East County Little League Scorekeeper Clinic 3/10/2015

WELCOME Welcome to the Scorekeeper’s Clinic. Your record of the game helps us report accurate scores and resolve conflicts As the “Official Scorekeeper,” you should remain impartial. If you cheer, do it for both teams. Home team is responsible for Official Scorekeeper Visiting Team is responsible to keep pitch count

Some Do’s and Don’ts Show up 30 minutes before scheduled game time or let the Manager know if you will be running late. Remember you are a volunteer doing the League a service as best you can. Have fun. Always try to bring illegal substitutions (pitcher/player) to the attention of the Plate Umpire before the next pitch. Not your responsibility to notice, but always try to prevent an illegal substitution. Never identify “batting out of turn” to the umpire or anyone else. This is an appeal play, and is the responsibility of the managers. Don’t show or express favoritism, even though your son/daughter and/or spouse is on one of the teams. Cheering good plays is acceptable. Never publicly disagree with the umpires or offer your own opinion. Sit close to Home Plate but also where you can see the entire field. Communicate with the umpire so you understand substitutions, pitch calls, etc.

Setting Up: Checklist Bring pencils with you. Grab the scorebook from the snack shack for your division. Make yourself comfortable, games last +/- 2 hours. Get each team’s line up and starting pitcher, transfer to book as early as possible, preferably before the first pitch. The Plate Umpire & the Official Scorekeeper are a team. Be sure to introduce yourself. Don’t be afraid to talk to the Plate Umpire and ask for clarification on a call or ask him to repeat call on a pitch. The Plate Umpire has the final word on rule interpretation, including player eligibility, batting order, etc. Provide info, but do not publicly disagree. If a manager disagrees with a rule interpretation he can put the game under protest, before the next pitch or play. Write down as much information as you can; such as who was at bat, on base, inning and score. Game will continue. If the manager wins the protest the game will pick up again from the time of the call in question.

3) Substitutions 4) Batting Order Priorities Accuracy Score 2) Pitch Count 3) Substitutions 4) Batting Order If you need a moment for clarification, ask the umpire between innings, or if absolutely necessary, ask the ump for time between batters. Never interrupt live play. The umpire makes final determination as to whether a run counts or not. Legibility - Try to be as neat and legible as possible.

Fielding Positions 1 – Pitcher, 2 – Catcher, 3 – First base, 4 – Second Base, 5 – Third Base, 6 – Short Stop, 7 – Left Field, 8 – Center Field, 9 – Right Field, EH – Extra Hitter or SUB – Substitute

Scoring Basics Ways to Get on Base: Triple Single Double Walk (base on balls) Home-Run Home-Run Fielder’s Choice Intentional base on balls Hit-By-Pitch Error # (number of fielder that made error) in this case short stop made the error. Catcher’s Interference (rare) Ground-Rule Double

Scoring Basics Ways The Batter Makes an Out: Double-Play: SS-to-2B-to-1B Strike-out swinging Ground-out 1B or Strike-out looking Unassisted out 1st Fly-out Left or Strike-out swinging Out 3rd to 1st Infield Fly Rule

Scoring Basics Two Different types of scorebooks: (there are many more)

Scoring Basics Ways The Runner Makes an Out: Caught Stealing: Defensive Position Numbers Ways The Runner Makes an Out: Caught Stealing: Pitcher-to-3rd Force-out: Short-to-2B (Batter FC) Batter hits to 3rd, who throws to 1st Or front end of a double play

Substitutions & Batting Order The Plate Umpire & the Official Scorekeeper are a team. They alone maintain the active on-field rosters and batting order. The Plate Umpire has the final word. Advise, but do not publicly disagree. All substitutions must be announced by the manager first to the head umpire. The umpire then informs the Official Scorekeeper of the changes. In actual practice, managers may inform both at the same time—If the umpire allows.

