When the planned game schedule is unable to be played due to rainouts or other issues, Division reps should consider combining multiple play dates into 5-inning doubleheader games as an alternative means of playing games that would otherwise be lost.
The following guidelines are designed to ensure consistent play when 5-inning games are scheduled.
- The fifth inning will be an open (unlimited) inning.
- Mercy Rules will not apply.
- Players must play in 2 of the 5 innings.
- Regular Tie-Breaker rules will apply to innings 6 and beyond, until a winner is decided.
- A team’s complement of courtesy runners will reset if a team bats around in an open inning.
- All extra-inning game rules not specifically mentioned here, and normally in effect for innings 8 and beyond, will be in effect for innings 6 and beyond.