This is Rabbit Hill Park/Mountain View's annual charity event.
Bears Make A Difference is a co-ed baseball league through Mountain View Athletic Association for kids with mental, physical, and/or multiple disabilities.
The program is designed around building self confidence, friendships, and overall making it fun for participants and their families.
This tournament will be played with a form of Banana Ball rules! (See below for the full rule set)
4 Game Guarantee - Two Saturday pool games and Sunday DOUBLE elimination.
All 16U and 18U games will be played on HS fields if available.
Please bring flats or rubber cleats for pitching on the artificial mounds as metal spikes will not be allowed on them.
In the event of an ejection of a player, coach, or parent, the State Director reserves the right to reinstate that individual for the next game, or games, based on the severity of the infraction.
There will be a $75 admin fee is this event is completely rained out.
Text Tim Gaines at 770-231-0176 or Colton Harrelson at 404-694-5212 for more info.
Banana Ball Tournament Rules:
• RULE 1: Win the inning, get the point
o Every inning is worth one point. The team that gets the most runs in an inning
gets a point for that inning. In the final inning, where every run counts.
o As soon as the home team scores an inning-winning run, the inning ends
immediately. There is no need to get all 3 outs.
o Final inning must be declared by the umpire prior to the inning. If FINAL
INNING is not declared, there is NO every run count inning.
o POOL Play: Games may end in a tie.
• RULE 2: Time Limits
o Game times for 7u – 8u: 1 hour
o Game times for 9u – 12u: 1 hour 15 minutes
o Games times for 13u – 14u: 1 hour 30 minutes
o During Bracket play: Once time has expired, the tiebreaker rules will take
effect.
• RULE 3: No Stepping Out
o If a hitter steps out of the batter’s box, a strike will be called.
o Umpires may call timeout for issues such as injuries, fixing safety gear or
equipment, etc. Timeouts are at the umpire’s discretion. Falling off-balance
and out of the box or stepping out of the box to clear for a play at the plate
does not count as stepping out.
o 7u – 12u: 1 warning will be issued per team
o 13u-14u: No warning will be issued
• RULE 4: No Bunting
o If a hitter bunts, it will be declared an out.
• RULE 5: Batters can steal first base
o A batter can attempt to steal first base on any pitch, including a passed ball
or wild pitch.
o When a batter steps out of the batter’s box toward first base, they have
declared their intent to steal, making the play live. Once the ball is
considered live, traditional baseball rules apply regarding force vs tag out
plays on batters and all runners.
• RULE 6: No walks allowed
o If a pitcher throws ball four, it becomes a sprint. The hitter will take off
running while the following defensive players must touch the ball before it
becomes “live”. The hitter can try to advance to as many bases as they want.
o Once the ball is considered “live”, traditional baseball rules apply regarding
force vs tag plays on batters and all runners.
o There is no requirement for a fielder to possess the ball, only to touch.
o 13u – 14u: After the umpire calls Ball Four, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF and RF must
touch the ball before it becomes “live”. Runners already on base may
advance at their own risk.
o 9u – 12u: After the umpire calls Ball Four, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B must touch the ball
before it becomes “live”. Runners already on base may advance at their own
risk.
o 7u – 8u: On the 6th pitch ONLY, any pitch that the batter makes contact with
is considered a live, fair ball and is in play – no matter what direction the ball
goes or how far it travels. If the ball goes into dead ball territory, it is a single
and all runners advance one base. If the ball is fouled over the fence and is
caught by a spectator, it is an out. If it is fouled over the fence and is not
caught, it is a home run. This is ONLY on the 6th pitch.
• RULE 7: No Mound Visits
o No mound visits from the coach, catcher or any other player.
o Umpires can approve a mound visit for injury or in the interest of player
safety.
o If a coach visits the mound (unless signaled by the umpire for injury), the
pitcher must be removed from the pitching position.
• RULE 8: If a fan catches a foul ball, it’s a recorded out
o Balls must be caught in the air, not off trees, safety nets, fences, sheds or
dugout structures.
o Coaches are not considered fans.
o Fans using unsafe or unsportsmanlike means to catch foul balls will be
moved to the outfield or ejected from the game at the umpire’s discretion.
• RULE 9: Golden Batter
o One time per game, a team may send any hitter in the lineup to bat, in any
spot. The Golden Batter is inserted into the lineup (does not replace the
scheduled hitter), and the lineup order will resume following the at-bat.
o The last batted out will be sent as a pinch runner to accommodate (1) a
baserunner that you want to take a golden at bat, and/or (2) a golden batter
that’s on base when his scheduled at bat is to occur.
• RULE 10: Showdown Tiebreaker (Bracket Only)
o If the game is tied, (1) when time expires or (2) the game has completed the
necessary innings, the game will go into showdown tiebreaker. The tiebreaker
will only move to the next round if the previous round ends in a tie.
o Round One: Pitcher, catcher and one fielder vs One hitter
o Round Two: Pitcher, catcher vs One Hitter
o Round Three: Pitcher, catcher and one fielder vs One hitter with the bases
loaded. (Every run counts)
o In rounds one and two, the hitter must score. If the hitter scores, it’s worth 1
point. If they get out, it’s worth no points. A player may only hit in one round
of the showdown.
o If a pitcher throws 4 balls before an out is recorded, the count will be reset.
The hitter will remain at bat. If a pitcher throws 4 balls for the second time,
the at bat is over and the offense will earn one point. In the third round, this
will result in all FOUR runs scoring (preventing intentional walks to limit runs
scored).
o If a home run is hit over the outfield fence during any round of the showdown
tiebreaker, it’s a walk-off win and the game is over. Both teams are NOT guaranteed an offensive opportunity.