Wisconsin River League

2023 update: wisconsin river league

In 2023, PYB has decided to take a step in the direction of sustaining the future of our baseball program by joining efforts with the Wisconsin River League (WRL) for our Minor and Major Divisions. WRL is a group of nearby cities such as Baraboo, Wisconsin Dells, Mauston, Poynette, Pardeeville, Sauk Prairie, and Lodi all getting together to schedule a solid baseball season in which our local teams can play a variety of teams throughout the season. Throughout a season of 12-15 games, some teams may end up traveling to other (non-Portage) fields to play a game. Starting in 2024, limited travel for our Portage teams may be required. PYB participants will enjoy the chance to meet new friends by competing with new teams.

We anticipate Portage teams will play 2-3 away games this year. PYB will not provide team transportation but we encourage carpooling if transportation presents an issue to you.

Wisconsin River League Rules & Regulations (Minor Division)

The following rules and regulations will govern play in the Wisconsin River League (WRL). The official rules will be the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rules except where modified below. Any situations not covered here or in the NFHS rule book will be determined by the League Committee.

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Player Eligibility:
August 31st of the current year is the determining date for the age of the competitor. A player may only be rostered on one team participating in the WRL.

Insurance:
Each community must provide liability coverage for their prospective teams.

Roster Limit:
Each community will decide roster size limits and how games are divided amongst players.

Number of On-Field Players
In the Minor Division, teams may have 10 players in the field by using an additional outfielder.

Ejections and Penalties:
Any player or coach ejected from a game will be suspended for the following league game.

Home/Visitor:
For league games, the geographic home team will be the home team.
For tournament games, a coin flip will be used to determine the home team. The team that traveled the furthest will make the call on heads/tails.

Bats:
Only "USA Baseball" certified bats will be used in league and tournament games.

Game Length:
Games are to be six (6) innings with no new inning started after one (1) hour and forty-five (45) minutes. The "stopwatch" for games does not begin until the actual start of the game (the first pitch) and not necessarily the scheduled start time. Official time will be based on the umpire's watch. If a game is tied at the end of regulation and the time limit has not been reached, extra innings will be played. Extra innings will be played until a winner is determined or the time limit has been reached.

On-field warm-ups for home team - 5:00 PM
On-field warm-ups for away team - 5:30 PM
Scheduled game start time - 6:00 PM

Pitching/Base Distances:
In the Minor Division, the pitching distance is forty-six (46) feet and the base spacing is sixty (60) feet.

Dropped 3rd Strike:
In the Minor Division, on a dropped 3rd strike, the batter is out.

Infield Fly Rule:
In the Minor Division, there is no infield fly rule.

Cleats:
Only rubber/molded cleats will be allowed in the Minor Division. No Metal Spikes.

Helmets:
Helmets must be worn at all times by an offensive player on the playing field for any reason. Batboys/Batgirls must wear helmets at all times they are on the field. Base coaches under the age of 18 must wear helmets at all times they are on the field.

Run Rule:
There is a maximum of six (6) runs per inning for the first five (5) innings. There is no run limit in the sixth (6th) inning.

Continuous Batting:
All players will bat. There is no use of DH or EH.
A courtesy runner (the last runner to be put out) will be allowed for the pitcher or the catcher and only when there are two (2) outs. The same player may not be used in the same inning.

Pitching Restrictions:
Once a pitcher is removed from a game, he may not reenter as a pitcher.
Pitch counts are strongly encouraged to be followed by each community.

In the Minor Division, a player may pitch a maximum of two (2) innings in any individual game and no more than four (4) innings in one (1) calendar week. (The week will run from Sunday - Saturday).

In the Minor Division Tournament, a player may pitch a maximum of two (2) innings in any individual game and no more than six (6) innings in the tournament.

In the Minor Division, in the month of May after two (2) walks in an inning, batters will not automatically take 1st base on a walk. The offensive team's coach will enter the game to pitch (from the mound). Max five (5) pitches or three (3) swinging strikes to determine a walk or strikeout.

Balk Rule:
In the Minor Division, no balks will be called.

Umpires:
Home will team provide umpires. Goal is to have two (2) for each game with one (1) being WIAA certified.

On-Deck Batters:
In the interest of safety, on-deck batters may loosen up behind the batter rather than being restricted to their own side of the field.

Slash Bunts:
For safety reasons, slash bunts are prohibited. A slash bunt is when the batter shows bunt then pulls back and swings away or slaps at the ball. Penalty - Batter is called out and no runners may advance.

Double First Base:
Some fields use a double first base and do not have a choice for a single first base. In these cases, the double base should be considered one big base, allowing the runner or the fielder to touch either the white or the orange portion of the base. There will be no penalty for the runner or fielder if they touch either color.

Base Running:
In the Minor Division, a runner may leave the base after the ball crosses the plate. The runner is out upon leaving the base early. On a dropped 3rd strike, the batter is out and the base runners may advance at their own risk. Home plate is closed to stealing.

All runners must slide feet first when advancing to the next base. Diving back head first is allowed on pickoffs.

Runners are never required to slide, but if a runner elects to slide, the slide must be legal. Jumping, hurdling, and leaping are all legal attempts to avoid a fielder as long as the fielder is lying on the ground. Diving over a fielder is illegal.

Baseballs:
The home team will supply new baseballs for each game.

Equipment:
All bats, helmets, catcher's gear, footwear, and other equipment must conform to NFHS rules and regulations. All catchers must have a throat protector.

