GAME RULES & INFO

GENERAL NOTES FOR PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

Games must be played until completion

• 11U: Games will be deemed complete if the home team is leading after 5 1/2 innings or either team is leading after 6 complete innings or the game is complete based on the Mercy Rule.

• 13U, 15U, 18U: Games will be deemed complete of the home team is leading after 6 1/2 innings or either team is leading after 7 complete innings or game is complete based on the Mercy Rule.

• Games not complete (due to weather/darkness) must be suspended from the point of stoppage and then re-started from that point at the next possible time.

• All games must be completed even if the run differential exceeds the inning run limit rule.  For example in 11U A and 13U A, if the visiting team is still required to take their offensive inning in the bottom half of the inning due to the possibilities of tie breakers coming into effect for either team.

• The courtesy runner for the catcher rule is not permitted at any level of Provincial Championships.

Inning Run Limit Rule

• 11U A & 13U A = Maximum of 5 runs/half inning, once the 5th run of a half inning is scored, the inning automatically stops no matter how many outs there are and that half inning is over.

• 15U A & 18U A = Maximum of 7 runs/half inning, once the 7th run of a half inning is scored, the inning automatically stops no matter how many outs there are and that half inning is over.

• 11U AA, 13U AA, 13U AAA, 15U AA, 15U AAA, 18U AA, 18U AAA & BAEL = No inning run limit rule for Provincial Championships.

Mercy Rule

• 11U A & 11U AA = rule is in effect when there is a 10 run differential and the losing team has completed their 4th offensive inning/ at bat.

• 13U A, 13U AA, 13U AAA, 15U A, 15U AA, 15U AAA, 18U A, 18U AA, 18U AAA & BAEL = rule is in effect when there is a 10 run differential and the losing team has completed their 5th offensive inning/at bat.

Time Limit

• All 'A' age categories (League Play & Provincial Championships) = 2 hours and 15 minutes

• 13U, 15U & 18U 'AA' Tier 2+ (League Play & Provincial Championships) = 2 hours and 15 minutes

• 13U, 15U & 18U 'AA' Tier 1 (League Play & Provincial Championships)

  • All Rounds of League Play - 2 hours and 15 minutes

  • Provincial Championships - No Game Time Limit

• Senior, 22U, BAEL and 'AAA'

  • No Game Time Limit

Extra Inning Game Procedures - 13U to 18U Categories 

If the game is tied at the completion of regulation (7 innings), the following procedures will be implemented during extra innings: Each team will begin the extra inning (and any subsequent necessary extra innings) with a base runner on first and second, no outs. (See example below to confirm who is on first and second)

The batting order of the extra inning or any subsequent innings will be determined by how the previous inning ended. (see example below to confirm who is at bat)

The traditional system of the visiting team hitting in the top of the inning and the home team hitting in the bottom of the inning will remain in effect until a winner is determined.

Example: If the last regulation inning ends with the #6 hitter having the last plate appearance, then the extra inning begins with the #7 hitter at bat, and the #5 hitter at second base and the #6 hitter at first base. With the exception of beginning the inning with runners on first and second base with no one out, all other League Rules and Baseball Canada rules will remain in effect during extra innings required to determine a winner.

*This rule will be applied to all Baseball Alberta League Games and the Round Robin portion of the Provincial Championships. Normal innings will proceed for all tie breaker games and playoff bracket games in Provincials. (Tiebreakers, Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Finals.)

Weather/Darkness

Games should only be suspended for weather if the field is unplayable or it is unsafe to play due to the conditions. If games must be suspended due to poor weather, the schedule will remain the same and start times will be pushed back.

If a game has already started and is delayed due to weather conditions, the game will be continued from the point of delay once the weather subsides.

If a game is delayed due to darkness, the game will continue first thing in the morning before any other games are played.

PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

Baseball Alberta will cover all umpire travel and accommodation expenses for all Provincial Championships. All teams, including the host, will be responsible for paying half of the umpire game fees in games in which they participate. If a 3-man umpire system is used, each team will be responsible for 1 1⁄2 umpire game fees per game played.

For the BAEL Provincial Championship will consist of a maximum of ten (10) teams with all 8 teams from the BAEL competing at the BAEL Provincial Championship as well as the 18U AAA League Regular Season Winner awarded the 9th seed and the 18U AAA Provincial Champion awarded the 10th seed. In the event that the 18U AAA League Regular Season Winner and the 18U AAA Provincial Champion are the same team, the 18U AAA Provincial Championship Finalist was be awarded the 10th seed. 

The 18U 'AAA' Provincial Championship will consist of a maximum of ten (10) teams Including the the 18U AAA League Regular Season Winner. 

For the 13U and 15U ‘AAA’ Divisions, the top 4, 5, 6, or 8 teams (depending on the number of teams registered) will compete at the Provincial Championship. The number of teams in the Tier I Provincial Championship and the Tier II Provincial Championship depends on the number of teams registered in that division/category; see League Objectives.

