League Director : Rick McArthur (218) 310-4553
Email Mac at mac465@hotmail.com.
BEER WILL NOW BE SOLD STARTING MONDAY JUNE 24.
BELOW IS THE REMAINING MAKE UPS FOR OUR RAINOUTS:
1. The Thursday June 20th makeup's which were rained out July 19th are set for Friday August 9th.
2.The Thursday July 25th make ups are set for Friday August 16th.
3. Playoffs begin Monday August 19th, check the weekend of the 17th & 18th for playoff schedules.
4. Men's class "E" state tournament is in Duluth August 17th & 18th, if you wish to enter contact Mac.
5. We would like to apologize for the scheduling screw-up's on Monday July 29th.
Softball Tournaments 2013 Roster Form
a) Men’s and Women’s Recreational: All players must be at least 18, unless they are 17 and have just graduated from high school.
b) Co-Rec: All players must be at least 18, unless they are 17 and have just graduated from high school. The Duluth Parks and Recreation reserves the right to reassign teams at any time in the best interest of league parity.
2) FEES
a) The team entry fee for 2013 is $600. (The entry fee includes umpire fees and softballs.) The fee is non-refundable whether a team drops or is disqualified.
b) THE ENTRY FEE DEADLINE FOR BOTH NEW AND RETURNING TEAMS IS FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013. Issue one check payable to the City of Duluth. Fees may be paid at the Parks and Recreation Office, 411 W 1 Street, Ground Floor, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. Registration will not be accepted without FULL payment.
c) Umpires will be paid by check from the City of Duluth. d) Registration after April 5, 2013, will be accepted if space is available. There will be an additional $50.00 fee for late registration. e) A mandatory managers meeting will be scheduled before the season begins.
3) ROSTERS
a) The roster limit is 20 – this includes players and manager. Rosters must have a minimum of 12 players when rosters are initially turned in.
b) Rosters are due Friday, May 10 by 4:30 pm. Rosters need to be turned in at the Wheeler Concession Stand (upstairs) during the first week of the season: • MONDAY – THURSDAY ! MAY 6 – 9 ! 5:30 – 8:30 PM
c) Rosters, signed by all managers, players and subs, must be signed and submitted during the first week of play.
d) The team manager should submit the change of roster form at least 24 hours prior to the next scheduled game. Rosters may NOT be altered after June 21, 2013. (Rosters may be changed through Friday, June 21, 2013 by 4:30 pm.)
*Exception: See Hardship Rule – Roster Instructions. If a team roster is submitted with incomplete player information (missing address, zip code, phone, etc.) that player’s name will be removed from the roster. The individual will not be allowed to participate until the information is supplied. This must be accomplished by June 21, 2013.
e) All players on the roster may need to prove identity if requested by an official. Players unable to provide identification will be considered an ineligible player and the team will receive a forfeit loss and the ineligible player will be suspended from the Duluth leagues for the entire season.
a) Umpires will be assigned by the league director, Rick McArthur (218-310-4553). All league games will be worked by one (1) umpire. All umpires are required to appear in proper USSSA uniforms.
b) Complaints regarding an umpire (such as improper uniform, conduct, knowledge of the rules, etc.) should be reported to the league director. Only complaints sent in writing within 48 hours will be considered valid.
In an attempt to improve communication regarding the cancellation of softball games the following procedures will be implemented:
a) At 3:30 pm, the initial decision will be made on whether games will be played or postponed. Cancellation information will be posted on the website - zenithcitysoftball.com. Only league managers may call the League Line (218- 730-4321).
b) Games postponed due to weather will be rescheduled for the same weeknight (Monday - Thursday) one (1) week following the end of the regular season. If more than one (1) game is postponed the game will be played on a Sunday evening with a two week minimum notification.
c) A complete game consists of four (4) complete innings.
6) RULES
Playing rules shall be USSSA except as herein stated. Local rules will supersede any State or National rules. DULUTH PARKS AND RECREATION 2013 SLOW PITCH RULES AND BYLAWS League Director ! Rick McArthur ! (218) 310-4553
a) Protests & Disputes: During a game, if a situation warrants grounds for protest, notice of protest must be made to the official at the time of the infraction. Protests on judgment calls will not be accepted. If a team desires to file a protest or dispute a $25 Protest and Dispute fee is required. The written protest/dispute, along with the fee, must be submitted to the City of Duluth, Parks and Recreation, 411 W 1 Street, Ground Floor, Duluth, MN 55802. The discretion of the league director determines the outcome of a protest or dispute. If the protest is disallowed, the $25 fee will be placed in the Special League account. If the protest is allowed, the protest fee will be returned to the protesting team. Any time a protest is filed, the game shall be completed with the exception of city playoffs. Protests on eligibility MUST be made before or during a game – protests after an officially completed game will not be considered valid. A protest on an ineligible player should be made to the official. The protesting team must first provide picture ID’s to the umpire. If the protesting team is authenticated, then the team accused of an ineligible player must provide picture ID’s. If a player does not have an ID in their immediate possession, that player is ineligible. If a player is deemed ineligible, that team will lose by forfeit.
b) Forfeit Time: The forfeit time is the scheduled game time. A team may start a game with eight (8) players but cannot complete a game with less than eight players. Teams should be ready to play at their scheduled game time.
c) Time Limit: Umpires have been instructed that prior to the start of the game, both managers should be notified of the starting time of their game. When one (1) hour has elapsed the umpire will notify both managers that they will complete the inning in progress. At the end of that inning, the game is over. Should a game end in a tie it remains a tie. AT NO TIME after the time limit has elapsed will extra innings be allowed, even if it is the last scheduled game for that evening.
