I. T. L. BASEBALL
By-Laws
ARTICLE
1 – GOVERNING BODY
SECTION 1
The business of the league shall be conducted by a group
of people consisting of four (4) officers and two delegates from each town in
the league. Delegates will be elected or
appointed from each member organization.
SECTION 2
The officers of the league may
consist of, but not be limited to President, Executive Committee, and the
Secretary.
SECTION 3
The President is to name the time
and place of meetings. There should be
at least four (4) members present and a majority of towns represented,
including the President, and/or Executive Board members, and Secretary to
conduct business. Voting shall be on the
basis of one (1) vote for each town represented.
SECTION 4
The President and Treasurer are to
approve all bills before payment.
SECTION 5
Assessments involving the sum of
seventy-five ($75 dollars or more can not be voted on until all voting members
are so notified in writing, at least one (1) week in advance with the subject matter
outlined.
SECTION 6
The executive board shall consist of
three members.
ARTICLE
2 – LEAGUE RULES
SECTION 1
The Intertown Twilight League will
operate under the American League rules, except in such instances where they
are superseded by the Intertown Twilight League rules or By-Laws.
SECTION 2
A team wishing to issue an
intentional pass to an opposing batter shall inform the Umpire-in-Chief of the
game, and he, in turn, will put the batter on first base without the pitcher
having to throw any pitches.
SECTION 3
The hidden ball play is forbidden.
SECTION 4
BBCOR Certified
SECTION 5
A team wishing to use the DH rule
shall designate the hitter before the game starts (the DH may be used for any
defensive player). If the defensive
player is taken out of the game at that position, he may remain in the game as
the DH. However, once the DH takes a
defensive position, the DH is lost.
SECTION 6
Force Slide Rule
The intent of
the force-play-slide rule is to ensure the safety of all players. This is a
safety and an interference rule. Whether the defense could have completed the
double play has no bearing on the applicability of this rule. This rule
pertains to a force-play situation at any base, regardless of the number of
outs. a. On any force play, the runner
must slide on the ground before the base and in a direct line between the two
bases. It is permissible for the slider’s momentum to carry him through the
base in the baseline extended. Exception - A runner need not slide directly
into a base as long as the run slides or runs in a direction away from the
fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of t fielder. Interference shall not be called. 1. “On the
ground” means either a head-first slide or a slide with one leg and buttock on
the ground before the base. 2.
“Directly into a base” means the runner’s entire body (feet, legs, trunk and
arms) must stay in a straight
line between the bases. b. Contact with
a fielder is legal and interference shall not be called if the runner makes a
legal slide directly to the base and in the baseline extended. A.R. - If contact occurs on top of the base
as a result of a “pop-up” slide, this contact is legal. c.
Actions by a runner are illegal and interference shall be called if: 1. The runner slides or runs out of the base
line in the direction of the fielder and alters the play of a fielder (with or
without contact). 2. The runner uses a rolling or cross-body slide
and either makes contact with or alters the
play of a fielder; 3. The runner’s raised leg makes contact higher
than the fielder’s knee when in a standing position; 4. The
runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg; or 5. The
runner illegally slides toward or contacts the fielder even if the fielder
makes no attempt to throw to complete a
play. Penalty for 1-5 1. With less than two outs, the
batter-runner, as well as the interfering runner, shall be declared out and no
other runner (s) shall advance. 2. With two outs, the interfering runner shall
be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance. 3. If
the runner’s slide or collision is flagrant, the runner shall be ejected from
the contest. A.R. - If the bases are
loaded with no outs, a double-play attempt is made, and interference is called,
all other runners must return to their original bases
The ITL is
concerned about unnecessary and violent collisions with the catcher at home
plate, and with infielders at all bases. The intent of this rule is to
encourage baserunners and defensive players to avoid such collisions whenever
possible.
When there is
a collision between a runner and a fielder who clearly is in possession of the
ball, the umpire shall judge: If the
defensive player blocks the base (plate) or base line with clear possession of
the ball, the runner may make contact, slide into or make contact with a
fielder as long as the runner is making a legitimate attempt
to reach the
base (plate). Contact above the waist that was initiated by the base runner
shall not be judged as an attempt to reach the base or plate. 1. The runner must make an actual attempt to
reach the base (plate). Penalty – If the
runner attempts to dislodge the ball or initiates an avoidable collision, the
runner shall be declared out, even if the fielder loses possession of the ball.