For the ‘AA’ Divisions, Provincial Championships will consist of 4, 5, 6, or 8 teams, depending on the number of teams in each tier. 

For the ‘A’ Divisions, Provincial Championships will consist of 4, 5, 6, or 8 teams, depending on the number of teams in each tier. 

Any team failing to appear at any Baseball Alberta Provincial tournament game will be removed from the tournament and forfeit all games, even those already completed. Baseball Alberta reserves the right to enforce this decision based on the circumstances surrounding the reasons for missing the game.

Any team failing to be present at the Opening Ceremonies at any Provincial Championship without approval from the Host Committee and Baseball Alberta may be subject to additional discipline upon review by Baseball Alberta.

Four-team Championships will be a round-robin with the top 2 teams playing in the final. If the first-place team is undefeated after the round-robin portion of the Championship, that team must be beaten twice ('AAA' only).

Five-team Championship draws will be a Round Robin format. The schedule will be based on distances from the host site. Each team is guaranteed 4 games; the top two teams after Round Robin will compete in the Championship game if there are no tiebreakers. If the first-place team is undefeated after the round-robin portion of the Championship, that team must be beaten twice ('AAA' only).

Six-team Championship draws will utilize two pools based on final rankings with a round-robin in each pool and cross-over semi-finals. Winners of the semi-finals will play in the Provincial Championship game. Each team will be guaranteed 3 games in the Provincial Championship weekends (3rd place teams in the six-team Championships will play a consolation game unless both teams are involved in a tiebreaker game). Monday will be utilized in case of poor weather. Teams will flip for the choice of Home or Visitor in the Championship Game.

Eight-team Championship draws require two diamonds. There will be two pools based on final rankings (Pool A – 1st, 4th, 5th, and 8th seeds; Pool B – 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th seeds). After Round Robin play within each pool, the semi-finals will consist of the 1st place team out of Pool A playing the 2nd place team out of Pool B, while the second-place team out of Pool A will play the 1st place team in Pool B. Winners of the semi-final compete in the Championship game. Teams will flip for the choice of Home or Visitor in the Championship Game.

Ten-team Championship draws require two diamonds. There will be two pools based on final rankings (Pool A – 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th and 10th seeds; Pool B – 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th and 9th seeds). After Round Robin play within each pool, the semi-finals will consist of the 1st place team out of Pool A playing the 2nd place team out of Pool B, while the second-place team out of Pool A will play the 1st place team in Pool B. Winners of the semi-final compete in the Championship game. Teams will flip for the choice of Home or Visitor in the Championship Game.

Championship tournaments of more than 8 teams will require 2 diamonds and will be seeded and scheduled by Baseball Alberta using National Championship guidelines.

If a host centre wishes to change the provincial championship draw for any reason (opening ceremonies, etc.), the request must be submitted in writing to the Baseball Alberta office before July 15th.

Admission Fees for Provincial Championships – No admission fees are permitted without written permission from Baseball Alberta.

TIEBREAKERS

Tie Breakers For Provincial Championships

The following order will be utilized to rank teams and break ties following Provincial Championship play (once a team is removed from a tie, the remaining teams will continue from that point forward through the remainder of the rules to break any remaining ties):

1. Winning Percentage (per Round(s) of Play or Round Robin portion of Championship)

2. Head-to-Head Game(s) Result (between tied teams)

3. Runs Formula from Games Between Tied Teams (Total Runs For Divided by Offensive Outs Minus Total Runs Against Divided by Defensive Outs)

4. Defensive Runs Formula from Games Between Tied Teams (Total Runs Against Divided by Defensive Outs)

5. Runs Formula from All Games in Round(s)

6. Defensive Runs Formula from All Games in Round(s)

The Baseball Alberta Tie Breaker Guidelines will now be applied as follows:

 All 'AAA' and 13U, 15U & 18U 'AA' Tier 1

• Two Way Tie for First Place - Head to head record between the two teams will be used to determine 1st and 2nd place.

• Two Way Tie for Second Place - Tie Break Game between the two tied teams to determine 2nd place.

• Three Way Tie for First Place - The Tie Break Guidelines will be used to determine the 1st place team, the remaining two teams that are tied will play a Tie Break Game to determine 2nd place.

• Three Way Tie for Second Place - The Tie Break Guidelines will be used to determine the 4th place team to eliminate them, the remaining two teams that are tied will play a Tie Break Game to determine 2nd place.

All 'A', 11U 'AA' All Tiers and 13U, 15U & 18U 'AA' Tier 2+

• Two Way Tie for First Place - Head to Head record between the two teams will be used to determine 1st and 2nd place.

• Two Way Tie for Second Place - Head to Head record between the two teams will be used to determine 1st and 2nd place. There will be no Tie Break Game.

• Three Way Tie for First Place - The Tie Break Guidelines will be used to determine the 1st place team, the remaining two teams that are tied will have their Head to Head record between the two teams used to determine 2nd place. There will be no Tie Break Game.

• Three Way Tie for Second Place - The Tie Break Guidelines will be used to determine the 2nd place team. There will be no Tie Break Game.