Scoring Substitutions 􀂉 Draw a line between the last score box of the previous batter and the first score box of the pinch hitter 􀂉 Record the defensive position of the new player when he/she takes the field

Scoring Substitutions Defensive Substitutions: Draw a line between the last score box in which the player being removed played and the next score box where the new player is starting. Andrews Write a note if you need to

Recording Pitcher Substitution Pitcher Substitutions: Draw a box around the box of the batter the new pitcher will face. Start a new pitch count for the new pitcher. Write a note if you need to Maddox Clemens 26/52 Maddox 11 Record pitch counts at bottom of column

Playing Time Every player on a team roster will participate in each regular season game for a minimum of six (6) defensive outs and bat at least one (1) time. Exceptions: The game is shortened for any reason (rain, 10-run rule, etc.). Violations: Record the violation clearly in the book & alert the Plate Umpire after the game. During TOCs and All-Star tournaments, the rule will be (3) Defensive outs and bat at least one (1) time.

Playing Time A starter can come out of the game at any time. But, can only re-enter the game after his/her substitute has completed six (6) consecutive outs and (1) one time at bat. Regular season: Any spot in the line up. Tournament: Same spot in the line up. (subs can re-enter). A substitute cannot re-enter the game.

Playing Time Continuous Batting Order: Every player on the bench is in the batting order. Late arrivals are placed at the end of the batting order (If the manager chooses to play them). Player rotate in and out defensively. Manager must make sure every player plays for at least six (6) outs.

Uh Oh. . . . There’s A Dispute Official Scorekeeper’s record trumps all other’s except the Plate Umpire (e.g., substitutions). Official Pitch Count record is the official record. It doesn’t matter if a manager’s, coach’s, or parent’s totals are different than yours! This is why it is important to pay attention and have no distractions during the game. Advise and provide information. Do not offer opinion. . . Try to leave it to the umps and the coaches.

Pitching

Softball Pitching California District Four Softball Little League Pitching Rules for interleague play: Maximum number of innings a pitcher may pitch in any 1 game: Minor (AAA-AA) 3 * No rest is required to pitch again. Major 12 (one day rest is required if more than 6 innings is pitched) Senior 12* No rest is required to pitch again. *Regular season only. The TOC is an extension of regular season. Maximum numbers of innings per week: Minor 3 in every game up to 21 per week. Major No limit. Restricted by days rest as noted above. Senior No limit. .

Softball Pitching Innings a pitcher can pitch in back to back games*: First Game: Second Game: AA/AAA Minor 1-3 1-3 Major Less than 4 up to 12 Major 4 or more- No more than 4 (provided rest period is observed) Senior Less than 5 Up to 12 Senior 5 or more No more than 5 *Regular season only. The TOC is an extension of regular season. This applies to any 2 played games back to back no matter how many days in between games. If games are played on successive days the rest rule does apply

Baseball Pitch Count Rule 11 or 12 year old pitchers are limited to a maximum of 85 pitches per day and one game per day. 9 or 10 year olds and under are limited to a maximum of 75 pitches per day and one game per day. 7 or 8 year olds are limited to a maximum of 50 pitches per day. 13 thru 16 - 95 pitches per day. 17 and 18 - 105 pitches per day. When a pitcher reaches ~ 80 (or ~ 70-45) pitches, inform the Plate Umpire before the next batter. If a pitcher reaches the limit while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until that batter reaches base or is put out or a third out is made. If the pitcher reaches the limit on his/her last pitch to a particular batter, the pitcher must be removed before delivering a pitch to the next batter

Saturday S S f f K B H B B B W 3/3 Timmy Jones 11 Dodgers

Recording Pitcher Substitution Days rest and Pitch Again columns can be done at the end of the game.

Shutting Down Checklist Tally-up and cross-check the totals. Clearly indicate the final score and the winner/loser. Clearly indicate the pitch count totals per pitcher. Clearly indicate the number of pitches pitched per pitcher, Number of days rest required by each pitcher and the date they are eligible to pitch again. Clean up your garbage and leave the area clean. Give the scorebook and the Pitch Count Log to the Snack Shack or Board Member on Duty.