BASEBALL

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Baseball is a state championship event in each classification, and schools are aligned on a regional basis.
2. All games will be played by the rules published by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
3. The maximum number of games allowed (not including state playoffs) is thirty (30). This limit of 30 games includes any region tournament games. Beginning and ending dates for practice and competition can be found at the front of this publication.
4. A school shall not allow its baseball team to engage in an interscholastic practice and/or scrimmage game, except for one (1) interscholastic scrimmage consisting of a 7-inning game using a “free substitution” format and umpires registered with the GHSA.
5. All varsity baseball games shall be played with officially-dressed officials who are registered under the GHSA plan for the registration of officials.
   1. The assignment of officials for regular-season games, invitational tournaments, and any sub-region or region playoffs allowed in the 30-game limit will be made by the GHSA office.
      
      1. The GHSA will assign one or more associations to each school for their games.
      2. The school and the local association(s) will sign a contract for the games that are assigned.
   2. In accordance with By-Law 2.71-c, the host school has the responsibility of providing security escorts for umpires at all regular-season and post-season games.
6. The following items allowed in the NFHS rule book as “State Adoptions” have been adopted by the GHSA:
   
   1. A game will end anytime that a team is 10 or more runs behind and has completed five or more turns at bat. A game will end anytime that a team is 15 or more runs behind and has completed three or more turns at bat.
   2. The suspended game rule will be used:
      
      1. When a game is stopped before it becomes a legal game (4.5 or 5 innings), it is considered “no contest” and any replay will begin from the first inning.
      2. When a game is stopped after it becomes a legal game and a winner can be determined, it is a completed game.
      3. When a game is stopped after it becomes a legal game and a winner can not be determined, any replay will begin from the point of interruption.
      4. In any terminated game, accumulated pitches will count.
   3. The use of the “courtesy runner” is the only “speed-up rule” that has been adopted. Being a courtesy runner does not count as a game played.
   4. Sub-varsity teams have the option of using free substitution and a batting order of ten (10) players if agreed upon by both coaches before the game. Lineup cards must be presented to the umpire at the plate meeting and the batting order shall remain the same throughout the game.
7. The following interpretations have been approved by the GHSA.
   
   1. Termination of the game due to weather, unplayable conditions, or mechanical malfunctions:
      
      1. The umpires may halt play for up to two hours when conditions do not allow play to continue.
         
         1. The two-hour interruption(s) is cumulative
         2. The game must be terminated when the two-hour time has elapsed. If the first game of a doubleheader is terminated, the second game will be postponed.
         3. The two-hour period does not include time needed to prepare the field for the resumption of play.
      2. Umpires must wait for at least thirty (30) minutes before terminating a game for unplayable field conditions.
   2. Pitching restrictions:
      
      1. Regular Season Maximum Pitches in One Day: Varsity 110; sub-varsity 90.
      2. Regular Season Required Rest Periods:
         

         Varsity		Sub-Varsity
         1-40 Pitches	0 Days	1-30 Pitches	0 Days
         41-60 Pitches	1 Day	31-44 Pitches	1 Day
         61-85 Pitches	2 Days	45-64 Pitches	2 Days
         86-110 Pitches	3 Days	65-90 Pitches	3 Days

         NOTE: During the Regular Season, a pitcher shall not throw more than 110 pitches (90 for sub-varsity) cumulative over a two-day period and cannot pitch more than two consecutive days. The rest period is based on the total pitches thrown during a given two-day period. Pitches thrown during a game that was suspended or rained out shall be counted towards any pitching restriction thresholds.