The ball is dead and all other base runners shall return to the last base
touched at the time of the interference. 2. The runner may not attempt to
dislodge the ball from the fielder. Contact above the waist shall be judged by
the umpire as an attempt by the runner to dislodge the ball. Penalty – If the contact is flagrant or
malicious before the runner touches the plate, the runner shall be declared out
and also ejected from the contest. The ball is immediately dead and all other
base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the
interference. 3. The runner must attempt to avoid a collision if he can reach
the base without colliding. Penalty – If
the contact is flagrant or malicious after the runner touches the base (plate),
the runner is safe, but is ejected from the contest. The ball is immediately
dead and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the
time of the interference. If this occurs at any base other than home, the offending
team may replace the runner. If the
contact occurs after the preceding runner touches home plate, the preceding
runner is safe. The ball is immediately dead and all other base runners shall
return to the last base touched at the time of the contact. 4. If the runner’s
path to the base is blocked and 1, 2 and 3 are fulfilled, it is considered
unavoidable contact.
SECTION 7 Re-Entry
The ITL has adopted the Cape Ann
League rule for Re-Entry.
A)
Use
of DH is optional
B)
Starter
and substitute cannot appear in the lineup at the same time
C)
Starters
must return to their original positions in the batting order
D)
Substitutes
do not have to have a time at bat
E)
Starter
may re-enter game but substitutes cannot.
Starters may be replaced only once.
F)
A
“designated hitter” in baseball may bat for any position. A starting pitcher who is designated in the
scorebook prior to the game as a pitcher/DH may leave the game as pitcher and
remain as the DH.
G)
If
a substitute hits or runs for the DH, the original DH may subsequently re-enter
in the same spot in the order; the substitute is then ineligible.
H)
If
DH enters defensively, the DH is terminated.
The player who is being DH’d for (or his substitute) hits in the order
in the spot vacated by the defensive player replaced by the DH. If DH enters defensively and several
substitutions are made, the coach may place new players in open spots, but DH
is locked into his spot in the order.
I)
Once
the player being DH’d for enters the offensive lineup as a pinch hitter or
pinch runner, the DH is terminated. The
DH must assume a defensive position in order to remain in the game. If the DH does not play a defensive position,
he may re-enter in his original hitting spot with the loss of eligibility of
his substitute.
J)
If
a player runs or hits for the pitcher, pitcher may not re-enter as a pitcher,
but may re-enter as a position player.
If Pitcher is also DH, this rule does not apply.
ARTICLE
3 – PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
SECTION 1
A team’s playing roster shall be
limited to twenty five (26 per mlb rules 2022) names. Each
team must submit to the league President in an excel format prior to the roster
meeting. Rosters shall include name,
street address, phone number and email address of each player.
SECTION 2
Rosters may change, but not without
notifying the President and/or delagate at least twenty-four (24) hours before
the game in which the new player is to participate.
SECTION 3
The town boundaries must be defined
and voted on by the league at least ninety (90) days prior to the opening of
each season.
Hamilton – All
areas of the towns of Hamilton and Wenham
Ipswich – All
areas in the town of Ipswich
Manchester – All
areas of the town of Manchester, Essex, plus Ward 6, Precinct 1 of the City of
Beverly (Beverly Farms) plus magnolia to the Annesquam River to Bass Ave. in
Gloucester.
Rockport – All
areas of the town of Rockport plus areas east of Rte. 128 to Bass Ave. in
Gloucester.
Rowley – All
areas of the Triton Regional School district, plus Georgetown.
Topsfield –
All areas of the Masconomet School district.
