FirstSwing 2015 ALL-STAR TUNE-UP

JUNE 19-21, 2015

		Four game guarantee Eight teams max in each division
		Games start on Friday afternoon Final games on Sunday morning
Get essential game experience for your 9/10, 10/11, and Little League All-Star teams before their District tournaments. All games will be played at the Phil Johnson Baseball Complex in Everett, one of the nicest youth baseball facilities in the area. All tournament proceeds will benefit the FirstSwing Foundation, a Washington state 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established in 2002 to teach youth "life’s lessons" within the fun and exciting environment of baseball and softball. There is ample parking and a convenient concession stand as well as nearby coffee houses!
Entry Form Download here (PDF)	Tournament Director: Steve Franklin steve.franklin@spartanbaseballclub.org 425.802.4458

TOURNAMENT RULES

It is our intent to host a tournament that is committed to playing baseball, having fun, and celebrating with the family. Please keep our mission in mind as the integrity of the game and the respect for each other precludes "winning"� the game. Let's all play hard, BUT also remember that first and foremost baseball provides an excellent opportunity to teach "life's lessons" to young players and to each other.

As this tournament is meant to provide a "tune-up" for Little League All-Star teams prior to their District Tournaments, we will play all games under current Little League Baseball rules (http://www.littleleague.org/learn/rules.htm) WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FOLLOWING:

Pitching

We will use innings pitched instead of pitch counts to limit the use of each pitcher. Each pitcher on your roster may pitch no more than 3 innings per game, 5 innings per day, and 8 innings for the entire tournament. An inning is defined as 1 pitch thrown.
When a pitcher is replaced in a game, he/she may no longer pitch for the duration of that game even if they remain in the field.
There are no pitching limitations for catchers. Catchers may pitch without restriction other than the inning limits written above.
Team managers are expected to self-record their compliance with the above rules and to also make "common sense" decisions in the best interest of their players based on pitch counts and other factors. This is a tune-up tournament folks….not the World Series!
A coach may warm up a pitcher between innings to keep the game moving. Players not wearing full catcher’s gear may not warm up a pitcher between innings.

Substitutions

With the exception of the pitcher substitution rule written above, Team Managers may freely make substitutions at their discretion throughout all games. There will be no playing time requirements (either by position in the field or by number of innings played) during any game of the tournament.
After two outs are made, a courtesy runner may be used for the catcher who caught the previous inning. The courtesy runner will be the player who made the team’s last out.

Batting Order

Each team must bat their entire roster during every game of the tournament.

Game Time Limits and Tiebreakers

All pool and bracket games will be 6 innings in length.
Pool Games:

No new inning may begin after 1 hour and 30 minutes from the time the game’s first pitch is thrown.
Games will be declared over after 1 hour and 45 minutes from the time the game’s first pitch is thrown.
If six innings full innings are played and the game is tied, the game will be recorded as a tie (no extra innings, even if the time limits written above have not yet been reached).
If the "drop dead" time is reached mid-inning, the game’s final score will be the score at the end of the last full inning in which one team was ahead. If no team was ahead at the end of any inning, the game will be recorded as a tie.

Bracket Games:

No new inning may begin after 1 hour and 30 minutes from the time the game’s first pitch is thrown.
If the game is still tied, the teams will play one additional inning that starts with a runner on 2nd base (which will be the player who made the final out in the previous inning) and 1 out already recorded. If the game is still tied at the end of the additional inning, the game’s final score will be the score at the end of the last full inning in which one team was ahead. If no team was ahead at the end of any inning, the umpire will flip a coin to determine the winning team.

Mercy Rules

Both pool and bracket games will end if the following run differentials are met:

One team is ahead by 10 runs or more after four innings are played.
One team is ahead by 8 runs or more after five innings are played.

Seeding After Pool Games

At the end of the pool games, teams will be seeded based on the following:

Won/loss record
Head-to-head record
Average runs allowed per game (max 10 runs allowed per game played)
Average runs scored per game (max 10 runs scored per game played)
Coin flip

Home/Away Teams

The home and away teams for all pool and bracket games will be determined by a coin flip performed by the umpire. The team that wins the coin flip may select "home" or "away".
The home team will keep each game’s official scorebook and must report the final score to the Tournament Director immediately following the game’s completion.

Conduct

Team managers are responsible for the behavior of their coaches, players, and fans. Acts of poor sportsmanship (including violations of the tournament rules) as determined by the Tournament Director may result in coach, player, fan, or entire team suspension or elimination from the tournament.
The Tournament Director will resolve all in-game conflicts and "situations". Ask the umpire to get him IMMEDIATELY and do not continue play until the situation is resolved.

Poor Weather

Unless you hear otherwise from the Tournament Director, assume all games will be played AS SCHEDULED.
A game will be considered complete if four innings have been completed (or 3.5 innings if the Home team is ahead) at the time the game is called because of weather.
If poor weather affects the schedule, game times may be moved and game lengths may be shortened to one hour or four innings to catch up.
Should the weather affect the four-game guarantee, refunds will be paid as follows:

No games played: $500 refund
One game played: $300 refund
Two games played: $200 refund
Three games played: $100 refund

Pre-Game Warm Up

If time allows, teams may warm up on their assigned fields in the outfield grass and in the infield foul territory ONLY.
Teams will not be allowed to use the infield to warm up before games.
Please use the four bullpen areas in between the fields to warm up pitchers before and during games.

Player and Spectator Rules at Phil Johnson Baseball Complex

Please make sure your coaches, players, and spectators are aware of the following rules, as written by the City of Everett Parks & Recreation Department:

Alcohol and drug use is strictly prohibited anywhere in the park. The use of any tobacco product is discouraged at any athletic field.
No gum, sunflower seeds or other shelled nuts on playing field, in dugouts, or spectator areas. The shells migrate onto the field causing damage to the synthetic surface.
Only water and sport drinks are permitted in the dugouts, and water only on the fields.
Respect field maintenance personnel, no infield practice when crews are prepping the fields.
Pets must be leashed at all times in the Park and are not allowed within the field complex area. This includes small pets transported in tote bags.
Please leave ALL Skateboards, Scooters, Bicycles, and Rollerblades at home. They are prohibited within the field complex area.
Metal cleats/spikes are prohibited.
No fence batting.
Park only in designated parking areas. Park Rangers may issue infractions for parking violations. Overnight parking or camping is not permitted in any Park area, parking lot or overflow area.
Private vehicles are not permitted in the complex area without written permission.
The misuse of City property or failure to abide by the above rules is reason for suspension or denial of further use of the playing fields.

HAVE FUN and GAGPTH!