MABL(18+) Post Season Play

MABL(18+) Post Season Play

2024 MABL POST SEASON BRACKETS

The post-season playoff schedule has been set. The #1/#2 teams will have a bye during the first round of playoffs(wildcard) games. The winners of these games will play the top two seeds in a single game knockout semi-final game. Winners will move on to a best of 3 game series championship. If weather impacts any part of the remainder of the season, the best of 3 game series MAY be moved to a single game championship.

A player must play 6 games (MABL) and 5 games (MSBL) with a team to be eligible for the playoffs. Those who do not have the minimum amount of games are ineligable unless failure to meet the minimum amount is due to injury, military/1st responder job requirements, or other similar situations. It is the manager’s responsibility to provide proof (using the league management system or scorebook) that a player played in the requisite number of games for that team during the regular season. If a manager wants to pursue a roster exception for the playoffs, that manager shall get unanimous approval from all other managers of that division’s playoff teams and then forward that request to the President and Vice-President for final approval prior to submitting their playoff roster.  Playoff rosters shall be submitted to the league no later than one day after the regular season concludes via email. 

Rules Review for Playoffs

Teams must have eight (8) players for an official game.  The team may borrow one player from the opposing team if the manager of this team consents.  The team with eight may also borrow a player from a team other than the one that they are playing if, and only if, the opposing manager consents.  Games will be forfeited if a team cannot field at least eight players within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, or officially adjusted starting time.  If a team has nine players only and therefore bats nine players only, the opposing team will have the option of batting nine players as well (MSBL must have all players in the batting order). Teams must have 7 players from their own roster if player pool players are used for an official game. If the team’s 9th(10th MSBL) player arrives after the start of the game, the borrowed player immediately returns to his team or is removed from the lineup.  Teams may not borrow more than 2 players to enable the team to have 9(10 for MSBL) players in a game.  A borrowed player may pitch if agreed to by both managers.

Failure to have the minimum of 8 players will result in a forfeit.  Player pool members may be used without the opposing manager’s consent if coordinated through the league prior to game time.  If a team decides to wait for their own 9th player to show up for a game, or can’t borrow a player from the opposing team, or due to the opposing team being short of players (only having 9 themselves), or not receiving consent from the opposing manager, and the 9th position in the batting order comes up with no 9th batter occupying that spot in the order, an automatic out will result for the first intended plate appearance only. 

For Southern Colorado MSBL, all divisions, regular season games will be 7 innings.  For the AA and A divisions, playoff games will also be 7 innings; however, for the AAA division, playoff games will be 9 innings. For the Southern Colorado MABL/MSBL, if there is a 15-run discrepancy at the end of 7 innings the game will be ruled final by implementing the 15 Run Rule. This rule does not pertain to the playoff championship finals.

For Southern Colorado MSBL/MABL, if the game score is tied after 6 innings of a 7-inning game (8 innings of a 9-inning game) and the game duration is still under 2 hours and 30 minutes (2:45 for 9-inning games) of play, the California Tiebreaker shall be implemented by putting the last recorded out from the previous inning on 2nd base.  The game will continue until the time limit for the game is reached.  If a lead has not been established by implementing the tie-breaker, the game will continue until a winner has been established. No playoff game will end in a tie. A winner will be established to move on to the next playoff game.

For Southern Colorado MABL and MSBL, if a player is ejected, an out will be assessed for the player being ejected if another player is not available to replace the ejected player.  If, because of a player ejection, a team is reduced to 8 players, that team will not forfeit the game since teams may play a game with a minimum of only 8 players. The penalty for skipping the ejected player’s position in the batting order is only applied on the next at-bat each time a player is ejected.  Each ejected player will not be permitted to stay in the dugout and must depart the area immediately.  Each player ejected will NOT BE PERMITTED to play in the following scheduled game of the post-season if the team moves on. 

For Southern Colorado MSBL, all divisions, all players in uniform must be placed in the batting order to hit.  Those who arrive late will be added to the bottom of the order.  All players that are on the field must be placed in the batting order and have at least one plate appearance or play defense for at least 2 innings (6 outs played). Teams must use a minimum of 10 hitting slots in the batting order if using shared hitters or A/B hitters in the batting order UNLESS the opposing team only has 9 players. If this occurs, 9 slots may be used to hit ALL PLAYERS. A team may designate no more than one player as a FIELDER ONLY and will not be required to hit during the game. A team may also identify players as DESIGNATED HITTERS ONLY that will not be required to play defense during a game.  Managers are then required to notify the opposing manager even if it is the result of an injury. Those who are between the age of 45-47 should have an “X” next to their name on the team lineup card for quick reference to ensure a team does not exceed the maximum number of players under the age of 48. (MSBL A/AA only). For Southern Colorado MSBL, all divisions, if a player must leave the game prior to completion, and his manager has notified the opposing manager of the player leaving during play, the batting order will be shortened without penalty.  Players who are removed from the batting order but are still present at the field when it is their turn to bat (except players who are injured as determined by the home plate umpire), will be declared an automatic out for being illegally skipped in the batting order. If a player is injured while at bat and cannot continue to complete the “at-bat”, the next player in the batting order will bat immediately and assume the injured player’s ball and strike count.

For Southern Colorado MSBL, AAA and AA division, base stealing is allowed; however, base stealing is prohibited once a team achieves a 5-run lead.  For Southern Colorado MSBL, A division, base stealing is not allowed.  If a runner attempts to steal a base after achieving a 5-run lead for AAA and AA divisions, or under any circumstance for A division, and the runner does not attempt to return to the previous base, the official shall call that runner out if the opposing manager appeals the play.  If a base runner attempts to steal illegally, the returning runner shall be put out by the fielding team.

For Southern Colorado MABL and MSBL, a team may have a runner for their catcher if the catcher is a base runner and there are 2 outs in an inning.  If a team has designated a player as a non-runner, a bench player – not in the lineup – can be that hitter’s designated runner.  If that runner enters the lineup, the last recorded out becomes the designated runner. For Southern Colorado MSBL, a team is allowed three courtesy runners for the AAA division and unlimited courtesy runners for the A and AA divisions. A courtesy runner shall not be allowed to steal in the A and AA divisions. The decision to replace a non-runner must be made immediately after the batter reaches base and before the first pitch to the next batter.  No changes can be made after the next pitch.