Martinsburg Cubs

Fall Ball / Second Season

Rules and Guidelines

Please remember the Second Season is strictly for training and development and not geared towards winning.  What we are trying to accomplish with this league is to build skill levels and improve each player’s overall ability and knowledge of the game.  Sportsmanship and discipline both on and off the field are expected and must be practiced.  The object of this league is to play and teach as much baseball as possible to prepare for next spring.  Please keep those thoughts in mind when dealing with each player, each parent and each opposing team.  Let’s make this season the best one yet.  Good luck, be safe and have fun.

1. Divisions for Second Season will be as follows: Developmental Division age 4; Rookie Division ages 5-7; Minor Division ages 6-8; Major Division ages 8-11; Intermediate Division ages 11-12; Junior Division ages 12-13.  Age groups:  Born in 2005 or prior:  age as of April 30 of the current year.  Born in 2006 or later:  age as of December 31.  Five-year olds must have completed a season of Tee Ball before participating in machine pitch.
2. Every player on a team roster will participate in each game for a minimum of nine (9) defensive outs and bat at least one (1) time.  To accomplish this, players should not sit on the bench for more than one (1) inning at a time.  If a player is on the bench this inning, he/she should play the field the next inning.  In a four (4) inning game, players need to play at least six (6) defensive outs.
3. Batting order will be by a rotation basis.  All players on the team roster will bat before returning to the top of the batting order.  Special pinch runners may not be used in Second Season as all players are in the batting order at all times.
4. The Home team is responsible for providing umpires.
5. The ten-run mercy rule (4.01e) will not be in effect for Second Season.  There will be a five-run per inning limit.
6. Pitchers in the Major and Minor Divisions may pitch no more than six (6) outs or 40 pitches per game, whichever comes first.  In the Junior Division, pitchers may pitch no more than nine (9) outs or 60 pitches per game, whichever comes first. Rest for the pitchers will follow regular season rules: 1-20 pitches – no rest required; 21-40 pitches – one (1) day of rest required; 41-60 pitches – two (2) days of rest required; 61 or more pitches – three (3) days of rest required.  If a pitcher reaches his/her maximum pitch count in the middle of a batter, he/she may finish the batter but must observe the required rest for whatever the final pitch total is.
7. Rookie Division may use a fourth outfielder.  This is not an extra infielder.  Outfielders must be at least 25 feet behind the bases.
8. Bases on balls should not be issued in Rookie Division.  Three (3) strikes or five (5) total pitches will be considered an out.  A foul ball can not be counted as the last pitch.
9. No inning should begin after 8:30 p.m. on a school night in Major, Minor or Rookie or Developmental Divisions, or after 9:00 p.m. in Junior Division.  Six (6) innings should be played in all divisions (seven (7) for Junior Division) when possible. An inning begins the moment the third out of the previous inning is made.
10. Defensive coaches may be used in the Rookie and Developmental Divisions.  One coach may be in the outfield grass, not in the infield.  One offensive coach will be on the mound to feed the pitching machine.  Two adults may still coach the bases offensively provided there is still one adult in the dugout at all times.  Teams in the Developmental and Rookie Division would be allowed four (4) adults in the dugout to accommodate this.
11. No player may play a single position more than twice in a game in Rookie or Minor Divisions.  It is highly encouraged that all players be given an opportunity to play infield and outfield at least once during the game.
12. Stealing bases is not permitted in Rookie and Developmental Division.  Bunting is not permitted in Rookie and Developmental Divisions and the infield fly rule will not be enforced in Rookie and the Developmental Divisions.  The child pitcher must remain in the pitching circle until the ball crosses the plate.
13. A team not having enough ball players should try first to borrow the needed player(s) from their opponent, not from another team not involved in the game.  Players that are borrowed should not pitch.

We are just a few days away from our 2015 Opening Day and we couldn’t be more excited to finally get the season underway. We wanted to touch base on the particulars for the ceremony and events coming up this weekend.

