12U Baseball Rules

(Please note - The rules provided on this site are the exceptions to rules used by the MHSAA. Other than exceptions explicitly stated our leagues use the MHSAA High School Rules. The MHSAA uses the National Federation of State High School Associations baseball rules. )

1. Game balls: Home team supplies a minimum of 2 new game balls; they should be genuine or premium leather balls. (Rawlings, Diamond and Wilson are a few of the better name brands.)

2. Home Team: Home team is listed second on the schedule

3. Official Book: The home team is the official book but teams must communicate & cooperate on subs and the overall score. Both teams will submit the score to M-60 Diamonds after the game is complete.

4. Athlete Age: Ages are based on actual age on April 30 of current year. Players in 12U must be 12 or younger

5. Dugouts: the host team has choice of dugout.

1. Coach Communication: coaches are responsible to connect with each other prior to the away team traveling to the game 

2. Start Time: all games will start at 5:30pm for 12U

3. Length of games: 

   • REC: games will be 6 complete innings 

   • CLUB: games will be a double-header of two 5 inning games

4. Time Limit: 

   • REC: there will be a 2 hour time limit for games

   • CLUB (double-headers): there will be 1 hour 30 minutes time limit for games

5. Minimum Players to Start a Game: teams may start a game with a minimum of 8 players; the ninth spot in the batting order is an out as long as there are only 8 players playing. 

6. Batting Lineup

   • REC: Every player is allowed to bat. 

   • CLUB:  Preference is for teams to bat 9 or 10 players; the number of batters remains the same through the entire game.

7. Player Injury/Illness: If a player stops playing due to injury or illness EITHER: 

   • a bench player not in the lineup is substituted in, 

   • OR it will not be an out on offense and the player cannot return to the game.

8. Playing Time: Playing time is the coach’s discretion; it is encouraged that all players get some playing time

9. Complete Games: If cut short due to time limit, darkness or weather, games are considered complete with 4 full innings

10. Make-up Games: any make-up games are resumed where they left off. Number of pitching outs carries over. 

11. Mercy Rules:  

    • REC: 15 runs after three complete innings, 12 runs after four complete innings and 8 runs after five complete innings. 

    • CLUB: 15 runs after three complete innings and 10 after four complete innings

12. Run Limit: The most runs a team can score in any inning except the final inning is 7 runs in 12U

13. Last inning Scoring for Club Leagues only: teams may score unlimited runs in the final inning.

14. Ties: Regular season games may end in a tie at the end of regular play or due to a time limit

Offense

1. Courtesy Runner:  always allowed for a pitcher and/or catcher regardless of the number of outs. It must be a different player for the pitcher and catcher. If all players are batting then it should be the last or most recent out.

2. Substitutions: Teams can substitute players in and out on defense but cannot change the batting order.

3. Dropped Third Strike: a batter may attempt to advance to first base on a catcher's dropped or passed third strike

Defense

1. Defensive Play: there will only be 9 players in the field of play with a maximum of 3 players in the outfielders

2. Defensive Lineup: only players in the current batting lineup can play the field of play; if only 9 players are batting, the same 9 players must play in the field

3. Balks: warnings should be issued first with explanations for pitcher learning

4. Infield Fly: is in play

5. Substitutions: Teams can substitute players in and out on defense but cannot change the batting order.

6. Pitching: each pitcher gets 9 total outs per game, in any order

1. Field Dimensions:

   • Pitching Mound: 50 ft from home plate

   • Bases: 70 ft between bases

2. Bats: all bats are legal

3. Metal Cleats: may only be worn in 14U play

1. Behavior: Game play should be a positive learning experience for all players.  As such:

   • Positive team cheering is encouraged

   • Negative chatter or disruptive actions are discouraged 

   • Foul language is not appropriate or acceptable

2. Ejection of a player: If a player in the lineup is ejected:

   • His spot will remain in the lineup as an out.

   • He is ineligible for play the remainder of the day

3. Ejection of a coach: If a coach is ejected from a game, they are unable to coach the remainder of the day