Softball Rules Particular to Bucker Fieldh3>

The following are a few rules pertaining to particularities of the Bucker Fieldi>a> softball grounds in scenic Bellevue. These rules have been generally decided upon by a majority of players in the Geneva Slow-Pitch Softball Leaguei>a> based upon experience playing at Bucker Field. They are considered to be in addition or substition to the official rules a> i>. Additions and/or modifications are welcome any time except during a game. p>

1. Definitionsb>
   1. The Grass:b> All of the playing field mowed periodically, up to, but not including the ditch in front of the plowed field. li>
   2. The Wheat:b> The land plowed and planted by the farmer, including its surrounding drainage ditch. Sometimes corn, sometimes peas,... li>
   3. The Matt:b> The green matt attached to the back of home plate for determining balls and strikes. li>
   4. The Plate Dirt:b> The dirt in front of home plate inside the baselines but before the grass. li>
   5. The Triple Marker:b> A marker in right centerfield at the Wheat/Grass boundary. In the absence of such a marker, an imaginary extension of the second-third baseline. li>
   6. The Hedge:b> The row of silly little bushes along the first baseline in foul territory. li>
   7. The Chair Hill:b> The raised surface in foul territory along the third baseline on which the chairs have been placed. li>
   8. The Barbed Wire:b> The barbed wire surrounding the house and approaching the third base foul line. li> ol> li>
   9. The Playing Fieldb>
      1. First Baseline Boundary:b> goes from the backstop to the hedgeb> and from the hedgeb> on a line to the beginning of the fence under the tree delimiting the Wheatb> from the Grassb>. li>
      2. Third Baseline Boundary:b> goes from the backstop to the front of the chair hill and from the chair hill to the barbed wire. Any ball under, in, on, or on the exterior side of the barbed wire is out of play. li>
      3. Foul Trees:b> If a batted ball hits a tree in foul territory, it is out of play. The batter cannot be called out even if the ball is caught before touching the ground. All runners return to the bases they occupied before the pitch and the pitch is counted as a strike. li>
      4. Fair Trees:b> The big chestnut tree in left field and the shrubs in left-center are fair. If a batted ball hits one of these trees, it is in play, but cannot be caught for an out. The runners and batter-runner advance at their own risk. li>
      5. The Wheat:b> is out of play. If a ball enters the Wheat for any reason, play is declared dead.
         1. If a batted ballb> enters the Wheat in fair territory the batter and all runners shall be rewarded
            1. four basesb> if the ball is hit on the fly or is caught by a fielder who is either already touching part of the Wheat or does not touch the grass before passing with the ball from the grass into the Wheat; li>
            2. three basesb> if the ball bounces or rolls into the Wheat to the left of the Triple Markerb>i>; li>
            3. two basesb> if the ball bounces or rolls into the Wheat to the right of the Triple Markerb>i>. li> ol> NB:b> The bases are counted from where the runners were when the pitch was throwni> and are awarded whether or noti> the ball is touched by a fielder. li>
            4. If a thrown ballb> enters the Wheat, play is dead and the batter-runner and the baserunners advance one baseb> from the last base touchedi>; li> ol> li>
            5. The Plate Dirt:b> is foul terriroryi>. A batted ball which does not make it past the dirt onto the grass is considered a foul ball. This rule does not hold for the infield fly rule. li> ol> li>
            6. Judgment Callsb>
               1. If an umpire is presentb>, she/he makes all calls and the calls are final. li>
               2. If there is no umpire presentb>, the team coaches are asked to use their best judgment and goodwill. It is suggested that the batting team provide first and third base coaches to make the calls in the field and for catchers to make the calls on balls and strikes. In the absence of base coaches, or if there is another players with an undeniable better view of the play, that player is asked to make the call. li>
               3. The rules here are in place mainly to address games where no umpire is present. An umpire reserves the right to modify or extend these rules, as long as the changes are made clear to both teams before the game. li> ol> li>
               4. The Basesb>
                  1. When there are two first basesb>. The left base is in fair territory and the right base in foul territory. A fielder commits interferenceb> by impeding the batter-runner's access to the right base or to either base if there is no play to be made. The appropriate rules for interference apply in this case. A batter-runner commits interferenceb> by impeding the fielder's access to the left bag. The batter-runner shall be called out in this case. After a runner has been declared safe at first, only the left base is recognised as being in play. li>
                  2. There is a mattb> attached to the back of home plateb>. A fielder commits interferenceb> by impeding a runner's access to the matt or to either the plate or the matt if there is no play to be made. The appropriate rules for interference apply in this case. A runner commits interferenceb> by impeding the fielder's access to the plate. The runner shall be called out in this case. li>
                  3. A commitment lineb> is drawn half way between third base and home plate. Once a runner has past this line there is a force playb> at home plate. li> ol> li>
                  4. Strikes and Ballsb>
                     1. A legal deliveryb> shall be defined by usual underhand rules (foot on rubber, etc.) and the requirement that the ball travel in an arc no less than 6 feetb> and no more than 12 feetb> in height. li>
                     2. A ballb> will be called if the batter does not swingi> at the pitch, the ball does not touch