RELEASED ON JANUARY 13TH, 2026
Previous Version: 2024-2025 Baseball Rules
10.2.1 General Guidelines
- 10.2.1-1 If a rule in the sport of baseball is not specifically addressed or contained herein, NFHS (“Federation”) rules shall be applied.
- 10.2.1-1.1 DIAA, Little League, and/or USA Baseball guidelines may be referred to and applied in certain situations when deemed appropriate.
- 10.2.1-1.2 No coach or coordinator at the affiliate level shall alter, revise, or change any rules prior to, during, or after the conclusion of competition.
- 10.2.1-2 The CYM Sports Coordinator and CYM Baseball Coordinator are the lead rules interpreter for the sport of basketball within CYM Sports programming.
- 10.2.1-2.1 Interpretation of all CYM Sports rulings and governing rules for the sport of baseball will be declared final by the CYM Sports Coordinator.
- 10.2.1-3 The CYM Baseball Coordinator is the lead representative and organizer for the sport of basketball within CYM Sports programming.
- 10.2.1-4 The Baseball Ambassador is the lead advocate for all affiliate coaches within CYM Sports programming.
- 10.2.1-4.1 Head Coaches may suggest rule changes to the Baseball Ambassador or CYM Baseball Coordinator prior to or after season.
10.2.2 Administration of Baseball
- 10.2.2-1 A team registration should consist of 11 participants in order to compete in CYM Sports Basketball.
- 10.2.2-1.1 A team may register less than 11, provided they meet the minimum + 1 required to field a team on the field or a second team is formed to compete in competition. Teams should also take into consideration pitchers required and pitch counts when forming a program.
- 10.2.2-1.2 The Office will not reschedule due to shortage of players on a team, and will result in an administrative forfeit if a team lacks the required, registered players for the game.
- 10.2.2-1.3 Any game that is forfeited due to lack of players and/or coaches where officials show up to officiate will result in a financial charge to that parish/school equal to the cost of the officials and is subject to addition penalties included, but not limited to facility fees.
- 10.2.2-1.4 Forfeited games will not be made up.
- 10.2.2-2 Teams are placed in divisions in accordance with section 10.1.3 Divisional Guidelines.
- 10.2.2-3 Team Submission and Location Availability/Parish Conflicts are released on February 1st of each year for administrators.
- 10.2.2-3.1 The deadline to submit all forms is March 1st.
- 10.2.2-3.2 CYM reserves the right to move forward without an affiliated program, once the deadline has passed to submit forms.
- 10.2.2-3.3 All conflicts, including those of the coach and team, must be placed on the conflict sheets. Once the conflicts are placed, games will not be adjusted unless it follows 10.1.2 League Guidelines.
- 10.2.2-4 Games will begin for all divisions on the final weekend of March or first weekend of April, whichever is earlier and facilities are available.
- 10.2.2-4.1 Games will play through to Holy Week, and pause beginning on Holy Wednesday. No games or CYM activities may be conducted during the Catholic Triduum.
- 10.2.2-4.2 Games will not be played between Memorial Day Weekend, between Thursday to Monday.
- 10.2.2-4-3 All games must conclude by the first Friday of June.
- 10.2.2-5 Playoffs will begin in the middle of May for divisions offering postseason competition, and end prior to Memorial Day weekend. In the event of weather-related events pushing the schedule back, postseason may extend past Memorial Day.
- 10.2.2-5.1 A team must compete in a minimum of 7 games in order to participate in postseason activities.
- 10.2.2-5.1 In the event that a team(s) have an unbalanced amount of games played, the first eight will be considered for standings.
- 10.2.2-6 Each team should plan for nine games; however, the office reserves the right to reduce games based on the availability of facilities.
- 10.2.2-6.1 The amount of games for the season is ultimately determined by the CYM Sports Coordinator and the Office.
- 10.2.2-7 No coach, parent, or coordinator is authorized to change a game without the expressed written consent of the CYM Office and the appropriate CYM Basketball Coordinator.
10.2.3 Equipment
- 10.2.3-1 All divisions will use a “Babe Ruth” or “Senior League” baseball of any brand.
- 10.2.3-1.1 Each team will supply two game balls per game.
- 10.2.3-2 All divisions must use baseball bats approved by NFHS (up to a -3) and have BBCOR seal label visible.
- 10.2.3-3 All catchers must wear a mask with throat protector, chest protector, head protector, protective cup and shin guards.
- 10.2.3-3.1 Catchers may elect to wear hockey-style mask that meets NOSCHE requirements.
- 10.2.3-3 The home team must provide bases for games, including neutral site locations.
- 10.2.3-4 The visiting team will provide a scoreboard operator if available at the facility, provided the host facility or gym does not provide one.
- 10.2.3-5 Uniforms must fall in accordance with 10.1.7 Uniform Guidelines.
- 10.2.3-6 Players may not wear any jewelry, including earrings during games.
- 10.2.3-7 Teams must bring their own practice balls for games, including when playing at neutral locations.
10.2.4 General Game Regulations
- 10.2.4-1 Game Length: The duration and length of games are set by the Office for Catholic Youth, Young Adult, and Family Ministry, in consultation with CYM Coordinators, Athletic Advisory Committee and facility availability in the present-day landscape of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.
- 10.2.4-1.1 All games in the Diocesan Catholic League will consist of 7 innings, including playoffs.
- 10.2.4-1.2 All games in subsequent leagues will consist of 6 innings, including playoffs.
- 10.2.4-2 Stopped Games: any game stopped due to weather, darkness, or permit expiration will be considered complete if four (4) full innings were played, or if 3 1/2 innings were played and the home team is ahead.