d) 3/2 Count: 3/2 count with one courtesy foul shall apply in all games.
e) “AH” (Additional Hitter) & Re-entry Rule: See USSSA Rule Book.
f) Ten Run Rule: If a team is ahead by 10+ runs at the end of five (5) innings (four and one-half [41/2] if the home team f) Ten Run Rule: If a team is ahead by 10+ runs at the end of five (5) innings (four and one-half [41/2] if the home team is ahead) the umpire will declare them the winning team. However, if the 10+ run rule is in effect after completing inning 5, the team behind by 10+ shall be given the opportunity to complete their inning.
g) Home Run Rule: The following home run rule shall be used for the designated leagues:
• All men’s and women’s leagues DULUTH PARKS AND RECREATION 2013 SLOW PITCH RULES AND BYLAWS League Director ! Rick McArthur ! (218) 310-4553
• Untouched home runs over the fence in excess of the allowed number shall be declared as outs. All other home run criteria shall follow the current USSSA rule book.
h) Best Ball Rule: The umpire will provide the game ball.
i) Home Team: The home team will be determined by a coin flip for all league and playoff games. EXCEPTION: The Co-Rec division is exempt from this rule for league games ONLY. The home team for playoff games will be determined by a coin flip.
j) Equipment:
• Metal spikes are prohibited in all slow pitch leagues.
• All bats must be approved by USSSA. A list of approved bats is available at the Wheeler Concession building or on the MN USSSA website: www.mnusssa.com
• Balls will be optic yellow. Men’s 12” Classic M Cor 40, “USSSA Classic M” stamped logo. Women’s 11” Classic W Cor 44, “USSSA Classic W” stamped logo.
7) MISCELLANEOUS
a) Practice: Reservations are not accepted. Practice use will be on a first-come first-serve basis. Teams cannot use the fields if they are groomed for games. Practice is limited to 1 hour per team.
b) League Championship: The league Champions will be determined by the best record. All ties for league champion will be determined by one of the following criteria:
• Head-to-head competition;
• Score differential; or
• Playoff game. The status of each league champion and runner up will be reviewed each year. After review this may result in a team being moved up at the discretion of the league director. DULUTH PARKS AND RECREATION 2013 SLOW PITCH RULES AND BYLAWS League Director ! Rick McArthur ! (218) 310-4553
c) State Tournaments and City Playoffs: • All teams will be offered the opportunity to compete in Region or State Tournaments. Teams will be classified by the League Director. Teams will be required to pay the State Tournament entry fee.
• City playoffs will start the first week after league play ends. Playoff draw is based on standings through 13 weeks. season tournaments.
• Players can compete in only one USSSA Region or Post Season Tournament. If they do not notify the League Director of their choice, they will be eligible for the first tournament they compete in only. Players caught playing in more than one (1) tournament in the same class will be suspended for one entire year.
• It is the responsibility of each manager to insure their rosters are correct. During City Playoffs, players found to be ineligible shall automatically be suspended from all City of Duluth sponsored sports programs for one (1) year. Teams found to be using ineligible players shall forfeit that game and be removed from the tournament. Playoffs will be played on the same night as regular season games. There will be no all city finals.
• The 2012 City Playoff Bracket Structure is single elimination. THE LEAGUE DIRECTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CONSOLIDATE LEAGUES IN PLAYOFFS AS NECESSARY.
d) Conduct of Players and Managers
• A player or manager striking or handling an official or supervisor will be immediately suspended. The penalty could be a permanent suspension from any and/or all sports sponsored by the Parks and Recreation. Also, if his/her team does not properly control him/her, the team could be suspended for the remainder of the season.
• Any player, manager or coach ejected from a game will be automatically suspended for one (1) week (this includes all teams that the individual plays for). Two such ejections are grounds for league suspension. Illegal players and players not on the roster are subject to a one (1)-year suspension in all City sports.
• Managers must support the officials in exercising their authority on the playing field and should back up that authority. Only managers should address umpires. DULUTH PARKS AND RECREATION 2013 SLOW PITCH RULES AND BYLAWS League Director ! Rick McArthur ! (218) 310-4553
• Any player intentionally throwing a bat will be called out immediately and ejected from the game.
• Managers will be held accountable for the eligibility of the players on their team. It is the manager’s responsibility to insure that their players meet all eligibility requirements at all times. Teams may be suspended from failure to follow the rules listed above.
• No alcohol consumption is allowed within the fence of Wheeler field complex. Included areas and individuals are the benches, dugouts, managers, players and fans. Chapter 8 of the Duluth City Code and Minnesota State Statute 340A101, 340A414 state alcohol consumption is prohibited in public spaces.
e) Disqualifications: The City reserves the right to impose any type of suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct at any time. Team sponsors will be notified in regard to player ejections and team suspensions. The following are potential means for disqualification:
• Failure to comply with the eligibility rules.
• Commission of fraud, such as playing under an assumed name, falsifying a roster or giving false information.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct.
f) Trophies: Team trophies will be awarded to the League and City Champions.
g) Insurance: The Duluth Parks and Recreation DOES NOT provide insurance for teams and participants.
h) Manager Changes: Any manager change should be reported to the league director as soon as possible.
i) The League Director: At his/her discretion, with the best interest of the leagues and program in mind, the league director has the authority to administer all softball leagues in the entire softball program.
j) Publication of Schedules and League Standings: Schedules will be posted at Wheeler field and on the website, zenithcitysoftball.com.
Each week you can find the league schedules listed below, they are in PDF format so make sure you have Adobe Reader installed to view and print them.
Monday Night Schedules
Tuesday Night Schedules
Wednesday Night Schedules
Thursday Night Schedules