The
BAU Wooden Bat League will follow all BAU Men’s slow pitch softball rules with
the following exceptions:
Exceptions
to the BAU Rules
Players who
participate in the BAU Wooden Bat League UwillU continue to be
eligible to play in normal BAU play (Co-ed, Fall Men’s).
UBats
Any
wood softball bat may be used as long as the barrel is “softball size”. That means the barrel must be 2.25 inches (2
¼”) in diameter or smaller. Wood
Baseball bats (larger barrel, 2 5/8” or larger) may not be used.
In
some cases, “general use” bats may be available or teams may “borrow” bats from
another team.
1. If a “general use” or “borrowed” bat is damaged or broken
during the normal course of play the “borrowing” team should reimburse the
“owning” team (or BAU) the cost of the replacement bat – no matter how the bat
was damaged. If a bat is broken or
damaged due to abuse of equipment by a player, the player will be ejected from
the game and penalized according to the BAU rules of conduct (see the BAU
Bylaws IV.D.1 for Minor suspension policies).
2. If a “borrowed” bat is damaged then the borrowing team
should reimburse the owning team the cost of the replacement bat – no matter
how the bat was damaged.
Balls
must conform to the Spring standard ( ASA .44 COR,
375lbs. compression, BAU Stamped). Each
team must provide its own ball. Failure
to produce a legal ball eligible for play may result in forfeiture of the
game. In cases where a team “runs out”
of eligible balls, the teams can continue play, “sharing” the other team’s
eligible ball so long as the “owning team” is fairly compensated for the cost
of the ball(s) being used by both teams.
Coaches may work out the definition of “fairly compensated” for
themselves. However, in no case can it
be more than the original cost of the ball ($3.00). (“Free” is fair
compensation if the “owning” team does not desire compensation)
UHitting Up
the Middle Rule
BAU
Bylaws V.N (Hitting up the middle) will be waived for the duration of the Wood
Bat season. Hitting up the middle will
NOT result in a dead-ball out, regardless of whether it hits the pitcher, etc.
UUniform
BAU Bylaws V.C (Shirt color) will be
waived for the duration of the Wood Bat season.
The BAU will allow any colored shirt with a store bought number.
No duplicating numbers will be allowed.
Every team must still have a church sponsor and have all appropriate
paperwork turned in. No exceptions.
UGender
The BAU’s Wooden Bat League will operate in all respects as
an adult men’s league. However, women UwillU be allowed to play in the Wooden Bat League under the
following conditions:
1.
A man and a woman on the same team may
wear the same number.
2.
A 12” man’s ball will be used at all
times.
3.
No exception for pitching distance will
be granted should a woman choose to pitch.
4.
No special defensive position or
batting lineup rules will be applied.
Women can play anywhere defensively and bat anywhere in the lineup.
5.
No special walk rules will be
applied. If a man is walked and a woman
is next in the lineup the woman must take her turn at bat.