Beverly –
Areas of the city of Beverly, excluding Beverly Farms (see Manchester)
SECTION 4
Team colors shall be as follows:
Hamilton – Gray, Navy, and White
Ipswich – Navy and White
Manchester – White and Navy
Rockport – Red, Gray, and Navy
Rowley – Royal Blue, Gold
Topsfield – Navy, Red, and Gray
Beverly – White, Orange, and Black
SECTION 5
A player must have a permanent
residence, as proven by a drivers license or other document verifiable by the
executive board, in the town limits or boundaries ninety (90) days prior to the
first game, and must complete the season with the one (1) team he originally
registered with, including any post season games.
SECTION 6
Summer residences are eligible to
participate in the town in which they reside, subject to all league rules and
By-Laws.
SECTION 7
A ball player, who had played in the
league and has since moved to a non-league community, may return the following
year only to the same team he had previously played for, for one (1) season’s
eligibility.
SECTION 8
Any player participating under
special league exemption not covered under Section 5, 6, or 7 shall be voted on
by the majority of team managers yearly. If a tie arises, the Executive Board shall
break the tie.
SECTION 9
NO MAN’S LAND – Players in no man’s
land are guests of the league. Once they
declare a team, they stay with that team for at least two (2) years, unless
they move to a league town, or get a majority vote at the roster meeting.
SECTION 10
To allow a player who has moved to
continue with his present team, he must meet the following conditions: He must have played five (5) consecutive
seasons with his present team, including last season. He must have appeared in six (6) games to be
eligible. A player with less than five (5)
consecutive seasons with the same team must play in the town he resided ninety
(90) days prior to the start of the season.
Interruption for military service is the only exception.
Section 11
Players or teams violating these
rules are subject to forfeiture of all games previously played in which those
players participated.
Section 12
Each team will field nine (9)
men. Uniforms consisting of cap, shirt,
pants, stockings and spikes. All men
shall wear Head protectors at bat. A game may not start if a team has less
than nine (9) men.
SECTION 13
All men on the base path shall wear
Head Protectors.
SECTION 14
All catchers behind the plate shall
wear Head Protectors.
ARTICLE
4 – UMPIRES & SCORERS
SECTION 1
Rules and regulations to be strictly
enforced by the umpires;
A)
No
smoking or drinking in the field, on the bench, or immediate areas, in or out
of uniform while the game is in progress.
B)
Profanity,
fighting, or any such acts unbecoming of a player will not be tolerated.
C)
The
President will act upon violations of these rules.
D)
Baseball
managers only are to arbitrate decisions and protests on the field of play.
E)
All
managers must insist on their players hustling on and off the field. Game stalling will not be tolerated and could
result in forfeiture of the game.
SECTION 2
Anyone thrown out of a game will
receive an automatic one (1) game suspension (to be served in uniform on the
bench). Subsequent games to be reviewed
by the President (Article IX Section 7).
SECTION 3
In the event of forfeiture due to
insufficient players, the umpires may remain and umpire a practice game
if the home team desires one.
SECTION 4
Game Official’s Fees:
Umpire-in-Chief $80
Base Umpire $80
Scorer $40
SECTION 5
Travel Fees:
Umpires $40
Scorer $20
SECTION 6
Failure to show: Umpire-In-Chief
will reprimand as he sees fit.
SECTION 7
In the event one (1) umpire shows,
he shall receive a fee and one half (1 ½) $120.00
SECTION 8
The Umpire-in-Chief will be paid
three hundred and fifty ($750) dollars for added duties plus expenses, and the
Official Scorer will be paid two hundred ($250) dollars for compiling
statistics. If an assistant
Umpire-in-Chief is hired by the league, he will be paid a fifty ($100) dollar
stipend. Not applicable for 2008 season.
SECTION 9
The Official Scorer’s decision is
final. The scorer may consult with the
Umpire-in-Chief of the game at any time.
SECTION 10
Initial umpire scheduling will be
done by the Umpire-In-Chief and the league President. Rain-outs and cancellation of game umpires
will be handled by the home team Manager.
Rescheduling will be done by the President or delagate. Contact information will be provided for all
teams.
ARTICLE
5 – PLAYING OF GAMES
SECTION 1
A)
All
league games will be of seven (7) inning duration. Extra inning games will be
played. No more than two (2) extra
innings will be played. The umpire may
call the game at any time due to darkness or weather (see complete game Article
V Section 1 Part B). All Playoff games will be of seven (7) inning
duration. All playoff games will continue until one team has won.
