Pioneer League / Interleague Ground Rules
* Limit of 3 stolen bases per game. Double steals count as 2 stolen bases.
* Limit of 5 runs per inning (unlimited runs in 8th and 9th).
* A ball must leave the dirt circle to be considered a passed ball. If a team is out of steals and a runner advances on a ball that ends up not leaving the dirt circle, he is allowed to safely return to the previously occupied base.

All League Ground Rules
* The home team gets their choice of dugout. If the visiting team occupies a dugout, they can be changed.
* The home team will provide at least 4 baseballs per game.
* Managers will exchange lineup cards prior to the start of the game.
* Must use at least 2 pitchers per game. No more than 7 innings by any one pitcher.
* No stealing of home. Can advance home on a passed ball.
* Runners must slide or avoid contact with the catcher at a play at the plate or a relay throw at 2nd.
* No new innings can begin after 2 hours and 45 minutes. If a game is tied after 9 innings or 3 hours of play, any new innings will begin with the last out on 2nd base. Game will only be extended an extra 30 minutes with no new inning starting after 3 hours and 15 minutes. If score is still even, game ends in a tie.
* Subs are not allowed to pitch and must bat after paying league members in the lineup.
* If we have a rainout we will do the best we can to make up games.  This may result in playing on a weeknight.  Managers have agreed this would be a good option rather than playing doubleheaders.
* Roster move deadline is June 20.
1.       Offense
a.       Batting Lineup
i.      All players may bat - the batting lineup can be more than 9 hitters. Players are allowed to only bat and elect not to play defense (DH/EH).
ii.      Players not listed in the original starting lineup at the beginning of the game may be added to the bottom of the batting lineup without penalty. (ex. Late Arrival)
iii.     Players not listed in the original starting lineup can be used as a pinch hitter and substituted for any player in the batting order (ex. Standard pinch hitter). However, if you elect to add a hitter to the lineup and NOT remove a substitute, the addition must be made at the bottom of the batting order.
iv.     Players forced to be removed from the batting lineup for any reason (injury, leave early, etc) can be removed without penalty, keeping the remaining lineup in order. If this player returns, they may be re-inserted into their original place in the batting order.

b.      Courtesy Runner
i.      Courtesy runners may be used. Remember, the purpose of using a courtesy runner is primarily injury accommodation, and is NOT intended to allow a team to improve its baserunning situation/ability. Teams are limited to 3 players having courtesy runners per game and must be declared on your lineup card.
ii.     Selecting the courtesy runner
‍ ‍1. If utilizing a batting player as a courtesy runner, it must be the player in the batting order most-closely preceding the base runner being substituted for (ex. last batted out, go up the batting order backwards until you reach an available player not currently on base)
2. A bench, non-hitting player may be selected to serve as the courtesy runner
iii. Courtesy runners, even those that are running for pitchers and catchers, MAY NOT steal bases or advance via “defensive indifference” (ex. a non-throw when 1st and 3rd are occupied). They may advance via wild pitch/passed ball. For the purposes of this rule, a pitch must leave the catcher’s dirt circle to be considered a wild pitch/passed ball. If a courtesy runner advances via what is statistically considered a stolen base/defensive indifference, time will be called, and the runner returned to their previous base without penalty.

c.       Non-rostered/non-league substitute players
i.      In the event a team is required to use non-rostered players to field a full team of 9, the team is welcome to utilize players from other SABL teams, as well as non-league players, on an exception basis. Non-rostered players must bat in the batting order after all regular-rostered players. Non-rostered players may continue to participate even if the team does eventually have 9 players or more.

d. Hit by pitch
i. In the event a batter is hit by a pitch, he has the choice to take his base or can take the pitch as a ball and continue the at bat.

e. Player Ejections
i. If a player is ejected during an at bat, the player is out and must leave the field premises.
ii. Second offense ejections will result in a 1 game suspension.

f. Fan Ejections
i. The umpire has the authority to eject unruly fans and has the authority to hold the manager of the fan to enforce their behavior. If an umpire ejects a fan, the game stops until the fan leaves the field premises.

2.       Defense
a.      Pitching
i.      A pitcher may pitch a maximum of 7 innings per game.
ii.      If a pitcher is substituted for and leaves the mound, he may not return to pitch. If a game is out of hand and a team runs out of pitchers, a player can return to pitch if both managers agree.
iii.     Non-roster substitutes are not allowed to pitch.

b.      Defensive Positions
i.      Free and open substitution for all 8 other defensive positions (non-pitcher) should be allowed at any time.
ii.     Players are allowed to only play defense, and not be listed in the batting order. (ex. pitcher only, designated fielder)

3.       Minimum requirements to start and complete a game (for the consideration of official stats and standings)
a.      Teams must have at least 7 roster players to begin and complete a game to have the game count towards official statistics and standings.
b.      Teams are required to provide at least 8 players in combination of rostered and non-rostered players.
c. Teams can request a 9th fielder from the opposing team if both managers agree.
d.      Automatic outs:
i.      If a team begins a game with 8 batters, the 9th place in the batting order will be an automatic out.
ii.     If a team begins a game with 9 or more players, but reaches a situation through loss or injury of only maintaining 8 batters, there will not be an automatic out and the batting order will just continue.

4.       Games will be 9 innings, with a MINIMUM of 7 innings
‍ a. If after 7 innings and a team is up by 10+, the "official" game is over and all stats in GameChanger stop and the win is awarded to the team in the lead.  The managers can then decide if they want to continue for the fun of it.  We are paying for field time and umpires, we might as well use it.
b. Make a gentleman's agreement - let guys pitch or catch that normally don't get a chance, play positions you normally don't get to, have guys bat opposite handed, have a few players switch teams, etc.  Be creative and have fun with it - that’s what this league is about.  A 5 run limit is in effect for the remaining innings and no stealing is allowed.
c. If a game goes into extra innings, the last batted out will start on 2nd base in the extra innings.
d. Umpires are expected to stay until the end of each game according to league rules (including extra innings).