Agoura Pony Baseball Rules

Fall Ball Overview Fall 2019 and Later (Please refer to National Rules for previous Spring Season for detailed rule)

National PONY Rule Book - 2019
MLB Rule Book - Updated by MLB.COM yearly (Click Official Rules Link)

APB League Polices And Procedures - July 8 2021
APB By Laws Eff July 2020

USE OF AGOURA PONY BASEBALL FIELDS

Coaches, Players and Parents,

The use of our fields is a PRIVILEGE not a RIGHT. Please treat the facilities as if they were your own.

There are many reasons for this. The fields are in the PUBLIC ARENA. Everyone sees our fields. The fields are what AGOURA PONY BASEBALL has to sell. They help us draw new players, they help us attract more select teams and they help us attract tournament teams for the Las Virgenes Tournament every spring.

Our fields are as follows: Lupin Hill Elementary, Agoura High School, Oak Park High School, Old Agoura Park, Willow Elementary, Forest Cove, Triunfo Canyon Park, and Indian Springs Park. 

The biggest problem is trash is left in dugouts and on the fields. Water bottles, Gatorade bottles, Sunflower Seed packages, candy wrappers, etc...

Another problem is that there are many teams that do not ensure that the fields are maintained after practice. Plain and simple they are not dragged.  Also, make sure the equipment is put away and the equipment sheds are locked. This is the coaches responsibility. If the coach wants to assign this responsibility to a parent that is fine.

It takes less than 20 minutes to drag the field and water the field after a practice. If you really want to ensure that the boys are playing on a safer field, you can drag and water the field before practice.

Many people complain that the fields are in lousy shape; however, they do not volunteer to help with the fields.

Please help taking care of YOUR fields. Be PROUD of your fields and MAINTAIN your fields.

We understand that at the parks, outsiders can use the fields, hence they might have been maintained and then used.

If I continue to get complaints and reports that particular fields were not maintained after practices, those teams are going to LOSE their privileges to practice there.

RULE MYTHS

All of the following statements are FALSE. Read the explanations and rule references to find out why.

Top 40 Baseball Rule Myths

1. The hands are considered part of the bat.
2. The batter-runner must turn to his right after over-running first base.
3. If the batter breaks his wrists when swinging, it's a strike.
4. If a batted ball hits the plate first it's a foul ball.
5. The batter cannot be called out for interference if he is in the batter's box.
6. The ball is dead on a foul-tip.
7. The batter may not switch batter's boxes after two strikes.
8. The batter who batted out of order is the person declared out.
9. The batter may not overrun first base when he gets a base-on-balls.
10. The batter is out if he starts for the dugout before going to first after a dropped third strike.
11. If the batter does not pull the bat out of the strike zone while in the bunting position, it's an automatic strike.
12. The batter is out if a bunted ball hits the ground and bounces back up and hits the bat while the batter is holding the bat.
13. The batter is out if his foot touches the plate.
14. The batter-runner is always out if he runs outside the running lane after a bunted ball.
15. A runner is out if he slaps hands or high-fives other players, after a homerun is hit over the fence.
16. Tie goes to the runner.
17. The runner gets the base he's going to, plus one on a ball thrown out-of-play.
18. Anytime a coach touches a runner, the runner is out.
19. Runners may never run the bases in reverse order.
20. The runner must always slide when the play is close.
21. The runner is always safe when hit by a batted ball while touching a base.
22. A runner may not steal on a foul-tip.
23. It is a force out when a runner is called out for not tagging up on a fly ball.
24. An appeal on a runner who missed a base cannot be a force out.
25. A runner is out if he runs out of the baseline to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball.
26. Runners may not advance when an infield fly is called.
27. No run can score when a runner is called out for the third out for not tagging up.
28. A pitch that bounces to the plate cannot be hit.
29. The batter does not get first base if hit by a pitch after it bounces.
30. If a fielder holds a fly ball for 2 seconds it's a catch.
31. You must tag the base with your foot on a force out or appeal.
32. The ball is always immediately dead on a balk.
33. If a player's feet are in fair territory when the ball is touched, it is a fair ball.
34. The ball must always be returned to the pitcher before an appeal can be made.
35. With no runners on base, it is a ball if the pitcher starts his windup and then stops.
36. The pitcher must come to a set position before a pick-off throw.
37. The pitcher must step off the rubber before a pick-off throw.
38. If a fielder catches a fly ball and then falls over the fence it is a homerun.
39. The ball is dead anytime an umpire is hit by the ball.
40. The home plate umpire can overrule the other ump's at anytime.