- 10.2.4-2.1 If fewer innings were played, the game will be considered a suspended game, and will be played from the point where the game stopped at the next schedule game of both teams. If this is the final game of the regular season, the game will be abandoned and follow 10.2.2 Administration of Baseball procedures for determining postseason.
- 10.2.4-2.2 All stopped games should be emailed by both coaches to the CYM Sports Office and CYM Baseball Coordinator with the inning that the game stopped, how many outs, how many on base, and the pitcher (pitch count) and batter.
- 10.2.4-2.3 Coaches for both teams are to have the umpire sign their scorebooks noting the point and reason the game was stopped.
- 10.2.4-3 Re-entry Rule: a starting player may be withdrawn and then re-enter a game.
- 10.2.4-3.1 Any player re-entering a game must occupy the same position in the batting order upon return.
- 10.2.4-3.2 A substitute who is withdrawn may not re-enter the game.
- 10.2.4-3.3 If a starting pitcher is replaced using a designated hitter (DH) or base runner (Courtesy Runner), he may re-enter the game immediately as a pitcher.
10.2.5 Postseason & Championships
- 10.2.5-1 Postseason will be held for all varsity baseball divisions.
- 10.2.5-2 Postseason will be single elimination in the boys’ varsity divisions.
- 10.2.5-3 CYM has the sole discretion to move a team from their regular season division, and place them in a different bracket for postseason.
- 10.2.5-3.1 A point system is utilized to determine seeding for postseason in these cases.
10.2.6 Mercy Rule
- 10.2.6-1 If a team, in the Diocesan Catholic League, has a 10-run lead at the completion of five (5) innings, the game will be considered complete.
- 10.2.6-1.1 If a team in any subsequent varsity divisions, has a 10-run lead at the completion of four (4) innings, the game will be considered complete.
10.2.7 Batting Regulations
- 10.2.7-1 Once a batting order is established, it will not change.
- 10.2.7-1.1 Excluding Diocesan Catholic League, there is a limit of ten (10) batters per inning.
- 10.2.7-2 Use of designated hitter, or DH, is optional for each team.
- 10.2.7-2.1 The decision to use a designated hitter must be made prior to the start of the game. Once the first pitch is thrown, the designated hitter is locked in or out of the line-up.
- 10.2.7-2.2 The designated hitter bats for a player in the field, and eliminates the field players ability to bat.
- 10.2.7-3 Use of extra batter, as a 10th player, is optional for each team.
- 10.2.7-3.1 If an extra batter is utilized, the re-entry rule under 10.2.4 General Game Regulations will apply to this player.
- 10.2.7-3.2 Once the decision to use or not use an extra batter is made, it applies for the entire game.
- 10.2.7-4 A courtesy runner is optional for a pitcher or catcher only at any point of the game while batting.
- 10.2.7-4.1 The courtesy runner must be a player on the bench who is currently not in the game.
- 10.2.7-4.2 In the event a team is using all available players in a game with no substitutes, the player that made the last out may be used as the courtesy runner.
- 10.2.7-4.3 The same courtesy runner may be used more than once in a game, and in the same inning.
10.2.8 Pitching Regulations
- 10.2.8-1 CYM Baseball coaches are responsible for ensuring safety and well-being of all participants, including pitchers and their pitch counts.
- 10.2.8-1.1 Head Coaches are responsible for working together after each half inning to agree on a pitch count for all pitchers in that half inning.
- 10.2.8-2 CYM Baseball coaches are responsible for keeping an accurate record of pitch counts for both teams.
- 10.2.8-2.1 The CYM Sports Office will not keep record of pitch counts for games, beginning in March of 2026.
- 10.2.8-2.2 The CYM Sports Office may request, at any point of the season, records for team pitchers and pitch counts, and/or pitch summaries from game(s).
- 10.2.8-3 CYM Sports follows guidelines for youth and adolescent pitchers as recommended by “Pitch Smart, USA Baseball”.
- 10.2.8-3.1 It is ultimately the responsibility of the parent and athlete to ensure that the player follows the guidelines for his age group over the course of a year, even if oftentimes playing in multiple leagues, and communicate the need for pitching rest with coach.
- 10.2.8-3.2 CYM Sports Office and/or Baseball Coordinator may restrict a pitchers participation, if seen as a detriment to the safety of the participant.
- 10.2.8-3.3 CYM Sports Office and/or Baseball Coordinator may sanction, discipline coaches who are not in compliance of pitch-count guidelines, including but not limiting to suspensions, forfeitures, ineligibility for playoffs, or the vacate of championship.
- 10.2.8-3.4 A game in which an ineligible pitcher is used will be considered a forfeit.
| Pitch Rest | Maximum Pitches |
| 0 Days | 1-30 Pitches |
| 1 Day | 31-45 Pitches |
| 2 Days | 46-60 Pitches |
| 3 Days | 61-75 Pitches |
| 4 Days | More than 75 Pitches |
- 10.2.8-4 All pitchers who are 13, 14 or 15 years of age (As of 4/1/2026) are restricted to a maximum of 100 pitches, no exceptions. All pitchers who are under 13 years of age (As of 4/1/2026) are restricted to a maximum of 90 pitches, no exceptions.
- 10.2.8-4.1 If a pitcher reaches his limit during an at-bat, the pitcher may complete the at-bat before being replacing.
10.2.9 Misc. Related Policies
- 10.2.9-1 Metal cleats are permitted.
- 10.2.9-1.1 If a game is scheduled for a location with a turf field, athletes may be required to use alternative footwear, including soft cleats, turf shoes or sneakers. It is the responsibility of coaches to review those policies. (ie. Salesianum Baseball Turf Policies)
- 10.2.9-2 Players who are waiting on-deck or coaching a base must wear batting helmets.
- 10.2.9-3 Infield conferences should be reviewed with the umpire prior to the start of a game.