Hello Coaches The NJ-USSSA will be holding a 12U only State Championship Tournament on the Fourth of July weekend. This tournament is a must for all World Series entrants. Cost: $350.00 per Team (2-Umpires per game USSSA Registration & Baseballs included) Team Limit: First 8 paid Teams are in no exceptions. Tournament Format: Pool play with 3 games guarantee weather permitting. Rules: USSSA 12U Rules. 50/70 On-site tournament director reserves the right to modify rules and game schedules as needed in the best interest of the event. Weather hot line: 201-232-0569 Regulation Game: 6 innings or Two Hour per game. A new inning may not be started once the time limit expires. (This rule is subject to change in the event of rain delays and would become a "drop dead" time limit meaning the game is called the moment time expires.) If a game is tied when the time limit expires the International Rule for Extra Innings described below applies to any new inning started after time expires. Extra Innings rule applies as follows: To start on extra inning the visiting team places the last batter to complete an at bat in the previous inning at second base. Play resumes until three outs are recorded. To complete the extra inning the home team places the last batter to complete an at bat in the previous inning at second base. Play resumes until three outs are recorded or the home team takes the lead. Home and Visitors: Home team is determined by coin toss in pool games. Higher seeded team is home in bracket play. Visitors use third base dugout. Mercy Rule: 8 runs after 5 innings (or 4 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead); 10 runs after 4 innings (or 3 1/2 innings); 15 runs after 3 innings (or 2 1/2 innings). Pitching Limitations: Six (6) total innings for the tournament. NOTE: Each pitcher will earn one (1) additional inning for each additional game played after pool play. Definition of an "inning pitched": If a player throws one pitch to a batter during an inning he will be charged with pitching one (1) inning. Penalty for this rule: Game forfeited when discovered. Designated Hitter: Designated hitters are NOT allowed. Extra Hitter (EH) Extra Hitters are allowed and must remain the EH throughout the game. (If both coaches agree the EH may play the field but must remain in the same batting order). The EH will have the same reentry rules as the other 9 starters. Courtesy Runners: Courtesy runners for the Catcher only are permitted at any time. (Must use a player that is not playing. If all players have played then the last out will be used). Protests: The on site tournament director has the final authority to settle all disputes. Official Scorer: The home team scorebook is the official scorebook. Home team scorekeeper should confirm score with visiting team scorekeeper after each inning and notify umpire of score. Both teams must sign a game report showing all the pitchers used and the innings they pitched as well as the final score of the game. This game report must be given to the tournament director after the game. Pre-game Infield: No pre-game infield practice is permitted. Bats: Restrictions on bats are waived. Cleats: No metal cleats. Tie Breakers: 1-Head to Head 2-Fewest Runs allowed-Revert to #1 if two are tied. 3-Most Runs Scored-Revert to #1 if two are tied. Field Dimensions: 50' mound 70' bases with regular leading and stealing and no warning on bulks. Age Group Cutoff: 12U: Must not turn 13 before August 1 2003 Other rules: No head first sliding into home only. A runner must slide or avoid contact at all basses. Place: Meadowlands Field in Ridgefield NJ. Directions: Route 46 East to Grand Ave Exit. At the bottom of the exit make a right onto Grand Ave. continue on grand Ave for about a mile until the Ridgefield circle. Make the first right at the circle onto Hendricks cause way. Make the first right of Hendricks causeway onto Church Street. Make the first right of Church Street onto Edgewater Ave. make a right at the blue sign that says Ridgefield recycling center. Follow that road for ¼ mile till pleasant view Ave. make a right at pleasant view Ave and the field is at the end of the road. From Route 80: RT 80 East to 95 South/RT 46 Exit. Get on RT 46 East. Take exit for Grand Avenue/Palisades Park. Make a right onto Grand Avenue. You will be approaching the Ridgefield Circle. Just before the circle there is an A&W Meyers Hardware store on the right. You need to make the 2nd right (sharp right) after the hardware store onto Hendricks Causeway. If you see a Dunkin Donuts on your left then you missed this turn. You will go over a bridge. Make a sharp right onto Church St. Will come to a stop sign. Make a right onto Edgewater Ave. Make right onto Railroad Avenue. Follow down until you reach Pleasant View Terrace (will see a sign for Ridgefield Recycling Center). Make a right. Follow this road all the way to the entrance to Meadowlands Park. Awards: 1st and 2nd place get Team and Individual Trophies. Champions will receive a $500.00 discount certificate good towards any national summer invitational tournament which run from the middle of June thru the end of august at Baseball Heaven Sports Complex at Holbrook NY good to the end of 2004. Champions will also receive a USSSA Majors World Series non-paid bid. Runner up team will receive a $250.00 discount certificate good towards any national summer invitational tournament which run from the middle of June thru the end of august at Baseball Heaven Sports Complex at Holbrook NY good to the end of 2004. Baseball Heaven Website: www.baseballheavenli.com Deadline for entries: 6/25/03 Checks payable to: NJ-USSSA Send checks to: Willie Hernandez 757-Day Ave Ridgefield NJ 07657 Tournament Format: Pool A Pool B 1234 5678 Friday July 4 2003 8:00-10:00am 1-2 Friday July 4 2003 10:10-12:10pm 3-4 Friday July 4 2003 12:20-2:20pm 4-2 Friday July 4 2003 2:30-4:30pm 5-6 Friday July 4 2003 4:40-6:40pm 7-8 Saturday July 5 2003 8:00-10:00am 5-7 Saturday July 5 2003 10:10-12:10pm 6-8 Saturday July 5 2003 12:20-2:20pm 8-5 Saturday July 5 2003 2:30-4:30pm 1-3 Saturday July 5 2003 4:40-6:40pm 4-1 Sunday July 6 2003 8:00-10:00am 2-3 Sunday July 6 2003 10:10-12:10pm 6-7 Sunday July 6 2003 12:20-2:20pm 1st pool A vs. 1st pool B Schedule posted: after 12:00 PM on Wednesday July 2nd with no changes after that. Website for information: www.leaguelineup.com/njusssa Hotels in Area: Hampton Inn Ridgefield Park 201-641-2900 Red Roof Inn Secaucus Meadowlands 201-319-1000 Meadowlands Plaza Hotel 201-272-1000 Hampton Inn Secaucus 201-867-4400 Embassy Suites Meadowlands 201-864-7300 Best Western Fort Lee 201-461-7000 Mainstay Suites 201-553-9700 Hilton Fort Lee 201-461-9000 Any questions please feel free to call me or send me an email. Yours in Sportsmanship Willie Hernandez New Jersey USSSA 201-840-1547