2019 MFP Invitational Tournament Registration Information
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Editor’s Note 2, January 3, 2019: We posted this information in mid December and are bumping it back to the top of the website with the note below from tournament director Vanessa O’Laughlin.
January 3, 2019 Update from Vanessa O’Laughlin
Happy New Year everyone,
Hope you all had a fun time ringing in the New Year and are now ready to ring in our new 2019 season of Men’s Fastpitch Softball. Thank you to everyone that have committed their time and expertise to get this tournament off the ground.
I have attached the Tournament Registration Information and Flyer for distribution and posting on websites. If forwarding information to publications and website managers please download info and send in a separate e-mail.
We have had a lot of word of mouth advertising and commitments which is awesome, but, we will need to get those teams registered on Tournament USA Softball as soon as possible. I have been told a number of teams are having issues with registering on the site, what we need to get from those teams is the registration form filled out so we can add them to the list on tournament USA. We can get them added to Tournament USA Softball with just the registration information form which is attached to this email. Some teams are waiting to see who is registering before committing. We have 3 teams signed up on Tournament USA as of this date, I have received word from 2 others that will be sending in their form to be added
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at (510) 703-8352, Bob McCormick at (661) 549-3987, Fred Williams at (510) 772-0930 or Raymond Rodriguez (760) 270-8181.
Thank you,
Vanessa O’LaughlinDistrict 9 Commissioner / At Large Player Rep
(510) 703-8352
e-mail: Volaughlin@norcalusasoftball.org website: www.norcalusasoftball.org
Editor’s note: Where is Rincon you ask? In Northern San Diego County: Inland from Vista CA, midway between Long Beach and San Diego.
2019 USA SOFTBALL MEN’S MAJOR/OPEN FASTPITCH
INVITATIONAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
FEBRUARY 8-10, 2019
VALLEY CENTER, CALIFORNIA
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
TOURNAMENT: 2019 USA Softball Men’s “Major/Open” Fastpitch Invitational Softball
Tournament
LOCATION: Valley Center, California
Field Location: Rincon Reservation Softball Fields, 65218 West Tribal Road,
Valley Center, California
DATE: February 8-10, 2019
ENTRY FEE: $500.00 Payable to “Nor Cal USA Softball.” Includes 2019 USA SB Registration
MAIL TO: Nor Cal USA Softball
c/o Sandy Scott
P.O. Box 2829, Fair Oaks, CA 95628
Credit Card payments also accepted contact Sandy Scott @ (916) 962-1631
ENTRY DEADLINE: January 23, 2019
Register online at www.tournamentusasoftball.com
INQUIRIES: Vanessa O’Laughlin (510) 703-8352 email: Volaughlin@norcalusasoftball.org
Bob McCormick (661) 549-3987 email: Mccormickservices10@yahoo.com
Fred Williams (510) 772-0930 email: Basefjwilliams@aol.com
Raymond Rodriguez (760) 270-8181: email: Rodbros2010@gmail.com
TEAM ROSTER: Open Rosters, no player or pitcher restrictions
FORMAT: 4 game guarantee – Bracket or Pool Play format will be determined pending
number of team entries. Tournament limited to the first 12 teams paid.
Awards package to be determined.
Once the tournament draw has been completed it is final. Any teams that withdraw after the bracket has
been completed will NOT receive a refund.