The complex will open at 8:00 a.m. and all players are asked to arrive no later than 8:30 a.m. Please be reminded that the parking area surrounding the fields will be closed to all vehicles until after the ceremony ends. Alternate parking will be available at Jefferson High School and Wildwood Middle School.  The chart to the left shows exactly where each team is asked to gather and which baseline gate they will enter the Majors field through. Please stick to this guide. It will make it much easier to get teams lined up and ready to be introduced. Note that every player from every team will be individually announced as teams enter the field, so we hope to have all players in attendance. On Saturday, there will be an Information Booth set up between the minors and softball fields. Please check in there with any questions regarding meeting locations.

Following the ceremony, there will be lots to do at the complex throughout the day.

1. The fundraising committee is in need of baked goods for Saturday’s bake sale! We aren’t picky…make any of your delicious treats and drop them off on Saturday morning starting at 8:00 a.m. It would be greatly appreciated if everyone would also label their baked goods with a price before dropping off. This will help out the volunteers working the booth for the day.

2. The drawing for the four day-passes to Walt Disney World will be held during the ceremony, so anyone wishing to purchase additional chances may do so before the event begins at 9:00 a.m. Look for the Disney sign near the JCLL Spirit Wear table. Chances are $2 each.

3. Seats are still available for the Orioles vs. Red Sox game on Sunday, April 26th. Tickets can be purchased for $13 each and will be available before and after the ceremony on Saturday. JCLL will also draw one person to be our ‘Heavy Hitter’ at the game. This person will go down to the field, participate in a pre-game ceremony, and receive an autographed Orioles baseball. Chances to win can be purchased for $1 each before and after the ceremonies on Saturday. The winner will be drawn and notified at the end of the day.

4. JCLL Spirit Wear will be available for cash-and-carry purchase throughout the day. There will also be several on-site vendors at the fields on Saturday, so take time to browse between games!

Finally, a reminder that the team and individual photo retakes that were very widely requested by parents will be held this Sunday, April 19th. The schedule for retakes is below. In order for the retakes to be successful, it is very important that we have full team participation. If full teams are not present, team photos will cannot be redone.

We’ll see everyone bright and early on Saturday!

We are just a few days away from our 2015 Opening Day and we couldn’t be more excited to finally get the season underway. We wanted to touch base on the particulars for the ceremony and events coming up this weekend.

The complex will open at 8:00 a.m. and all players are asked to arrive no later than 8:30 a.m. Please be reminded that the parking area surrounding the fields will be closed to all vehicles until after the ceremony ends. Alternate parking will be available at Jefferson High School and Wildwood Middle School.  The chart to the left shows exactly where each team is asked to gather and which baseline gate they will enter the Majors field through. Please stick to this guide. It will make it much easier to get teams lined up and ready to be introduced. Note that every player from every team will be individually announced as teams enter the field, so we hope to have all players in attendance. On Saturday, there will be an Information Booth set up between the minors and softball fields. Please check in there with any questions regarding meeting locations.

Following the ceremony, there will be lots to do at the complex throughout the day.

1. The fundraising committee is in need of baked goods for Saturday’s bake sale! We aren’t picky…make any of your delicious treats and drop them off on Saturday morning starting at 8:00 a.m. It would be greatly appreciated if everyone would also label their baked goods with a price before dropping off. This will help out the volunteers working the booth for the day.

2. The drawing for the four day-passes to Walt Disney World will be held during the ceremony, so anyone wishing to purchase additional chances may do so before the event begins at 9:00 a.m. Look for the Disney sign near the JCLL Spirit Wear table. Chances are $2 each.

3. Seats are still available for the Orioles vs. Red Sox game on Sunday, April 26th. Tickets can be purchased for $13 each and will be available before and after the ceremony on Saturday. JCLL will also draw one person to be our ‘Heavy Hitter’ at the game. This person will go down to the field, participate in a pre-game ceremony, and receive an autographed Orioles baseball. Chances to win can be purchased for $1 each before and after the ceremonies on Saturday. The winner will be drawn and notified at the end of the day.

4. JCLL Spirit Wear will be available for cash-and-carry purchase throughout the day. There will also be several on-site vendors at the fields on Saturday, so take time to browse between games!

Finally, a reminder that the team and individual photo retakes that were very widely requested by parents will be held this Sunday, April 19th. The schedule for retakes is below. In order for the retakes to be successful, it is very important that we have full team participation. If full teams are not present, team photos will cannot be redone.

We’ll see everyone bright and early on Saturday!