2013 PONY Bat Rules
Rule 8 C (2) Equipment: Only 2-1/4" barrel non-wood bats which are manufactured to achieve a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15 or less through the life of the bat are approved fro play in PONY Baseball divisions. Effective January 1, 2012, all newly manufactured non-wood bats must be stamped "approved for play in PONY Baseball" and stamped with "BPF 1.15" and the year manufactured.
Rule 8 C (3) Equipment: Effective January 1, 2012, all minus (-) 3 (drop 3) bats must be BBCOR certified. The bat which may be wood or non-wood product shall be not more than two and five-eights (2-5/8") in diameter at the barrel and shall be a smooth implement from the top of the cap to the top of the knob. All non-wood bats shall meet the Ball-Bat Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) testing protocol maintaining the length-to-weight difference of 0.50 limit regardless of length. All BBCOR approved bats shall be labeled with a silk screen or other permanent certification mark. (NOTE: 2 3/4" bats are prohibited in all PONY sanctioned leagues)
From Tom O'Connor at PONY:
- 2 3/4" barrel bats are ILLEGAL in all divisions
- 2 5/8" barrel bats are LEGAL in all divisions. If a 2 5/8" bat is a -3, it must be BBCOR certified. Currently there is not a testing protocol for -5, -7, -9, etc, they are LEGAL.
- 2 1/4" bats are LEGAL in all divisions if they are manufactured to a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15 or less. In addition, the bat must be labeled "approved for play in PONY Baseball" and stamped "BPF 1.15" and the year manufactured. Recognizing that some bats may not have the year manufactured on the bat, it still must have BPF 1.15 stamped on the bat.
- Wood bats are legal in all divisions with a barrel no larger than 2 5/8"
- Bat material is factored into the BPF testing protocol as well as the BBCOR testing protocol. Subsequently, as long as the aforementioned "marks" are on the bat that is the indication they have passed the appropriate testing protocol and are approved for play in PONY baseball
The following bats have been BBCOR decertified after initially being certified. They are ILLEGAL!
Reebok Vector TLS 32-inch model
Reebok Vector TLS 33-inch model
Marucci CAT5 33-inch model
Marucci CAT5 34-inch model
Marucci Black 33-inch model
Marucci Black 34-inch model
Nike - CX2-BTO636 (light grey)
Nike - CX2-BTO573 (dark grey)
Nike - CX2-BTO598 (blue)
The following bats have been BPF decertified after initially being certified. They are ILLEGAL!
Louisville Slugger (Hillerich & Bradsby) TPX Dynasty - 12 bat (Model - YB12D - black/red/grey)
Mattingly Balistk (Model: BTKYB) Blue
We should probably post this on our web site and send it out to all of the coaches.
Time limit has been removed this year. If there is no game following the game being played, all innings are to be played. This applies to all divisions and all levels. Games can be called short due to darkness. If there is a game following the current game on the same field, time limits will still be used in these cases. (personal note: this rule will make for some very long lower level U10 games)
If the hosting team doesn't supply t wo umpires for the game, the money for the second umpire goes to the visiting team.
This year, the tournament will be an official PONY league sanctioned tournament. The tournament is NOT a qualifier for regional tournaments at this time. There can only be 2 pick-up players per team.
Everything else was pretty much the same as last year.
