Baseball Tournament Rules

Tournament Director: questions@musiccitybb.com

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The tournament will enforce National High School Federation (NHSF) baseball rules with the following exceptions, which serve as specific baseball guidelines:

1. Home team: The designation of the home team will be determined by a coin flip between coaches, and the home team will maintain the official scorebook.

2. Game arrival: Teams are expected to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to game time and should be prepared to start their game early if the situation permits. There will be 20-minute intervals between each game.

3. Time limit: No inning may commence after two hours. Each game will consist of 7 innings or continue until the time expires. In the event of a tie at the end of the 2-hour limit, the game will be officially recorded as a tie, with umpires managing the time.

4. Bracket/elimination games: In the 9th inning and any subsequent innings, teams will start with a runner on second base and no outs.

5. Run rules: A team will be declared the winner if it leads by 12 runs after 4 innings or by 8 runs after 5 innings.

6. Batting lineup: Teams can have lineups of 9, 10, or 11 batters. The lineup must remain consistent throughout the game. If a 10th hitter is selected, they will be noted as an EH, while an 11th hitter will be marked as XH on the lineup card. The designated hitter (DH) option as per NHSF rules is also applicable. If both coaches agree, teams may continuously bat their entire roster; however, if a player is unable to bat in their designated position due to injury or ejection, that spot will be ruled out. Free defensive substitutions are allowed.

7. Roster use: Teams may make free defensive substitutions and designate a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher. Players are prohibited from switching teams during the tournament, even after their team has been eliminated.

8. Pitching: Although there are no set pitching limits, it is highly recommended to adhere to MLB/USA Baseball's pitch count limits and rest guidelines.

9. Equipment: Each team must provide its game balls, which should be High School Federation or College Approved. Only wooden and wood-composite (Baum/Bamboo) bats are permitted.

10. Turf fields: When competing on turf fields, molded cleats or turf shoes are mandatory. Sunflower seeds and gum are not allowed on these fields. Participating turf fields include, but are not limited to, Belmont/Rose Park, Cumberland, Friendship Christian, Hendersonville/Drakes Creek, Oakland, Riverdale, Lipscomb Academy, Vanderbilt, and Christ Presbyterian Academy.

11. Dugouts: Teams are requested to clean their dugouts following their games.

12. I/O and cage access: Infield/outfield practice will not be allowed. Depending on the field, cage access may or may not be permitted.

13. Umpires: We collaborate with TruBlu, the leading umpire association in Middle Tennessee, to handle tournament umpire assignments.

14. Sportsmanship: The tournament committee reserves the right to eject anyone for unsportsmanlike conduct, and individuals ejected twice during the tournament will be banned for its duration.

15. Parking: All individuals park at their own risk.

16. Not covered in the Rules: For any items not addressed, the Tournament Director will make the fairest possible ruling, and that ruling will be deemed final.