Pinto (8U)

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PINTO 8U™ LEAGUE is an instructional league to teach eight and under (Minimum age 3 in Baseball) players the fundamentals of baseball. The focus should remain on training more than competition. 

 

Pinto teams may be attired in cap and t-shirt rather than full baseball uniforms. The cap and t-shirt will thrill a beginning player almost as much as a full uniform, will leave the player the added thrill of receiving a full uniform for a later day, and will prevent excessive demands on the league budget. 

 

Managers and coaches at this level must be concerned with the development of all of the players on their team. These are training leagues and the development of a player's skill and personality must remain the prime goal of the manager and coach, rather than the winning of a league title. 

 

Every effort should be made to place every player who registers for the program on a team in these early years, and every effort should be made to play every player on the team in every game.

BASEBALL

 

PINTO BASEBALL FIELD SPECIFICATIONS AND DIMENSIONS

 

BASES : 60 feet 

 

PITCHING : Pinto Baseball (Machine & Coach Pitch): 38 feet, Pinto Baseball (Player Pitch): 40 feet.

 

FAIR PLAY AREA : Within the first base and third base foul lines and a fence or marked line 150 feet from home plate. A ball hit beyond that distance on the fly will be a home run. A minimum home run distance of 125 feet or a maximum of 200 feet will be recognized, with the recommendation that the home run distance be 150 feet at the foul lines and 200 feet in center field to a six or eight foot barrier wherever possible.

 

BASES, PLATES : The home plate, pitcher's rubber and the bases shall be official size as used in regulation baseball.

 

PITCHING MOUND : Shall be raised by a gradual slope to a height of four inches above the level of home plate and the base paths.

 

RESTRAINING LINE : Located along first base, beginning 25 feet from home base and extending three feet beyond the first and second base line. The line, paralleling the first base foul line and extending three feet (36 inches) into foul territory, shall be marked with chalk or other white material two inches wide.

 

DISTANCE TO BACKSTOP : Recommended distance from home plate to the backstop is 20 feet.

 

CATCHER'S BOX : By local option, the catcher's box may be rectangular in shape 43 inches wide and eight feet deep from the point of home plate or it may be triangular in shape extending eight feet from the rear of home plate, being a continuation of the foul lines, in which case the line closet to the backstop shall be 16 feet in length.

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Rules:

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Innings: 5

Bases: 60 feet

Mound: 38 feet

Drop Third Strike: Not Used

Infield Fly Rule: not used

Batting: a continuous batting order is used

Pitching: Before Memorial Day coaches will pitch the first and last inning, the kids will pitch the middle 3 innings. Maximum pitching is 2 innings per game for the pitcher and 6 total innings for the week. No re-entry can be used for pitching. Once removed the player is done pitching until the next game. After Memorial Day coach will only pitch when there are 4 balls. Maximum pitching is 3 innings per game for the pitcher and 6 total innings for the week. No re-entry can be used for pitching. Once removed player is done pitching until the next game. Travel players can pitch throughout the year and in playoffs. • 2 innings max per game combined.

Stoppage in play: At the pinto level the play will stop once any player has control of the ball on the mound.

Base on Balls: If the count reaches four balls when the players are pitching the coach will come in and finish the at bat. There are no walks. The strike count remains until the batter either strikes out, hits into an out or gets on base.

Bunting: Not allowed

Stealing and Lead Offs: Not allowed

Slaughter Rule: None

Special Note: Teams shall not score more than five runs in any inning including the 5th; no extra innings will be played, games can end in a tie. All 5 innings should be completed if possible regardless of score, weather permitting.

Player will be awarded one base on the overthrow. Coaches should be aware of this and umpires are to be instructed that the players cannot continue to run on overthrows, unless played on.

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