Major Division

2021 Major Division Teams

Upcoming Major Division Practices

Upcoming Major Division Games

Full Season Game Schedule (PDF)

Full Season Game Schedule (Interactive)

2021 MAJOR Rules

Equipment: For equipment questions, needs, or concerns, contact Jim Belschner at portageyouthbaseball@gmail.com or (608) 695-0346.

Umpires: For scheduling umpires, to reschedule, or for problems/concerns with umpires, contact Josh Brandsma at brandsmajosh@hotmail.com or (608) 790-4558.

Coaches are NOT to argue with or belittle an umpire under ANY circumstance. Civil discussions about rule interpretation may occur, but coaches, players, and fans may not argue umpire judgment.

It is the team Head Coach’s responsibility to get sponsors’ gifts delivered to them. Our sponsors are key to the success of this league. This token of “Thank You” is the least we can do! These are to be delivered NO LATER THAN 1 week after the delivery of pictures. If anyone needs assistance with this requirement, contact Andy Wagner at andy.m.wagner@gmail.com or (612) 817-8695.

Final pitch count sheets will be initialed by both coaches. (Scorekeeper will turn pitch count sheets into the Concession Stand).

After each game, coaches and players are to assure that dugouts and grounds are clean. Both team coaches are responsible for raking/grooming the field. If you are the last one to leave the park, make sure all doors on locker rooms and restrooms are locked.

Rules of the Park
It is all of our responsibilities to clean up after ourselves. This park belongs to us all – pitch in and keep it clean!

Good sportsmanship must be displayed at all times by players, coaches, officials, and fans! The following behavior will not be tolerated, including but not limited to:

Swearing
Throwing a tantrum
Throwing bats, helmets, or other equipment
Taunting, intimidating, or being mean and disrespectful to other players, umpires, coaches, and team fans

Coaches are to address this behavior with players immediately upon offense. Violations herein will be subject to the Sanctions Policy. Unsportsmanlike conduct of any manner may cause immediate ejection from the park grounds, removal from position, and/or any other sanctions deemed necessary from the league Board of Directors.

Rules of the Field

All players and coaches are to be in uniform (team hat and shirt) for games. No shorts or open toed shoes may be worn by players. No open toed shoes are to be worn by Coaches.
Athletic supporters are required for all male players. A supporter and cup is required for all male catchers. Although cups are not required for all positions, they are strongly encouraged for all male players.
A catcher’s mask must be used by players when catching and warming up pitchers in the bullpens.
Jewelry of any kind may not be worn during games and/or practice.
The HOME TEAM is the second team listed on the schedule and will occupy the 1st base dugout. The Home team will have use of the batting cage from 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm while the Visiting team will have use of the batting cage from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm. At conclusion of the game – both team’s coaches are responsible for field care and clean up.
A game may not start nor finish with either team having less than 8 players.
An adult MUST be in the dugout at all times. (use of an approved volunteer OR if not available, and team has only one coach, coach must remain in dugout and use players as base coaches). Each team will have no more than 3 Coaches in the dugout at one time. When a coach is requesting a time out – the ump needs to approve the time out before the coach may set foot on the field of play.
All players must stay in the dugout while the game is in progress, unless they have permission from the coach. Only team members and approved coaches are allowed in the dugouts/field of play during games.
There will be no on-deck circles, no on-deck batters, and no bat rings are allowed. On-deck batter MUST remain in the dugout. Bats are to remain in bat tender until batter is ready to leave the dugout. Batters/baserunners MUST leave batting helmet on until they have entered the dugout.
Coaches are required to remain in the dugout when their team is on defense.

Rules of Play
Bats: All bats must be 2 5/8” barrel or smaller. Non-wood bats must be labeled with a USA Baseball stamp. Solid wood bats do not need to have the USA Baseball stamp.

