The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Baseball Classic uses American League Rules, Sporting News Edition with the following modifications. These rules are the official rules under which all tournament names will be played. In the event of any confusion, conflicts or disagreement of any rules or regulation include herein, the decision of the Rules Committee is final and binding. Schedule games are 7 innings, No new inning after 2 hours and 10 minutes. No time limit on championship bracket. The Winning team to call in scores immediately after game – (949) 417-8122 and/or operationera@yahoo.com.

We greatly appreciate your compliance and support in making this a well run tournament for all to enjoy!

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Official Tournament Game Rules

1. ROSTER LIMITATION RULES: Open rosters will be allowed for this tournament.  Should any player appear on duplicate rosters, the team he first plays for, either offensively or  defensively, is the team he must play with for the remainder of the tournament.

2. ELIGIBILITY: All players must be of legal age to compete in the tournament, which is 18 years old on or before May 1st of the current calendar year.   NO EXCEPTIONS.

3. BASEBALLS: Each team is required to provide 4 game balls to the Umpire in Chief at the exchange of line-up cards.   It is your responsibility to return foul balls from your side of the field.   If the umpires need more baseballs, each team is required to provide one each, beginning with the home team
first, until the foul balls are returned. (The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Baseball Classic) will provide baseballs for the Championship Game only.

4. MINIMUM PLAYERS: If a team has at least 8 players, the game will start at game time. The 9th position in the batting order will be left blank, and when the spot comes up in the batting order it will be an automatic out.   If the 9th player arrives prior to the 5th inning, he/she will be placed in the batting order as the 9th batter and will complete the game under standard game rules. If a team cannot field 9 players by the completion of 4-1/2 innings the game will be considered a forfeiture.

5. HOME TEAM: A coin flip prior to the game shall determine home and visiting team.   If a team with less than 9 players is listed to be the home team, then home team will revert to the team with a minimum of 9 players. For elimination rounds, the higher seeded team will be home unless the two teams are of equal seeding, then the coin flip will be used.

6. 7-INNING GAME: No new inning will start after 2 hours and 10 minutes and minutes. The game will be considered complete if either team is 10 runs behind after 5 innings of play.

7. SPEED UP RULE: A runner is allowed for the pitcher or catcher at any time with any player on your roster who is not already in the game.   If a team has only 9 players then a runner for the pitcher or catcher is not authorized.

8. INTENTIONAL WALKS: Tell the Plate Umpire that you want to walk the batter - NO PITCH TO THE BATTER IS NECESSARY.

9. DESIGNATED HITTER: The designated hitter is optional but can only be used for the pitcher; refer to rule 6.10 of Sporting News Official Baseball Rules.

10. EXTRA HITTER: One optional extra hitter (EH) will be allowed for a maximum 10 batter line-up but he must be on the line-up card exchanged at the pre-game plate conference. He may not be added once the game
commences. The EH may enter defensively at any time, in any position, but must remain in the same spot in the batting order. The line-up must stay with either 9 or 10 batters (whichever is used) for the entire
game.

11. RE-ENTRY: High School Re-entry rule is allowed.

12. EJECTION: In the event a player, coach or manager is ejected from the game, the individual must leave the dugout and playing complex for the remainder of that game. The Rules Committee, who has the authority
to impose additional game suspensions, will review all ejections.

13. PITCHING RULES: There are no maximum innings during a tournament.

14. UNIFORM CODE: All players, coaches, and managers must be in uniform while on the field for this event.

15. BATS: This is a -3 aluminum bat tournament and all bats must be high school/college approved. Wood bats are optional.

16. FORFEITURE: Forfeiture will have occurred if a team cannot field 9 players from its official team roster by completion of 4-1/2 innings. The forfeiture score awarded will be 7 to 0.

17.RAIN/GAME MODIFICATIONS: We will do our best to make sure all games are played according to schedule. In case of rain, games will be shortened to 5 innings or 1 hour 45 minutes. If a game still cannot be
completed within that time limit, the game will be canceled and not rescheduled. Scores for partially played games will be based on the last completed inning. Games canceled due to weather will count as a
1-1 tie score for each team.

18. IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONFUSION, CONFLICT OR DISAGREEMENT OF ANY RULE OR REGULATION INCLUDED HEREIN, THE DECISION OF THE RULES COMMITTEE IS FINAL AND BINDING.

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