***Regular baseball rules will be followed with the exception of the below MinnDak League rules.***
- The MinnDak will follow the SD VFW rule in regards to bats:
* All metal bats must have a USA Baseball stamp.
* Wood bats are also allowed.
- 12U cannot be 11 before January 1, 2024
- Games will be 6 innings, unless game is tied. Extra innings will be played until a winner is determined UNLESS the game needs to end due to darkness or weather, at which point the game can end in a tie.
- Must have at least 7 players to start game.
NOTE: If a team has only 8 players, no outs will be taken for the the 9th spot in the batting order. If you have 7 players, 1 out will be taken in the 8th spot of the batting order. - A player can only play on one team and be on one roster. If a team has fewer than 9 players for a game, the team can be filled with players from a lower division (Example: 10U to 12U) to get the team to 9 players. Taking a player within the same division from the same town that may have a bye that night will not be allowed. The opposing coach must be alerted to the situation for approval.
- 5-run limit per inning for the first 5 innings. No run limit in the 6th inning or extra innings.
- A game shall be called after 4 innings if one team has a 15 run lead.
A game shall be called after 5 innings if one team has a 10 run lead. - 12U base length will be 65 feet, but 12U games can be played with 60-foot bases at the discretion of the home team.
- Pitching distance is 49 feet for 12U.
- 12U can run on a dropped third strike
- Stealing Bases Rules:
- No leading off in either division.
- Stealing/advancing on passed ball is always allowed in 12U.
- 12U can steal when the ball is released from the pitcher’s hand on 65′ base paths. If a runner is deemed to have left early by an umpire, that runner will be called out.
- If 60′ bases are needing to be used, the teams and umpire should agree on how stealing will work specific to that game. Recommendation would be to have stealing allowed when ball crosses the plate on 60′ bases.
- Home plate is open in 12U, and a runner can score on a passed ball / wild pitch, or as outlined below when a throw to another base on a steal attempt is made. Runner on 3rd may not advance home only when the ball is mishandled by the pitcher when receiving the throw from the catcher, as outlined below.
- A runner must be committed halfway to the next base by the time the catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher to continue with the steal attempt. If a runner has not committed to at least halfway, the runner needs to return back to the base that they are currently occupying. In other words, no “dancing” between bases while the pitcher has the ball to entice a throw.
- A runner may not advance to the next base if the ball is overthrown by the catcher to the pitcher.
- A runner on 3rd may advance home if there is a throw by the catcher to another base on a steal attempt. Example: Runners on 1st and 3rd. If runner on 1st attempts to steal second and catcher throws down to second, the runner on third may go home on that play.
- If a thrown pitch results in ball 4 giving a walk to the batter, and the catcher catches the ball cleanly, the runner will need to stop at 1st base if the pitcher possesses the ball. Since the runners are only allowed to steal after the ball crosses the plate or released from the pitcher’s hand (see above), the batter turned runner will not be allowed to continue to 2nd base without waiting for the next pitch. An exception to this rule is if ball 4 occurs on a wild pitch or passed ball. The batter could then gain 2nd base if the catcher has not returned the ball back to the pitcher prior to the batter committing halfway to second base as the wild pitch/passed ball is a live ball.
- “3rd Base Dancing” 12U Only – A runner on 3rd base will not be allowed to try to entice a throw from the catcher or pitcher after the pitch. If the catcher has caught the ball cleanly, the runner must return to 3rd base.
- Any runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make a tag.
- Infield fly will be in affect.
- Bunting will be allowed.
- The pitching limitation will be either 3 innings max or 85 pitches, whichever occurs first, per game.
- The tournament pitching rules will change slightly to 3 innings per game, six innings per day, 9 innings per tournament with no daily max pitch count limit.
- No automatic intentional walks. A batter must receive four pitches to walk.
- Team members must bat, bat in order and must play a minimum of 2 innings in the field (tournament games included).
NOTE: If a game ends because of run rule or time limit, the innings played rule will not be considered violated. - If a player is injured within the course of the game and cannot take their turn to bat, that player will be skipped in the lineup with NO OUT taken, unless it brings the roster to seven players. An out would then be taken as noted in rule #2. It is understood that if the player is too injured to take their at bat, they are too injured to play the remainder of the game.
- If a player is able and only wants to play defense in the game and not bat, an out will be recorded for that player.
- A player must appear in 7 regular season games to be eligible for the tournament. Appeals can be made for extenuating circumstances. Appeals first need to go to the local town rep. If the town rep is unsure of decision, town rep will discuss with league commissioner. Decisions of the town rep and/or commissioner will be communicated to other town reps/coaches.
- The home team will provide the umpires and the baseballs for the regular season.
- Each game must be recorded in Game Changer. If there is a discrepancy of final score or pitch counts, league commissioner can be contacted. League commissioner will then contact both coaches to settle discrepancy and update if necessary.