Uniforms:
Team jerseys should be of identical color and should have at least a six inch (6") number on the front and/or the back.

Weather/Darkness Postponements:
Any game that does not complete four (4) full innings due to darkness or weather will be rescheduled and start from the beginning on the rescheduled date.
Home team coaches will give a minimum of two-hour notice of any cancelations to the traveling team.

Wisconsin River League Rules & Regulations (Major Division)

PDF Version
File Size:	308 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Player Eligibility:
August 31st of the current year is the determining date for the age of the competitor. A player may only be rostered on one team participating in the WRL.

Insurance:
Each community must provide liability coverage for their prospective teams.

Roster Limit:
Each community will decide roster size limits and how games are divided amongst players.

Number of On-Field Players
In the Major Division, teams may have nine (9) players in the field.

Ejections and Penalties:
Any player or coach ejected from a game will be suspended for the following league game.

Home/Visitor:
For league games, the geographic home team will be the home team.
For tournament games, a coin flip will be used to determine the home team. The team that traveled the furthest will make the call on heads/tails.

Bats:
Only "USA Baseball" certified bats will be used in league and tournament games.

Game Length:
Games are to be six (6) innings with no new inning started after one (1) hour and forty-five (45) minutes. The "stopwatch" for games does not begin until the actual start of the game (the first pitch) and not necessarily the scheduled start time. Official time will be based on the umpire's watch. If a game is tied at the end of regulation and the time limit has not been reached, extra innings will be played. Extra innings will be played until a winner is determined or the time limit has been reached.

On-field warm-ups for home team - 5:00 PM
On-field warm-ups for away team - 5:30 PM
Scheduled game start time - 6:00 PM

Pitching/Base Distances:
In the Major Division, the pitching distance is fifty (50) feet and the base spacing is seventy (70) feet.

Dropped 3rd Strike:
In the Major Division, on a dropped 3rd strike, the player may advance. The batter becomes a runner when the 3rd strike is not caught, providing first base is unoccupied OR first base is occupied with two outs.

Infield Fly Rule:
In the Major Division, the infield fly rule will be enforced.
The infield fly rule is a fair ball (not including a line drive nor attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second; or first, second, and third bases occupied, before there are two outs. The pitcher, catcher, and any outfielder stationed in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
An infield fly is no different than any other fly ball in regard to the runners. The only difference is that they are never forced to advance because the batter is out whether the ball is caught or not. Runners may advance at their discretion (tagging up on a catch or advancing on a drop). Also note that the infield dirt and outfield grass do not form a boundary line for infield fly purposes.

Cleats:
Only rubber/molded cleats will be allowed in the Minor Division. No Metal Spikes.

Helmets:
Helmets must be worn at all times by an offensive player on the playing field for any reason. Batboys/Batgirls must wear helmets at all times they are on the field. Base coaches under the age of 18 must wear helmets at all times they are on the field.

Run Rule:
There is a maximum of six (6) runs per inning for the first five (5) innings. There is no run limit in the sixth (6th) inning.

Continuous Batting:
All players will bat. There is no use of DH or EH.
A courtesy runner (the last runner to be put out) will be allowed for the pitcher or the catcher and only when there are two (2) outs. The same player may not be used in the same inning.

Pitching Restrictions:
Once a pitcher is removed from a game, he may not reenter as a pitcher.
Pitch counts are strongly encouraged to be followed by each community.

In the Major Division, a player may pitch a maximum of three (3) innings in any individual game and no more than six (6) innings in one (1) calendar week. (The week will run from Sunday - Saturday).

In the Minor Division Tournament, a player may pitch a maximum of three (3) innings in any individual game and no more than six (6) innings in the tournament.

Balk Rule:
In the Major Division, balks will be called. There will be one (1) warning per pitcher.

Umpires:
Home will team provide umpires. Goal is to have two (2) for each game with one (1) being WIAA certified.

On-Deck Batters:
In the interest of safety, on-deck batters may loosen up behind the batter rather than being restricted to their own side of the field.

Slash Bunts:
For safety reasons, slash bunts are prohibited. A slash bunt is when the batter shows bunt then pulls back and swings away or slaps at the ball. Penalty - Batter is called out and no runners may advance.

Double First Base:
Some fields use a double first base and do not have a choice for a single first base. In these cases, the double base should be considered one big base, allowing the runner or the fielder to touch either the white or the orange portion of the base. There will be no penalty for the runner or fielder if they touch either color.

Base Running:
In the Major Division, NFHS rules apply (i.e. live baseball). Home plate is open to stealing.

All runners must slide feet first when advancing to the next base. Diving back head first is allowed on pickoffs.

Runners are never required to slide, but if a runner elects to slide, the slide must be legal. Jumping, hurdling, and leaping are all legal attempts to avoid a fielder as long as the fielder is lying on the ground. Diving over a fielder is illegal.

Baseballs:
The home team will supply new baseballs for each game.

Equipment:
All bats, helmets, catcher's gear, footwear, and other equipment must conform to NFHS rules and regulations. All catchers must have a throat protector.

Uniforms:
Team jerseys should be of identical color and should have at least a six inch (6") number on the front and/or the back.

Weather/Darkness Postponements:
Any game that does not complete four (4) full innings due to darkness or weather will be rescheduled and start from the beginning on the rescheduled date.
Home team coaches will give a minimum of two-hour notice of any cancelations to the traveling team.