leagues and other teams to insure compliance to pitching limitations rules and the safety of the kids.


17) In the event of inclement weather the Home team coach is responsible for calling both the umpire and visiting team coach, at least 2 hours prior to the start of the game.


18) The home team will supply 2 new Cal Ripken League approved game balls for every scheduled home game.


19) The home team is responsible for paying the umpires.


20) Each team will be responsible for cleaning the trash out of the bench area after each game.


21) Games not played.

    a) Majors and Minor team all have either 12 or 13 regular season games, All teams are encouraged to play all games, but must play at least 11 games, any team with less than 11 games played will count as a loss. 

    b) If a game is canceled, both coaches need to arrange a make-up date within 10 days of the original scheduled game.

    c) The Home team shall have the opportunity to arrange a home field first. If the Home team cannot schedule a field with the 10-day time frame, the Visiting team will try to schedule the game on their field (with the original Home team still being the Home team).

    d) If neither team can schedule the make-up game with the 10-day time period, the Home team must notify their Town Coordinator. The Town Coordinator will work with the League Director to schedule the game.

    e) In any event, the League Director must be notified with 48 hours of the cancellation.

    f) Games not played and unreported will be counted as a loss for both teams.


22) If after (4) innings, 3 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the victory may be conceded to the winning team at the discretion of the manager of the losing team. Once conceded the game will continue to its natural end (i.e. 6th inning) and free substitution will be allowed for both teams. In the event the team trailing by 10 runs declines to concede, such decline should be reported to the Mac League Board.


23) All coaches must read and sign the Macintosh League Coach Code of Conduct. Any violation of the Coach Code of Conduct will result in an investigation by the local town board and/or the Macintosh League Board. If the violation is substantiated, action may result in discipline ranging from verbal reprimand to expulsion from the Macintosh League.