Each player must play at least every other inning (3 outs) on defense.
Each player is expected to play an infield position and an outfield position during the game unless the coach feels it would pose a safety risk.
Each player must bat in rotation, whether they are playing defense or not.
A coach must use a courtesy runner for the catcher with two outs. The player who made the last out will be the runner.
If the catcher has caught for 3 or more innings, he/she cannot pitch in the same game.
If a pitcher has pitched 41 or more pitches, he/she is not eligible to catch the rest of the day.
A new inning begins when the home team’s 3rd out is called.
Games are six innings, unless shorter due to time limits. An official game is considered 4 innings.
Games tied after 6 innings will be recorded as a tie, however, WILL be extended to a 7th inning ONLY if the time requirement in item #8 is adhered to.
Game times:
1. All Major Division games will have a 6:15 pm start time. Even if started late, no new inning will be started after 7:50 pm. Games will be called at 8:15 pm. If in the middle of an inning, score will stand even if the home team has not batted. No revert back rule.
The 5 run rule per inning will apply in all innings, EXCEPT the last inning may be unlimited runs. If the last inning is announced when the home team is batting, the home team will be restricted to 5 runs as the visiting team was. Run Ahead Rule: 15 after 3 innings, 10 after 4, and 8 after 5 = ends the game.
Leading off and stealing are allowed throughout the entire season.
Balk rule: Any intentional or accidental movement by the pitcher to deceive a baserunner will result in a balk being called and all baserunners advancing 1 base. Pitchers are expected to pitch from stretch position with runners on 1st and/or 2nd base. Each pitcher will be allowed 1 warning per inning as a teaching tool before a balk will be administered.
Sliding – All players are encouraged to slide but MUST avoid contact with the defense if there is a play at the base.
1. (Umpire calls “Play at Base”, NOT coaches. "Play at Base" = Defense, Offense, Ball, & Base.)
2. All players encouraged to slide into bases to avoid tags (except 1st base).
  1. The other option a runner has is to attempt to get around the defender attempting the tag. (Runner can only move up to 3 ft. left or right to remain legal).
  2. Defensive players may not block the base unless they have the ball. (obstruction may be called = runner safe).
  3. Except when a runner is returning to a base, head-first slides are NOT permitted.
Slash Bunts are NOT ALLOWED. – A batter showing bunt CANNOT pull back and swing at pitch. Batter and Coach shall receive 1 warning. If batter does again, he/she is immediately out, without consideration of number of strikes on him/her. Ball either hit or missed is dead immediately, runners do not advance.
Dropped 3rd Strike (Passed 3rd Strike)
1. Rule 6.09 – The batter becomes a runner when: (b) the third strike is called by the umpire and is no caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two outs.
2. In summary: If there are less than two outs and first base is occupied, the batter is out. Any and all runners advance at their own risk. If there are two outs and first base is occupied (this includes bases loaded), ball is live, and the batter becomes a runner. All the catcher needs to do is get the ball and touch home plate to get the third base runner out (force play) OR throw to first to get the batter (now runner) out. It is recommended on offense to have base runners running and batter running. The best advice is the have batter run always and let the coaches/umpires sort it out.

COACHES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING PITCH COUNTS STRICTLY!!!
Pitch counts are in place and REQUIRED for the protection of the player. Coaches and/or parents are not allowed to override or ignore these requirements.

Be mindful of pitches in warm-ups and practices. They add up and put strain on the player’s arm too.

Pitching Rules
Any player may pitch a maximum of 50 pitches per day. We have lifted the “inning limit” to allow pitchers who pitch to 1 batter, for example, to end an inning and be eligible for a subsequent inning(s). Upon reaching the limit, Pitcher must be removed from this position but may remain in the game, EXCEPT if 41 or more pitches are delivered in a game, player cannot play catcher for the remainder of that day.

All pitchers age 16 and under must adhere to the following pitch count vs. days of rest.

Pitches (in a day)	Days of rest required
36-50	2
21-35	1
1-20	0*

*Pitchers that pitch in consecutive days are required to rest on day 3 regardless of number of pitches thrown in those two consecutive days.

Coach is allowed 2 visits to the mound in 1 inning and 3 for the entire game. Any visit in excess requires pitcher to be removed. If a pitcher is removed on a visit, it does not count toward visit total for game.
Once pitcher is replaced during the game, he/she may not return to pitch in that game.
If pitcher hits 2 batters in 1 inning OR 3 batters in a game, he/she must be pulled for rest of the game. (Pitching only, can play other positions as allowed.)
Breaking balls (curve or slider) are not allowed in league play. Acceptable pitches are fastballs, change ups, and knuckleballs. If an illegal pitch is thrown, the pitcher will be given 1 warning and the offensive coach will choose either a ball to the batter or the result of the play. Upon a second illegal pitch, the pitcher will be removed from the pitching position.

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Revised: 5/21/2021