Rules

Baseball NL Rules

The tournament will follow the current Baseball NL Rules and Regulations for each division, except where modified below for this tournament.

The 2026 Baseball NL Handbook is located here:

General Rules

• All players will bat in a continuous batting order.
• Re-entry is permitted for all players except pitchers, in accordance with Baseball NL rules.
• Any pitching change must be reported immediately to both the umpire and the GameChanger scorekeeper.
• All bats must comply with Baseball Canada and Baseball NL regulations for the applicable division.
• Teams playing up a division may continue to use bats approved for their own age division.
• The continuation rule is in effect for all divisions.

Game Length

• All games will be 6 innings.
• No new inning may begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes.
• Any game suspended due to weather or darkness will be considered complete after 4 complete innings during round robin play.
• Round robin games may end in a tie.
• Championship games will be scheduled for 6 innings.

Mercy Rule

• A 10-run mercy rule is in effect after 4 innings for all round robin and playoff games.
• The mercy rule does not apply to the Championship Game.

Pitch Count Rules (11U AA & 11U AAA)

The tournament will follow the Baseball NL Pitch Count Rules.

Pitch counts will be tracked using GameChanger.

• Mount Pearl teams will act as the lead GameChanger scorekeeper for games involving Mount Pearl.
• For games not involving Mount Pearl, one participating team will be designated as the lead GameChanger scorekeeper.
• Coaches are responsible for ensuring every pitching change is communicated to the GameChanger scorekeeper.
• Official tournament pitch counts will be taken from GameChanger.

Pitch counts will be managed using the coach's honour system.

When a pitcher reaches a Baseball NL pitch count threshold, coaches are expected to call for the final batter at the appropriate threshold (25, 30, 40, 45, 65, 75 or 85 pitches). GameChanger should reflect the pitcher leaving the game within a reasonable number of pitches after that threshold.

A pitch count report will be distributed to all teams each evening.

Pitcher / Catcher Restrictions

• Once a player has pitched in a game, they may not catch for the remainder of that game.
• If multiple games are played on the same day, once a player has pitched, they may not catch for the remainder of that day.

11U A Modified Rules

Pitch Count

Pitch counts for all 11U A pitchers will be tracked throughout the tournament in accordance with the current Baseball NL Pitch Count Guidelines.

Pitch counts will be recorded in GameChanger. Coaches are responsible for ensuring all pitching changes are communicated to the official GameChanger scorekeeper.

Pitching

• After four balls, the coach will enter to pitch while the existing strike count remains.
• The coach must pitch from approximately 35–40 feet, no closer than just in front of the pitching mound.

Base Running

• A safety base will be used at first base.
• Runs may only score on a batted ball.
• A runner may not score on an overthrow.

Runs Per Inning

• Maximum of 3 runs per inning.
• The final inning is an open inning with unlimited runs.
• The open inning will be the next full inning beginning after the 1 hour and 45 minute time limit has been reached.

Tournament Contact