Next event: May 4th/5th, 2025

2024 Bring the Thunder for Childhood Cancer

BOWER FIELD; Gibbs Ruritan; Halls Community Park

TOURNAMENT RULES AND INFO

1. HAVE FUN. This is a BENEFIT tournament. Sportsmanship and courteous behavior are expected. There is a very real possibility that our recipients/former recipients will be on site watching and enjoying this event.

2. Ties are permitted in Pool Play. Pool play will be DROP DEAD time limit. That means once the time limit expires, and the current play is over, the game is over. The at-bat is not completed (if not already complete). So yes, that means the home team may not get the last bat in this situation. Drop dead allows us to maximize the number of teams that can play in this event and to keep us on schedule.

a. 6u Tball: 55 minutes drop dead (Sunday: no new inning after 50 minutes)

b. 7u/8u Baseball/Softball: 60 minutes drop dead (Sunday: no new inning after 55 minutes)

c. 9u/10u/11u/12u/14u Softball: 60 minutes drop dead (Sunday: no new inning after 55 minutes)

d. 9u/10u Baseball: 70 minutes drop dead (Sunday: no new inning after 70 minutes)

e. 11u/12u/13u Baseball: 75 minutes drop dead (Sunday: no new inning after 70 minutes)

f. **Times may be amended due to schedule issues or weather delays**

3. A maximum of 5 runs per team per inning may be scored. No team should be running up the score in a mean-spirited way. This is a benefit event, please do your best to ensure everyone enjoys it.

4. A coin toss for home/away shall be conducted at the coach/umpire plate meeting prior to start of game.

5. Any announcements about weather/field delays will be communicated as soon as possible. Please check our website (www.bringthethunder.org) and/or the Bring the Thunder Facebook page.

6. Sunday’s schedule will be posted to the website once all Saturday games are completed. This may be late on Saturday.

7. Assuming the tournament stays on schedule, Sunday will be single elimination bracket. Some age divisions will be divided into multiple brackets. **Please note this is a fundraising tournament where we have teams of all levels and abilities. Sunday brackets may not reflect “true” standings as to prevent potential mismatches.** Tournament director has discretion with bracket scheduling. Some brackets, based on number of teams, may be as little as 3 team brackets.

8. Everybody on roster/lineup shall bat. There are no offensive substitutions. Courtesy runner for pitcher and/or catcher with any amount of outs allowed. The courtesy runner shall be the last batted out. If no last batted out exists (1st inning) then batter furthest away in batting order will be chosen.

9. Mercy Rule: 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 runs after 4 innings. This is a benefit tournament, so if necessary, show mercy to the other teams. THIS IS FOR OUR RECIPIENTS, not for the win!

10. With a play at the plate, a runner should either slide or avoid contact. At umpire discretion, they may call the runner out for not abiding by this.

11. Teams supply their own game balls.  This helps reduce expenses which increases profit given to our recipients.

12. If a team only has 8 players at game time, an out shall NOT be called for the 9th position.

13. Metal cleats are NOT ALLOWED in any age group.  

14. Walk-up music is allowed. It must be turned off prior to the start of the play. Please keep volume respectable.

15. Players may only play on one team during the tournament in the same age group at the same park.  

16.  Please leave a clean dugout and spectator area.  Coaches, have players and parents check surroundings before leaving the area.

Player Eligibility:

1. Players must be of appropriate age based on USSSA birthday calculator for baseball and NSA/USA for softball.

2. No player may play for more than one team in this tournament unless it's two teams in different age groups or two teams playing at different parks. 

6u T-Ball

1.  3 strikes and out. 5 SWING MAX. No unlimited fouls. If a batter swings and only hits the tee, it is considered a strike.

2.  Can use any combination of tee or pitch

3.  Batted ball must reach minimum line or be declared foul

4. All players play defense, maximum of 6 infielders, outfielders must start each play in the grass.  

5.  Defensive coaches are allowed on field of play (max of 3), must be in outfield and not interfere with play.

6. A batted ball that is hit to the left of the pitcher’s line requires a throw to 1st base if the defense intends to get the batter/runner out. Pitcher cannot “run down” the runner.

7. A batted ball that is hit to the right of the pitcher’s line requires a throw to 3rd base if the defense elects to get a force out at that base. Pitcher cannot “run down” the runner.

8. An overthrow at 1st base allows the runner to advance to 2nd base (it is NOT automatic). Defense may elect to try to get runner out. If they do not, runner must stop at 2nd base. All other base runners are still live.

9. Time shall be called once the ball is in FRONT OF the lead runner and in possession of a defensive player OR in the pitcher’s circle and in the possession of a defensive player.

10. Time may also be called if runner’s quit making an attempt to advance. Juking back and forth shall be defined as ‘not advancing’.

11. If the field being used has a double first-base, EITHER base may be used in this tournament. We have teams from outside of Bower Field that may not use this setup, so we don’t want to penalize teams for that.

8u Coach Pitch Baseball/Softball

1. 10 maximum on defense, 6 max for infield. All outfielders must begin each play in the grass.

2. 6 pitche or 3 strikes. Unlimited fouls on last pitch

3. Pitcher (Coach) does NOT have to be touching the circle at beginning of delivery of pitch

4. Pitcher (Player) must have at least one foot on the circle, however, ump has the discretion to allow that player to move back between the circle and 2nd base if they see a safety issue with a strong batter.

5. Batted ball must reach minimum line or be declared foul

6. No defensive coaches allowed on field of play in baseball. Two defensive coaches allowed in outfield for softball. They must not interfere with the play.

7. Pitcher may offer instruction to team after ball is hit.

8. If batted ball hits the pitcher, a dead ball shall be ruled and the pitch will not count.

9. Time shall be called once the ball is in FRONT OF the lead runner and in possession of a defensive player OR in the pitcher’s circle and in the possession of a defensive player.

10. Time may also be called if runner’s quit making attempt to advance. Juking back and forth shall be defined as ‘not advancing.

11. If the field being used has a double first-base, EITHER base may be used in this tournament. We have teams from outside of Bower Field that may not use this setup, so we don’t want to penalize teams for that.

9u/10u/11u/12u/13u/14u  Kid Pitch Baseball and Softball

1.  9 max on defense (10 for softball), 6 max on infield. All outfielders must begin each play in the grass.

2.  Lead-offs and stealing are allowed. (no lead-offs prior to pitch for softball)

3.  One warning per pitcher for balks. 

4.  No rules on pitch count or innings. However, we highly suggest coaches use proper discretion and keep player safety in mind.