| * The Buckeye Elite Tournament may remove an organization from future events. If your team or organization has a history of verbal and/or physical abuse toward umpires, players, fans, coaches, high school volunteers or tournament employees or a history of players, fans or coaches being ejected from games on a regular basis, your team or organization will not be invited to play in our tournament. The final decision will be up to the tournament directors. All decisions are final. No exceptions. No appeals. No refunds. |
| * Teams must be at the field 45 minutes before their game. If the previous games end early, the next game will start in exactly 15 minutes. Teams must be ready to play or they forfeit. |
| * Home team will be determined by coin flip only during the Pool Play games. During the Championship and/or Elimination Rounds, the "home" team will always be the higher seed. If both teams are the same seed, then a coin flip will take place. If the teams have previously played, a "head-to-head" tie-breaker will be used to determine the "home team”. The umpires do not need to be present for the coin flip. |
| * Games suspended by rain will be handled by the umpire. |
| * Emergency contact number - Each team must have, at least, one (1) emergency contact number where they can be easily reached during the tournament. |
| * Tie game after two hour time limit (Shoot- Out Rule): After the two hour time limit, if the teams are tied, a “Shoot Out will occur. The visiting team will place the player who made the last out on second base. Each batter will begin with a pitch count of 3 balls and 2 strikes. Both teams will bat until a winner is determined. At that point, the game is completed. Treat this like extra innings in a game. The home team cannot run up the score once they advance. There are no ties. A winner must be determined at the end of the inning and game! "Note if an inning starts before the 2 hour time limit ends, that inning must be completed before "the shoot-out".
Exception: there is no time limit on championship and semifinal games. |
| * All Teams will play 3 pool play games. These teams may or may not be in your pool. Your team’s win / loss record will determine the championship pool division in which you play. |
| * The tournament will follow the ‘Ohio High School Rules’ with exceptions list in Buckeye Elite tournament rules. |
| * Exception: A two (2) hour time limit will be in effect. If an inning starts and the home team is behind, the inning will be completed. |
| * There is a two (2) hour time limit which starts on the delivery of first pitch. Teams may play up to 9 innings within the 2 hour limit before starting the shoot-out. Exception: there is no time limit on championship and semifinal games. |
| * Exception Run Rule: The Run Rule is as follows: 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 runs after 4 innings, and 8 runs after 5 innings. These parameters are in place and active in all games throughout the Buckeye Elite Showcase Tournament. |
| * Exception: DH and EH may be used. However, if you choose to use an EH, you must have 10 players bat the entire game. If you lose a player and only have 9 players left in the batting order, the 10th batter will be an out or you may replace that player with another player that has not yet played in the game. |
| * Exception: Game Speed up Rule - A runner may be used for the pitcher and catcher upon reaching base (mandatory with 2 outs). This player must be someone not in the game or the team’s last batted out. |
| * Each team will be required to check the website daily for updates on standings during the tournament. On Friday, after 8:00 PM, each team will be required to check website for Saturday’s championship bracket schedule. |
| * Legion teams only will be allowed to play one player over the age 19. No player at this age will be allowed to pitch. |
| * Keep the games moving, on deck batters must retrieve all balls at backstop. |
| * In the event of rain or other matters beyond the control of the Tournament Director, the Tournament Director reserves the right to change the tournament format as he sees fit in order to complete the tournament in the scheduled time period. |
| * Saturday scores will not be posted for championship rounds. In championship games it’s win or go home. |
| * Baseballs - All teams must provide two (2) new baseballs to the home plate umpire prior to the start of the game. The baseballs should be of high school baseball quality. Each team must provide used baseballs as needed during the course of the game. Coaches, please see that each team retrieves foul balls on their respective sides. |
| * Physical confrontation - This tournament has "zero tolerance" for any physical confrontations by players, coaches, fans or anyone else. Upon the first violation, the violating party shall be removed from the facility and the tournament. Once again, absolutely no physical confrontations will be tolerated. |
| * No pre game warm up is allowed on the in field. |
| * Team using an illegal bat at home plate will receive an out |
| * Score Verification during Game - It is the responsibility of the home team to maintain the score book. At the end of each inning, the home team is required to provide the score to the umpire. Any score disputes should be resolved at this time. Once the next inning starts, the score for the previous inning is final. |
| * Teams may not share players. A shared player will result in an out for each at bat. Additionally, if this happens more than once, both the player and the teams will be removed from the tournament |
| * All teams need to be prepared to play Thursday morning |
| * Pool Play will be completed by Friday night, weather permitting. All teams will advance to championship play depending on pool positions. Check tie breaking rules in the event of a tie in pool play. Note all teams are required to check the web site after 8:00 on Friday to locate their game schedule for Saturday. The higher seeded team will be home team during championship games. |
| * In the event of a tie in pool play to determine a pool winner or wild card team, (1st) tie-breaker is head to head, (2nd) lowest runs allowed, (3rd) Run differential, (4th) Flip of a coin. In the case of a three-way tie, head to head will be eliminated. |
| * No Jewelry - Exception Phiten Necklaces |
| * BBCORE Bats THIS APPLIES TO 14U DIVISION ONLY: We understand that Ohio High School rules require teams to use BBCORE -3 bats. We also understand that many summer leagues/tournaments allow 14U teams to use BBCORE -5 bats during the summer. If both teams can agree before the game, with the umpire as a witness, the use of BBCORE -5 bats will be acceptable for that game. If the teams cannot BOTH agree before the game, BBCORE -3 bats must be used. This is only for the 14U division. |
| * Pinch Runner - A runner can be used for the pitcher and catcher upon reaching base (mandatory with 2 outs). This player must be someone not in the game or the team’s last batted out. |
| * All decisions made by the umpire are final. Any player, coach or fan who verbally abuses an umpire will be ejected from that game and the next game. A second ejection of a player, coach or fan means removal from the tournament! If a coach, player or fan physically assaults an umpire, the team and its fans will be removed from the tournament and the local authorities will be contacted to file charges. Team forfeiture: in the event an ejection is made and the ejected party refuses to leave the playing facility, the Tournament Director, at his sole discretion, may elect to declare a forfeiture of the game and/or tournament. The tournament director shall have final decision on all tournament ejections. |
| * Coaches must wear tennis shoes or cleats on field. (No Sandals) Coaches must also wear team shirt with logo or team jersey. |
| * * For Olentangy Liberty, Mount Vernon Nazarene, Bill Davis Stadium and St. Charles fields there will be no metal cleats allowed since the fields are turf, all players and coaches must wear either molded cleats or turf shoes |
| * All forfeits result in a 7 to 0 victory in the score book. |
| * Final Score Verification: A tournament site manual will be located inside the concession stand. In the absence of a concession stand, it will be inside one of the dugouts or inside the information tent at the site. At the end of each game both teams are required to record their score in the site manual and sign it. After scores are posted on the website, teams have up to four hours to dispute the posted score. After four hours the posted score is final. |