Sportsmanship, Respect for all Players, Coaches and Umpires as well as the CYO Mission Statement is Paramount in Importance.

1. Schedules will be agreed upon at the beginning of the season and changes will be allowed only at the discretion of the commissioner.
2. PIAA rules in effect except where noted
3. Games will be 7 innings. In the event of a tie during the regular season, extra innings will be allowed at the discretion of the umpire. Completing the game at a later date will be decided by the commissioner.
4. The umpire will be in complete control during the game. Due respect from ALL players, coaches and parents is a MUST.
5. A minimum of 8 players is required at the beginning of any game. In this case an automatic out is to be recorded after every 8 batters.
6. Re-entry rule: Only a starter may re-enter the game and they must re-enter in the same spot in the batting order.
7. Pitchers are limited to 7 innings in any 7 day period. A pitcher may not start an inning after he has thrown 65 pitches. A pitcher may not return to pitching, once he is removed regardless of pitch count. One warning is given for a BALK. After that runners advance as per PIAA. Rest days are per Archdiocese rules.
8. Courtesy runners are allowed only for an injured player and must be the person making the last out. A substitution may also be made for an injured player.
9. Slide or surrender at all times. Keep in mind this is a judgment call for the umpire based on whether there was a play requiring a slide. More accurate would be to say a base runner may not deliberately run into the catcher trying to break up a play. Only feet first slides except when a player is returning to a base. Head first slides will result in the runner being ruled out (unless returning to a base).
10. In the event of darkness or inclement weather, 4 ½ innings if the home team is winning, 5 complete innings if the visiting team is winning. The 10 run rule will be in effect after 5 innings.
11. Bats must be 2 5/8” in diameter and must be no less than -3 (i.e. cannot use -4 or lower) an umpire (or commissioner) may negate all runs scored if “illegal bats” are available to players.
12. Metal cleats are prohibited
13. Two divisions will be created with approximately 7 teams in each division (based on entries). Each division will be competitively established by the Commissioner. Factors for division placement are base on the fair placement of 7^th grade teams, 8^th grade teams, mixed grade teams and A or B level teams (when a parish fields two teams not based solely on grade). All games must be completed by May 15^th.
14. Playoffs will be as follows: The top four teams in each division will make divisional playoffs (1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3). The divisional playoff Champions will play for the region championship and the bid to the Archdiocese Tournament. Playoff seeding will be based on record against division teams only. Head to head competition will determine seeding for ties; followed by “runs allowed” against the teams involved in the tie; followed by a random draw for seeding. Exception: if there are ties for the last playoff spot there will be a play in game. If there are three or more teams tied for the last playoff spot there will be a playoff series. A random draw will be conducted, if an odd number of teams are tied, to determine who gets a bye.
15. Playoff games will be completed as quarter-finals on May 17^th (rain date 18^th), semi-finals on May 20^th (rain date 22^nd) and finals on May 27^th (rain date 28^th), if possible at a neutral region site ( i.e. Archbishop Wood, LaSalle, etc). Note: Archdiocese Tournament starts on May 31^st. Home team is highest seed, except for final where a coin flip will determine the home team. All pitchers start the playoffs with 0 innings pitched (same as Archdiocese rule)
16. BOTH TEAMS SHOULD MEET FOR A PRAYER PRIOR TO EVERY GAME.