      3. State Tournament - During the State Tournament, no pitcher shall be allowed to throw more than 120 pitches over a three-game series. The “Required Rest Period” chart does not apply.
      4. A pitcher at any level (varsity or sub-varsity) shall be allowed to finish the batter when the maximum pitch count limit is reached during an at-bat, but must be replaced immediately when that at-bat ends.
      5. A “Day of Rest” is defined as a calendar day. Example: a varsity level pitcher who reaches the 110-pitch limit on a Tuesday would not be allowed to pitch again until Saturday.
      6. Tabulation of Pitch Counts - It will be the responsibility of each team to track their own pitch counts throughout the game. And at the conclusion of the game, the head coaches shall meet to approve and agree upon the respective pitch counts for each team. It will then be the responsibility of the home team head coach to enter the agreed-upon numbers into the “PitchKount” electronic tabulation program.
      7. In games versus non-GHSA member schools, the GHSA pitching restrictions shall be adhered to, regardless of the pitch count policy of the host school affiliation or state association. When playing non-GHSA or out of state, it is the GHSA member school’s responsibility to report the pitch count information in PitchKount.
      8. If a school is found to have violated any of the provisions of this policy, the offending school shall be fined $250.00 and the head coach at that level assessed a two-game suspension, and the game forfeited. Any subsequent violation during the same season will result in penalties being doubled and the head coach being required to meet with the Executive Director prior to being reinstated to coach.
8. he use of WBGT for ALL Contests is mandated as follows:
   1. WBGT must be measured 15 minutes prior to start of contest, coaches and umpires must be notified.
   2. If WBGT is equal or above 86.0 F, an ice immersion tub must be present and ready for use.
   3. If WBGT is equal or above 88.0 F, Umpires will take a 3-minute hydration break at the beginning and mid-point of inning 3 and continuing until the conclusion of the game.
9. Contracts are required for all regular-season and playoff contests. Contracted games can not be canceled for any reason other than weather/playing conditions without the approval of the GHSA office. NOTE: When rescheduling, region games take priority.
10. Schools must enter team schedules, rosters and weekly game/meet results during the season on MaxPreps and be responsible for updates as needed. This information will support statewide media, event programs, broadcasts partners and GHSA Region Standings. Teams are encouraged to maintain team/individual statistics on MaxPreps.

STATE PLAYOFFS:

1. Four teams from each region will advance to the state playoffs. Regions must determine their four winners within the 30-game playing limit.
2. When a region does not have a tie-breaker method in place, the following procedure will be used for seeding purposes:
   1. Percentage of head-to-head wins against tied teams
   2. Least number of runs allowed between tied teams
   3. Least number of runs allowed in overall region play
   4. Mini-game of five (5) innings
   5. In any step of the tie-breaking process if a tie involving more than two teams is broken so that all ties are broken, that step determines the placements. If two teams remain tied after a step is completed, revert back to head-to-head record to break the tie. If the tie cannot be broken, move to the next step.
3. All rounds of the state playoff involve a best two-of-three series.
   1. The higher seeded team, or the team designated as the host team by the Universal Coin Flip (if the teams are equal seeds), will host all three games.
   2. A doubleheader is required on the first day of each round of the playoff series.
   3. The host team will be the home team in the first game, and the visiting team will be the home team in the second game. The higher-seeded team will be the home team for a third game, or a coin flip will determine home team if both teams are equal seeds.
   4. The responsibilities of the host team are to:
      
      1. furnish game balls beyond those furnished by the GHSA
      2. notify the GHSA office as to the arrangements for the series
   5. In the event that two schools involved can not agree on the arrangements for the series (dates, times, etc.), the GHSA Executive Director will make a ruling to cover the situation.
   6. In the event that a State Playoff game is suspended prior to becoming a legal game, or if it is suspended after becoming a legal game without a winner being able to be determined, it shall resume from the point of interruption on the next available date. If that date can not be agreed upon by the competing schools, the GHSA Executive Director shall determine the playing date. If a State Playoff games is suspended at a point where a winner can be determined, it shall be considered an official game.
4. The play windows for the State Tournament are listed in the Beginning and Ending Dates published at the beginning of the Constitution. In all cases, the first date of the play window will be a doubleheader, followed by the “if” game on the second date.
5. The finances for the state playoffs are as follows:
   1. Admission fees must be charged for all post-season games: $12 for doubleheaders and $10 for single games.
   2. Total gate receipts include all ticket sales and radio/television payments (see fees in Broadcast section 2.80).
      
      1. The fee for a radio broadcast is paid to the host school prior to the game and is added into the gate receipts.
      2. Television contracts are negotiated by the GHSA Executive Director.
      3. Money from concessions and program sales are not part of the gate receipts.
   3. The process of dealing with finances is handled as follows:
      
      1. Twelve percent (12%) of the gross receipts will be paid to the GHSA.
      2. The umpires will be paid out of gross receipts.NOTE: If the gross receipts are not sufficient to pay the umpires, the host school will pay that cost.
      3. The remaining balance is to be divided with 50% of the proceeds going to the visiting team and 50% to the host team.
         
         1. The visiting team shall be paid $.80 per mile (one way) for travel.
         2. The host team is responsible for paying local service charges, stadium charges, operating expenses, personnel costs, etc., out of their 50% share.
         3. Admission fee for State Championship Series at a neutral site will be posted on the GHSA web site.
   4. At neutral-site games, each participating team is allowed free admission for a maximum of 25 players and team essential personnel. Coaches will be admitted with a GHSA coaching pass.