B)
An
official game, regular season or playoff, shall be five (5) innings long, or
four and one half (4 ½) if the home team is ahead.
C)
Incomplete
inning statistics will count.
D)
Once
the game has started, the umpires have control of the game and shall decide
when a game should be called.
E)
Games
shortened by rain or darkness shall have the score revert back to the last complete
inning and declared official if at least 4 1/2 innings have
been played with the home team ahead or 5 innings if the visiting team is
ahead. The only exception to this rule will be in the event the home team
either ties or takes the lead in the bottom half of an inning which is not
completed, (where each team has had an equal number of times at bat) the score
shall not revert to the last complete inning, but shall stand as played.
F)
If
a game is called before becoming official, it shall be replayed in entirety.
G)
Playoff
games that are called for darkness with the score being tied, will be played
again in its entirety the next day.
SECTION 2
Postponed and incomplete games shall
be played on the first open date for both teams, providing the field is
available. Managers involved will notify
the President when such occasions occur.
If the game is not played within five (5) days after the schedule date,
the League may intervene and reschedule the game.
SECTION 3
Regular season weekly games will
start at 5:45 pm (unless otherwise noted on schedule).
A)
If
an emergency exists and the Umpire-in Chief is so notified, a delay of fifteen
(15) minutes may be granted. A forfeit
may be assessed at this point.
B)
If
by mutual consent by both teams, game times may be changed, subject to approval
by the Umpire-in-Chief.
SECTION 4
ALL BACKSTOPS ON ALL LEAGUE FIELDS
WILL BE ALIVE
SECTION 5
The visiting team will be allowed
fifteen (15) minutes practice immediately prior to the start of the game. This is not to interfere with the normal
start of the game. No practice after the
start of the game.
SECTION 6
The home team manager will notify
the President & Umpires of a postponement, no later than two (2) hours
before game time on the date of the regularly scheduled game. Failure to do so will make the home team
liable for transportation fees for the Umpires and the Scorer (see above for
travel fees)
SECTION 7
Any team responsible for a
forfeiture shall be fined one hundred and thirty ($160) dollars for the home
team and one hundred and fifty-five ($185) dollars for the visiting team, with
twenty seven fifty ($25) dollars credit given to the home team for the purpose
of offsetting the collection; payable to the league treasurer within seven (7)
days. The forfeiting team will also lose 1 point in the final standings.
SECTION 8
The league will provide a specified
amount of new baseballs (major league specifications) at the start of the
season. Extra baseballs may be used at
the expense of the home team for the cost of the baseballs. At completion of an official game all
baseballs become the property of the home team.
The home team will issue a warm-up ball to the visiting team. League
approved baseballs only will be permissible.
SECTION 9
Each manager must supply, in a word
document, copies of the home field ground rules, prior to the first home
game. These are to be emailed to the
President or Delagate. Prior to the league roster meeting.
ARTICLE
6 – SCHEDULE
SECTION 1
Each team is to play twenty four
(24) games. The following systems will
be in effect to determine the playoff teams.
Each team will receive two (2) points for a win, and one (1) point for
each legal tie.
SECTION 2
Home nights will be:
Rockport – Sunday
Ipswich – Monday
Manchester – Tuesday
Rowley – Wednesday
Hamilton – Thursday
Topsfield – Friday
Beverly – Sunday
*Please note
that these days are for the majority of home games only. Every team will have a few nights during the
season where they will host home games NOT on their designated night.
SECTION 3
In the event of a tie in the final
standings, the involved team’s records will determine the tie breaker as
follows:
A)
most
wins
B)
records
against each other
C)
combined
scores against each other
D)
Toss
of the coin, except if the teams involved in a tie are in fourth place. In that case, they will play one seven (7)
inning game on the first Saturday following the regular season on a neutral
field. The home team is to be determined
by the above method.
In
the event of a three (3) way tie for fourth place, a double header will be
played on the first Saturday following the end of the regular season on a
neutral field. The team drawing the tie
will play the winner of the first game after a lapse of thirty (30 minutes
following it conclusion.
