LAS VEGAS – It’s time! After a long winter break the new season is underway and with that we will be seeing a few changes to the rules the most notable is that all games will be 6 innings and 6 players in the lineup and field.
SUMMARY OF PLW RULE CHANGES – 2022
Minimum six players per team. Maximum twelve players on roster.
1. If a team is unable to field 6 players due to extreme circumstances, the league office may grant an emergency authorization allowing a team to temporarily exceed the 12 player roster limit.
2.01 Regular season All games are five 6 innings in length. In case of a tie after five 6 complete innings, a maximum of two extra innings will be played, the game shall continue into extra innings until there is a winner.
1. The batter that made the last out of the previous inning is placed on second base to start extra innings.
2. Playoff games have no maximum innings.
2.04 Ten run mercy rule applies after two 3 complete innings.
3.07 In a 3-game series, a pitcher may appear (throw a pitch) in up to 9 regulation innings.
1. Extra innings DO not count towards a pitcher’s total.
2. EXCEPTION: If a pitcher starts a game with 0 innings pitched, and throws every pitch, he may continue in that game if it goes beyond 9 innings.
3.10 There are cones pylons placed by first and third base to determine fair / foul calls on ground balls. If a ground ball stays within the cones pylons, it is considered a fair ball. Any batted ball that hits the cone pylon, regardless of its trajectory, is ruled a foul ball. If the ball is touched by a fielder before hitting the cone pylon, it is still a live ball.
3.12 If a batter makes contact with the strike zone with his bat during a swing or check swing, it shall be ruled as a swing. Any ball put into play remains in play.
3.13 If a live ball goes into the pitcher’s bucket, fielders may take any ball out of the bucket to continue the play.
4.02 To record a ground out at first base, an infielder must hit the backstop, ꓘ zone, or batter (if standing in front of the backstop), with the ball (in the air) within five seconds of the batter making contact.
3. If a throw hits a monitor mounted on the backstop (in the air), it shall be ruled an out, regardless of where the ball ultimately lands.
4.04 With the bases loaded, an infielder may hit the ꓘ zone center panel of backstop (in the air) to record an out at home plate. If they tag another base first, and attempt a double play, the out at the plate is still recorded (tagged by the “catcher”). If a base is tagged first and a double play is attempted, the fielder must hit the ꓘ zone to record the out at the plate (tagged by the “catcher”).
4.07 If a runner is on third base with less than 2 outs, they may tag up and attempt to score on a fly out / line out.
1. If a fielder hits the backstop, the ꓘ zone, or the runner, (if the runner has passed the commit line) before the runner touches home plate, the runner is out.
4.10 Infielders may not intentionally use their feet to prevent the ball from reaching the fence. stop the ball in the infield.
1. If an infielder intentionally kicks the ball, or sticks their foot out to save a double stop the ball in the infield, it is ruled a clean single.
1. Runners in scoring position score.
4.11 Fielders IN THE OUTFIELD may use any part of their body to stop a ball WHILE ENGAGED IN A SLIDE.
1. Fielders MAY NOT intentionally use their feet (leg below the knee) to stop a ball if they are upright. If a fielder kicks the ball, or sticks out their foot to stop a ball while upright, it is ruled a clean double.
1. All runners score.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
• A 3-way (or more) tie in the standings shall now be settled by
1. Head-to-Head record
▪ It should be noted that Head-to-Head record can be used now that all teams in the PLW play an equal amount of games vs each opponent
2. Run Differential
3. Swing-off
• The Championship is now a best-of-5 games series to be held over two days.
