Olde Tymers Softball of Delmarva

The OTS Senior Olympic team in the 60 to 64 age bracket won the Silver Medal on Saturday September 20th by defeating 2 of the 3 other teams in their division. The team, managed by Bo Wood ended up playing 4 games that day; 3 in their division and 1 game against the Delaware Legends who are in the Majors division. It was a long day with the first game starting at 9a.m. and the 4th game ending at 5:30 p.m.

The team played all day without a single injury which was very fortunate considering there were only 12 players on the roster.

The team had to play the Legends in the 1st game......the toughest team at the tournament......and although the pitching and fielding was very good, the team was not able to put enough consecutive hits together to keep pace with the Legends hot bats.

From the 2nd through the 4th game, the team really put it all together, handily beating 2 teams from Wilmington and giving the Stars, the eventual Gold Medal winner, a run for their money. The manager of the Stars commented that we were their toughest competition of the day. 

OTS Team players were: 

Pitchers - Eddie Sternberg and Ed Wilson

Catchers - Ron James and Terry Thomas

Infield - Harry Banks, Jesse Bare, Johnny Allen, Bo Wood

Outfield - Pete Harris, Ron Weber, Tom Faulkner, Tom Copp

The recent courtesy runner rule controversy/discussion has generated about as many opinions as there are players, managers and assistant manager in the league.

Some feel that the rule [Item J-2] needs to changed, others feel it should stay the same, others feel some minor modifications are needed, and others feel that no league rules should be changed during the season. Frankly speaking, it’s a quagmire with no answer that’s going to satisfy everyone.

Consequently, it has been decided that the league we will follow the rule as written at the beginning of the 2008 season, but allow for game day modifications when both opposing manager agree.

Following the completion of the 2008 season the League’s Board [Officers & Managers] will revisit the courtesy runner rule and hopefully come up with modifications that are satisfactory to all.

The current rule [Section IV, Sub-heading J, Page 8] reads as follows:

J. Courtesy [Substitute] Runners

1) Players who have difficulty running from home plate, or on the base paths, due to injury, age or for medical reasons may use a courtesy runner.  Before the game begins, the manager should give the umpire and opposing manager the names of any players requiring a courtesy runner from home plate.

2) The designated courtesy runner will be the last batter who made an out; or, if that player is on base running for another player, then the next previous batter, to make an out., etc.

Exception: In the first inning, with no outs, anyone on a team roster may serve as a courtesy runner.

3) A courtesy runner from home plate must start from a position directly behind the catcher and not leave that position until the ball is struck.  If a runner leaves this position before the batter hits the ball he/she will be declared out.

4) A courtesy runner may not be used after one pitch to the next batter.

5) Another courtesy runner may not replace a courtesy runner, except in event of injury.

6) A courtesy runner on base when it is his/her time to bat will be declared out on base, but will be allowed to bat.

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A. Further Definition of Rule J-2: 

[1] Courtesy Runner from Home Plate [Other than First inning]: The player who made the last out, unless he/she has already run in the inning and/or he/she is unable to run [due to age, injury or for medical reasons], is theonly person who can run for a player needing a courtesy runner from home plate.

* If the player who made the last out is ineligible or unable to run then the next to last person to make an out must be the courtesy runner.  The team manager and/or assistant is responsible for maintaining a record of who made the last out[s] and providing this information to the umpire in a timely fashion when a courtesy runner is required.

[2] Courtesy Runner on Base:  The player who made the last out, unless he/she has already run in theinning or he/she is unable to run [due to age, injury or for medical reasons], is the only person who can run for a player needing  a courtesy runner who is on base.

* If the player who made the last out is ineligible or unable torun then the next to last person to make an out must be the courtesy runner.  The team manager and/or assistant is responsible for maintaining a record of who made the last out[s] and providing this information to the umpire in a timely fashion when a courtesy runner is required. 

-----------------------------------------------B. Game Day Modification Option:

If two opposing mangers wish to waive any portion of thecourtesy runner rule, [agree to a game day modification of the rule] they must mutually agree to the waiver before the game commences and notify the umpires of the portion(s) being waived.   

Examples of alternatives that have been used with some success this season include:

* Any player may serve as a courtesy runner from home late, at the beginning of each inning until the first out is made.  After the first out is made the player making that out must serve as courtesy runner. 

* If the player who made the last out is ineligible or unable torun then the next to last person to make an out must be the courtesy runner.   

* The selection of courtesy runners for a player who is on base,in any inning, is at the manager’s discretion. 

* If the person who made the last out is unable to pinch run for any reason, go back one spot in the batting order  

If these alternatives and/or others you may try prove successful, under actual game conditions, please keep them mind and share the results with an OTS Board. 

This input will be utilized when the Board reviews and updates league rules prior to the 2009 season. 

Regarding 2008, this memo is the final word [end of discussion] regarding the courtesy runner rule for the 2008 season!   Tom Harvey

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3. Click on the By-Laws for the current year.
4. Click on "Download Now". This will open the rules in a PDF reader.

You can now read and print the document.