SECTION 4
Semi-Final Playoff Games:
A)
Series
A consisting seven (7) innings, involving the first (1st) and fourth
(4th) place teams will be played on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday
after the regular season ends. If a
postponement or a tie occurs, the game will be replayed the following
evening. (NOTE: Official game Article V,
Section 1, Part B).
B)
Series
B consisting seven (7) innings consisting seven ( 7) innings, involving the
second (2nd) and third (3rd) place teams will be played on Monday, Tuesday, and
Thursday after the regular season ends.
If a postponement or a tie occurs, the game will be replayed the
following evening. (NOTE: Official game
Article V, Section 1, Part B).
SECTION 5
Finals
will be a best of five (5) game series, each game consisting of seven (7)
innings. (NOTE: Official game Article V, Section 1, Part B).
Schedule
for Final Playoffs:
Game
1 Saturday @ 4pm
Game
2 Sunday @ 4pm
Game
3 Wednesday @ 5:30pm
Game
4 Saturday @ 4pm
Game
5 Sunday @ 4pm
SECTION 6
A player must have appeared in six (6)
games in order to be eligible to participate in the playoffs. “No-Man’s
Land” players must appear in half their team’s scheduled games in order to
participate in the playoffs.
SECTION 7
The
manager can be eligible for playoffs whether or not he has appeared in six
games, for emergency purposes.
SECTION 8
Any player voted on, as a special
exception, at the roster meeting must play in one half (1/2) of the games in
order to be eligible to participate in playoffs.
SECTION 9
Players on injured reserve must be
on the twenty-five (25) man roster and be at, at least six (6) games. Any player injured before the halfway point
is eligible for injured reserve.
ARTICLE
7 – PROTESTS
SECTION 1
Protest of games must be made to the
Umpire-in-Chief of the league that is working the game involved. This protest must be made immediately
following the decision involved and before the ball is out of play.
SECTION 2
The President and the
Umpire-in-Chief of the league must be notified, by phone, by the protesting
manager, within twenty four (24) hours.
A formal letter of protest from the protesting manager must be in the
hands of the President and the Umpire-in-Chief within forty-eight (48) hours.
Section 3
Both managers involved, the
President, the Umpire-in-Chief, and the Umpire’s report must attend a protest
meeting from those umpires who worked the game in question.
SECTION 4
The league president will decide a
protest and their decision will be final.
Decisions to be rendered within forty-eight (48) hours.
ARTICLE
9 – BY-LAWS
SECTION 1
Any changes to the above by laws can
only be made by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting members present.
SECTION 2
These by-laws supersede all By-laws,
regulation, and rules previously governing the ITL.
SECTION 3
The league President and a committee
of seven (7) delegates, one from each of the member teams, shall resolve any
emergency arising during the period these by-laws are in effect, which may
result in conflict with said by-laws.
SECTION 4
Each new team entering the league
must pay an entry fee before the start of the season plus a proportions share
of the previous year’s treasury balance.
SECTION 5
Each team will pay an entry fee of Seven
hundred and thirty ($730) and any
previous balance prior to the start of the season. The balance of the monies owed the league is
due on or before the start of the second half.
Failure to complete all payments in full by the start of the second half
will result in forfeiture of all regular season games until payment is
received. (NOTE: the fine for forfeiture
in Article V, Section 7)
SECTION 6
Any team withdrawing from the league
shall have no clams to funds in the league treasury.
SECTION 7
Ejection and Suspensions
If a player or manager is suspended
for more than one (1) game, the party involved has a right to appeal. If after an umpire’s report, the president
deems a larger suspension is warranted, the president shall notify the manager
of the team involved. If an appeal is
requested, the manager will notify the president.
A meeting will
be scheduled at the earliest convenience and a decision will be made at the
meeting.
The player or
manager will be allowed to continue to participate, after the initial game is
served, until the decision of the appeal is made. If the suspension is enforced, the player and
or manager will attend the designated number of games in uniform and not be
allowed to participate in the games. The
player/manager must check in with the official scorer at the start of each
game.
