2008 CARL FLOWERS MEMORIAL “BEST IN THE WEST” LABOR DAY BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

FORMAT, RULES, AND GENERAL INFORMATION

The Carl Flowers Memorial “Best in the West” MSBL Baseball Classic is a round robin tournament, which guarantees a minimum of three games per team. For 2007, the tournament will host at least four divisions of play, consisting of 25 and over, 35 and over, and 45 and over, and 55 and over. Round robin play will begin on Saturday, September 1st. and end on Sunday, September 2nd. Playoff games will be scheduled for Monday, September 3rd.
The tournament format allows open rosters. All players eligible for tournament play must be on the roster submitted to the tournament director, along with a copy of his driver’s license (New Requirement), prior to the mandatory 7 am Saturday morning managers meeting, at Clark field, September 1st. The tournament will not allow participation by any player who has played professional baseball within the last three (3) years - NO EXCEPTIONS!
If tournament officials determine that such a player has illegally participated, the team in question will be suspended from further play, forfeiting any games played, and also forfeiting any claim to a refund of any portion of their tournament entry fee.

HOME TEAM - To be determined by a coin toss prior to each game.

BATS - Major League Baseball rules limiting bats to wood only will not apply, except in wood only divisions. Minus 5 bats are allowed.

COURTESY RUNNERS - Each team may declare two non-runners prior to the start of the game. These non-runners will be clearly marked on the batting lineup given to the other team manager. The last batted out will be the runner that goes in for the non-runner. This non-runner rule does not take effect until after the first out is made in a ball game. It is each manager’s responsibility to insure that the proper runner is used. If the wrong runner is used and the error is corrected by the opposing manager, all play made before the incorrect runner is replaced will stand. In order to speed up the game, active catchers may have a courtesy runner if they are on base and there are two outs. This courtesy runner must also be the last batted out.

CONTACT - No intentional physical contact will be tolerated or allowed in the tournament. Intentional contact will result in immediate ejection of the offending player from the game. Umpires are in complete control of what constitutes intentional contact. A second intentional contact violation by a team during the game will result in the ejection of that team from the tournament at the discretion of the tournament officials - with no refund. Also, please note that players must slide at all close plays at the plate. On double plays, or potential double plays, runners must slide or give themselves up by going to the outfield side of the base. Fielders including catchers must have possession of the ball in order to block the base/plate.

HELMETS - Major league Baseball rules and MSBL League policy require that protective headgear will be worn while batting and running the bases.

GAME LENGTH - All round robin games are scheduled for nine (9) innings in length, time permitting. No new inning shall be started after two hours and 45 minutes have passed since the start of the game. If an inning is in progress at the 2:45 mark, the umpire will announce that fact to both teams, the inning will become complete and that will be the end of the game. If an inning ends close the 2:45 time limit, the first pitch must be thrown by the 2:45 mark in order to play that inning. This would apply even if you were playing extra innings. Make sure that you, the other manager, the scorekeeper, and the home plate umpire agree on the time the first pitch started the game. Umpires are the final authority as to any disputes on time limits. All managers and umpires are required to hustle the players on and off the field so we can complete nine innings if possible within the 3-hour limit.

10 RUN RULE - A game will be declared over if one team has a 10 run or greater lead over the other team at the conclusion of seven innings of play.

DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTIONS - Free defensive substitutions are allowed, (i.e., a team may field two separate offensive and defensive lineups)

ADDITIONAL HITTERS - Managers may elect to use more than nine hitters in their batting order. Once you increase your lineup, it cannot be decreased for any reason, or an out will be recorded on that players spot where it was decreased. Batters taken out of the lineup can re-enter only after their original spot in the batting order has been passed by the next time around.

PLAYER PARTICIPATION - Every player on every team in the tournament must play in at least one of the round robin games on Saturday or Sunday in order to be eligible to play in any playoff games. In addition, each player must play at least one inning of defense and have one at bat. There will be no “sandbagging” of players for the Monday playoffs. If a player does not participate on Saturday or Sunday he is ineligible for any play on Monday. For this reason all score sheets from all games will be turned in to tournament headquarters at Clark field or to a tournament official in a timely manner, but in no case, later than Sunday night, September 2nd.

