North American Baseball Alliance - NABA CL
Roster Regulations
- Players must be enrolled in a college or university.
- Players must be graduated from high school
- Players must be under the age of 23 years old as of January 1, 2025. If over the age limit but is enrolled at a college/university and playing they need majority vote to participate. A member of the military has entered college after their service commitment is eligible.
- A roster may contain no more than 35 players.
- The official 25 person playoff roster must be submitted one week prior to the postseason. Date TBD
- Rosters will be posted on the league website at the beginning of the season
- Our league will utilize GameChanger League settings for up-to-date rosters
- Teams may hit 9, 10, or 11 in the batting order. The number that the team starts with must be the number that they finish the game with. If a player is hurt and there is not an eligible substitute then an out will be recorded. A team can have a DH (the DH rule applies and must be determined prior to the game), and up to EH’s that may be able to play defense, but must maintain their original lineup spot.
League Game Schedules/Standings
- The league will play a 28 game regular season schedule
- Teams will play each other four times (4x)
- We will continue to utilize the Tri-State and Rust Belt Divisions
- Standings will be based on a Point System if teams do not play an equal number of games. 3 points for a Win - 2 Points for a Tie - 1 Point for a Game Played - Loss of 1 point for a forfeit
Playoffs
- Division Quarterfinals (Higher Seed Hosts)
- Division Championship (higher seed hosts)
- Rust Belt Winner of 1/4 vs Rust Belt Winner of 2/3
- Tri-State Winner 1/4 vs Tri-State Winner of 2/3
- League Championship - Single Game
- If two teams with travel distances is an issue we will find a midpoint to play the series
Pitcher/Designated Hitter/Courtesy Runner
- We follow the Major League Designated Hitter Rule 5.11. Teams can only DH for their pitcher or have a DH/P (the Ohtani Rule)
- Teams are allowed to use one Extra Hitter, EH. This player can enter the field at any time. i.e If they enter to play left field then the fielder becomes the EH. The batting order does not change.
- A courtesy runner is allowed for the pitcher/catcher at any time when they are on base. The courtesy runner cannot be in the lineup or someone removed from the game. The courtesy runner can change each time as they are not a substitute.
- The pitch clock will not be used and the reset rule is waived.
Baseballs/Bats
- Flat seam collegiate baseballs are preferred
- Wood bats must be used at all times. Baum & Torpedo Bats are allowed. Bamboo is not allowed.
- Any color bat is acceptable with the exception of white.
- The bat shall be a smooth round stick not more than 2 3/4 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches.
Uniforms/Helmets
- All players must be in a complete uniform during the game
- Coaches must be in uniform
- Players in dugout must be in uniform - or - team hat/shirt
- Double flap helmets must be used by all players.
Slide Rule
- The collegiate slide rule is always in effect
- See Appendix A, Official Baseball Rule 6.01 (h) (i)
Game Schedule/Reporting of Games
- Doubleheader games will be two 7 inning contests.
- All single games will be 9 innings unless otherwise agreed upon between the two teams and approved
- Games must be completed unless inclement weather, darkness or calamity occur. If enough innings are not completed to make the game official then it will be considered a suspended game.
- A game is considered official after 4 1/2 innings if the home team is leading or 5 complete innings per NCAA and OBR Rule.
- The 10-Run Mercy rule is in effect for all games. 7 innings for a 9 inning game and 5 innings for a 7 inning game
Extra Innings
- 9 inning games will consist of 1 EXTRA INNING - 3rd out of the previous inning will start as the Runner on 2nd - 0 outs - no count on the hitter
- Doubleheaders will not have extra innings - the game would end in a tie after 7 innings
Reschedule
- Please contact the league when the makeup date is decided.
- Games must be rescheduled within 72 hours.
Forfeit
- Failure to reschedule a game within 72 hours of postponement results in a forfeit.
- The first forfeiture date results in a $100 fine paid to the league
- The second forfeiture date results in playoff ban for that season
- The third offense results in a league vote to participate the following season
- Opposing teams require 24 hour notification of reschedule
Website/Franchise
- Franchise fee is $500 per year. Checks made payable to North American Baseball Alliance, Inc
- New franchise fee is a one time $1,000 payment made to the league.
- League fees are used to pay for the website, playoff umpires/field rentals, and league only interns.
Designated Hitter Rule
The DH must be selected prior to the game, and that selected hitter must come to bat at least one time -- unless the opposing team changes pitchers prior to that point. A team that chooses not to select a DH prior to a game is barred from using a DH for the rest of that game. A player who enters the game in place of the DH -- either as a pinch-hitter or a pinch-runner -- becomes the DH in his team's lineup thereafter.
If a player serving as the DH is later used on defense, he continues to bat in his same lineup spot. But for the rest of the game, his team cannot use a DH to bat in place of the pitcher. A team is also barred from using a DH for the rest of the game if the pitcher moves from the mound to another defensive position, a player pinch-hits for any other player and then becomes the pitcher, or the current pitcher pinch-hits or pinch-runs for the DH.
The DH rule was amended prior to the 2022 season to afford additional flexibility to starting pitchers who bat for themselves. Such a player is considered two separate people for the purposes of the DH rule. If the player is replaced as the pitcher, he can continue as the DH, and if the DH is replaced, he can continue as the pitcher (but can no longer bat for himself) (MLB, 2024).