After discussions with the 2020 managers and coming up with ideas during the 2019 season, there will be a few changes in the 2020 season. 

 

1) Season start date April 4/5 at Pelican Stadium. Pelicans game outing will be Saturday June 20th (Fathers Day Weekend) with beach area access and buffet. Plan is to have the season completed by the end of August.

2) Teams- Possibility of 1 new 50+ & 1 new 40+ team in Wilmington. We will see how that shakes out.

3) Team fees MUST be paid by opening day or the team will be scratched until paid. PLEASE get your share of the fees in as early as possible! During the off season will be great. You can use the paypal link on our website and I will notify your manager that you paid. The sooner the better!

4) 50+ division pitcher minimum will be dropped to 52+ for one year and will be reevaluated next season.

50+ division will play 9 inning games during April & May and then switch to 7 inning games for the remainder of the season.

5) 40+ age exemptions - 40+ teams may have more than 2 35+ on their rosters but only same 2 players may play in a given game.

6) Borrowing players - The goal is always to use only your rostered players but teams do run short. This year 50+ teams may borrow up to 3 players that are of legal age.

40+ may borrow from the 50+ division and the only exception is they may borrow a 40+ catcher if they do not have a catcher that game.

7) Sponsorship Changes - If you secure a sponsor for your team, then you can use up to 50% of that sponsorship for your fees. If you get a sponsor to fill out the "individual sponsorship" form then you can use 100%. This allows sponsors to know if they are league sponsors or sponsoring an individual. The individual sponsorships will not be listed on the league website.

8) Forfeits - If a team forfeits then everyone from the other team will get credit for participating in that game.

9) Medical Exemptions - NO medical exemptions this year. If you are injured and want to get credit for a game then you need to come out to your teams games and keep the book, coach a base or just watch but you need to make sure it is noted in the opposing teams scorebook that you attended.

Minimum games to participate in playoffs will be decided once the number of regular season games are decided.

Your team fees only cover regular season games and you are not guaranteed playoff games if you do not participate enough during the regular season!

10) Field Maintenance - It is both teams responsibility to help with the fields but it will be the winning teams responsibility to make sure it gets done.

11) 14 man roster minimum to start a team. Either new or returning.

12) Format and playoffs - regular season standings will only be for seedings in the tournament. Playoff format will be decided later in the season depending on time etc. Rain out make-ups may not be played at the end of the season if they don't affect the standings and time is running short.

13) Future player assignments & players wanting to switch teams - It will be up to the players on the teams working with their managers to recruit new players for each team. As of now the players will remain on the respective teams except the Wilmington 50+ may shift a few this season to try and organize an extra team. 

There will be a new player workout each season for new players through the league for teams that are short by mid February.

Players may switch teams if they are unhappy with their situation by getting both managers agreement during the season. 

In off season by getting the new managers agreement. There must be room on the new team and competitive balance cannot be shifted too far by the change. This to be decided by the division managers.

14) Rule changes - Courtesy runners that attempt to steal will be an out. Be sure to advise them when they go out to run!

CR may go with full count and 2 outs and are force play runners. Each team will be allowed 1 CR that must be announced at the plate before the game. The runner will still be the last batted out.

If a CR runs on the pitch and ball is hit then it will be played as normal. If he goes and the ball is not put in play then he is out.

15) The league will always try to make a spot for everyone that wants to play but we are a "competitive league" and teams will strive to get better every year. With that said some players may not be added or even dropped from rosters to make room for better or more dependable players.

It will be the managers responsibility to notify a player if he is not invited back to the team.

 

Hopefully everyone will have a great off season and will be looking forward to the 2020 season and I look forward to any suggestions or comments that will make the 2020 season better.

As always keep an eye out for any recruits whether your team needs players or not and have them register as soon as possible so we can get them on a team or note that they want to be on your team.