Baseball State Tournament Information The IHSAA does not currently sponsor the state baseball tournaments or provide information about this state tournament on our web site. Please visit www.IdahoSports.com for tournament brackets. Umpires Approved officials must be used for all interschool contests. Two umpires should be used at all games. Both must be certified. Game Limitations No team or individual shall play more than 24 dates and may not exceed 24 games for the regular season. A contestant who exceeds the limitations of regular season participation will become ineligible for district, state or any other additional IHSAA sponsored competition of that sport. Rules All contests will be played under National Federation rules. Rule books and case books are to be picked up and signed for by the school representative at the district rules clinic. Baseball Rules Modifications The National Federation of the State High School Associations Baseball Rules are the official rules for Idaho high school baseball games, except as modified by the Board of Directors. The following modifications have been approved and must be observed: 1. All varsity games must be seven innings. A game shall end any time after the fifth inning when a team is 10 or more runs behind and has completed its turn at bat. Games may also be shortened by following procedures outlined by National Federation Rule 4-2-4. 2. If weather or darkness causes a tied game to be called, such game shall be considered a suspended game and shall be continued from the point of suspension at a later time. a. If a game is called before five full innings have been played and the score is not tied, such game shall also be considered a suspended game, unless the home team has scored a greater number of runs in four or four and fraction turns at bat than the visiting team has scored in five terms at bat, in which case it is a regulation game. If a game is called after play has gone beyond five full innings, the score is not tied, and the teams have had an equal number of completed turns at bat, it is a regulation game. The final score shall be recorded when the game is called. Pitching Rules A pitcher shall not be permitted to pitch more than a total of seven innings in: (a) one game, (b) in two games the same day, or (c) a total of two games on two consecutive days. In (a), (b), and (c), if the player is the pitcher at the end of the seventh inning in a tie game, he may pitch a total of nine innings. A player who has pitched (a) a full game, (b) in two games the same day, or (c) a total of two on two consecutive days, must have a full calendar day of rest before pitching again. E.g., A player who pitches a full game on Thursday afternoon the 10th may pitch again Saturday morning the 12th. A player who has pitched nine innings due to a tie, must have a full calendar day and one-half of rest before pitching again. E.g., A player who pitches a nine inning ball game on Thursday afternoon the 10th may pitch again Saturday afternoon the 12th. A Pitcher will be credited with one inning pitched: — When the pitcher appears in said inning and delivers a pitched ball to the batter. — When the pitcher appears in said inning and an out is recorded to the opponent. — When the pitcher appears in said inning, assumes a position at the pitchers plate and attempts to throw out a base runner. The Idaho pitching rules must be observed by Idaho teams even when playing in other states. Speed-up Rules The IHSAA Board of Directors has approved the use of the courtesy runner speed-up rule for those leagues or districts that wish to adopt the rule. In inter-leagues or inter-district competition, both teams must agree to allow the speed-up rule before it may be used. 1. The team at bat may use courtesy runners for the pitcher and the catcher as soon as they get on base. The same runner may not be used for both positions. Neither the pitcher nor the catcher will be required to leave the game under such circumstances. 2. Players who have participated in the game in any other capacity are ineligible to serve as courtesy runners. 3. A player may not run as a courtesy runner for the pitcher or the catcher and then be used as a runner or batter for another player in that inning. 4. For illegal substitution of a courtesy runner, such substitutes shall be disqualified for the duration of the game. State Tournament The IHSAA does not sponsor an official state baseball tournament.