PLAYERS CONDUCT - Swearing, gestures, equipment abuse, excessive arguments with officials, verbal and/or physical confrontations and other un-sportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. The umpires may warn and/or eject any players who commit one of these infractions.
In regard to any baseball rule or judgment call of the umpires during a game, that call or ruling will stand. In regard to Tournament rules, the manager may present the tournament rules to the umpires for clarification.

TIEBREAKERS FOR STANDING WITHIN DIVISION - For advancement to the Monday playoff games, the following method will be used
· Overall point totals within your own division (win = 2 pts, Tie = 1pt.)
· Head to head competition
· Runs allowed best two games
· Runs allowed best three games
· Runs scored all three games
· Coin flip
All tie breakers will be applied sequentially from one through six. If after determining division winners, there is a tie for the 2nd place division spot, the tie breaking criteria will be applied to all applicable teams sequentially, until a winner is determined. If there is a three-way tie for 2nd place, head to head competition will be utilized to eliminate a team, if possible, before going to step three of the tie breaking procedure.

NO SHOWS - Teams must play all of their scheduled games. Teams that fail to show up for a game, regardless of their record, will forfeit their right to playoff participation.

PROOF OF AGE - If a manager feels in good faith that an opposing team’s player may be underage for the division they are playing in, the tournament director or the organizing committee shall be called. They, in turn will ask the player in question to provide proof of age, (i.e., drivers license). If the proof is not immediately available when ask for the player is ineligible to play until proof is provided. The tournament director reserves the right to give a waiver to certain players in order to facilitate the operation of this tournament.

ANYTHING ELSE - In the case of a situation that arises that is not specifically covered by these rules, the tournament Directors, in consultation with the Organizing committee, shall make the ruling, and their decision will be final.

GENERAL INFORMATION

TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS - Clark Field in Woodland will serve as tournament headquarters. All brackets will be posted at Clark. All managers must check in with the tournament director, Lanny Ropke, at Clark Field prior to their first game. Lanny will be at Clark Field at 7:00am Saturday morning September 1st. (managers meeting). Managers will receive their packets (baseballs, maps, schedules, etc.) and tournament briefing at that time. The managers meeting is mandatory, a manager or his representative must attend this briefing. Team rosters are also due at that time. No team shall play until a roster has been turned in to Lanny! You can reach Lanny any time at 530-848-3054 during the tournament (or co-director Skye Ropke at 916-549-4684).

SATURDAY NIGHT BBQ - The eighteenth annual Roy Hobbs Labor Day tournament will once again be hosting our traditional steak BBQ dinner on Saturday night for players, their families and friends. Players are admitted free, all others are charged a nominal fee of $6.00 (kids 12 and under are $5.00). There will also be a giant raffle during the dinner. Tickets will be on sale at the BBQ.

HOME RUN DERBY - Details will be announced at the Managers meeting and check-in.

HOTELS LIST - In case you need to make hotel reservations, here are some local places in Woodland and Davis.

Woodland

Best Western Shadow Inn 530-666-1251
Days Inn 530-666-3800
Valley Oaks Inn 530-666-5511
Comfort Inn 530-666-3050
Holiday Inn Express 530-662-7750
Budget Inn 530-662-8215

Davis

Holiday Inn 530-758-2600
Comfort Suites 530-297-1500
University Park Inn 530-756-0910
Best Western University 530-756-7890
Aggie Inn 530-756-0352
Davis Inn 530-753-9611

No inspection of these hotels has been made so we have no knowledge of their service or quality. We list them here to assist your planning.
The Woodland hotels are cheaper and closer to Clark Field; the Davis hotels seem nicer but a little more expensive.

WOODLAND/DAVIS MSBL
Would like to thank the following Organizations for their support:
MSBL National, Steve and Brian Sigler/Anaconda Sports, Bill Carey/ Rawlings Sports/Easton Sports