TOURNAMENT SPECIAL RULES
All games will be governed by the 2019 USA Official Rules of Softball, except where modified as listed below. Teams will be registered USA Softball and may utilize an open roster for this event. Managers are responsible
for the conduct of their respective teams and fans. Any players, coaches, spectators or fans that use profanity,
incite trouble, promote poor sportsmanship, physical retaliation or bring into question the integrity of coaches, players, umpires or tournament staff, will be removed from the complex and may be removed for the
whole tournament if warranted. No warnings will be given. Additionally, destruction or abuse by guests of hotel/motel property, could subject the team to suspension from participation in any future USA Softball
sanctioned event or other appropriate action. Equipment: The double base will be used at first base on all fields. Official Softball of the tournament will be the Dudley SBC/CFP 12-inch yellow optic ball. All bats must be Certified/Approved USA Softball. Bat testing will be done prior to (team’s) 1st game and testing may be enforced at any time. A sticker will be applied on bat. Any player using an illegal bat or tampering with a sticker that has been placed on a bat will be eliminated from the tournament and subject to
further disciplinary action. All fastpitch batting helmets shall have 2 ear flaps and must be serviceable and properly worn. All catchers must wear a mask with throat protector, approved helmet with ear flaps. An extended wire protector may be worn in lieu of a throat protector attached to the mask. No infield practice will be allowed before games. Teams are always requested to warm-up in the outfield grass , specifically while maintenance crew is working on infield areas. Line-up cards: Available from official scorekeepers. Line-up cards must be submitted to the scorekeeper 15
minutes prior to scheduled game time. Line up cards must have team name, starting player names, positions and jersey number listed. All substitutes must also be listed with their names and numbers on the bottom of
the line-up card. Time Limit: All pool play, playoff or bracketed games will be played with a 1 hour and 45-minute time limit or 7 innings, whichever comes first. The Championship and “if needed” games will be played with no time limit. Game time is forfeit time. No grace period. Game time starts with 1st warm-up pitch. The Homeplate umpire will be the official timekeeper. Tie-Breaker: Pool Play games may end in a tie. For Bracketed, Playoff and Championship games a winner must be determined. Runner on second starting with 8th inning or after time has expired in effect for all playoff games. For tournament bracket play and pool play home team to be determined by coin flip at home plate with umpires. For pool play playoffs home team to be determined by highest seed. Home team will have 3rd
base dugout unless it is already occupied by a team from the previous game.
TIEBREAKERS: If there is a tie in the standings at the conclusion of play, tiebreakers will be as
follows:
(1) Overall record
(2) Head to head record between tied teams.
(3) Run Differential between tied teams.
(4) Run Differential versus entire pool.
(5) Coin Flip.
Total points determine team rankings for pool play: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 1 point for a shut-out
and 0 points for a loss. Any team having forfeited a game for any reason will automatically lose tiebreaker in
standings if tied with team having no forfeits.
USA Softball Run Ahead Rule of 15 after 3 innings, 12 after 4, or 7 after 5 innings (2 ½, 3 ½ and 4 ½ if home
team is ahead) in effect for ALL games
Extra Hitters (EH) and Designated Players (DP) are permitted and must be listed on the line-up card prior to
start of game. The EH must remain in the same spot in the batting order. Flex will be placed in the 10th
position in the line-up. USA Softball rules will apply when using EH or DP’s
Courtesy Runner Rule: A courtesy runner shall be allowed once per team per inning for any reason. Courtesy
Runner Will be the player who was the last official out recorded or any available substitute.
Courtesy runner must be entered immediately, after the player who is being run for reaches
base. Immediately will be defined as prior to the first legal or illegal pitch to the next batter.
A courtesy runner who is on base when his turn at-bat comes will be declared out.
Speed up rule: (Catchers Only) If there are two outs and the catcher is on base he may be replaced by
the player who was the last official out recorded. A speed-up runner who is on base when his turn at bat
comes will be declared out.
Protests: When a protest is made, (Rule interpretation only) play and time will be halted. The two
opposing team managers, the game umpires, the Umpire-in-Chief and/or the Deputy UIC (which may be
joined by an Assistant Tournament Director and/or members of the Protest Committee) will meet to discuss
the protest and rule on it. The specific rule interpretation and umpire decision being protested can be
appealed to the Tournament Director. The Tournament Director’s ruling is final. Rule interpretation protests
shall only be considered prior to the next pitch, legal or illegal. Illegal re-entry and illegal substitution protests
shall only be considered during the game.
Special Rules subject to additions or changes prior to start of tournament, managers will be notified of all
changes prior to teams first game of the tournament.
TOURNAMENT ENTRY FORM
TEAM NAME: _____________________________________________
MANAGER’S NAME: __________________________________________________
MANAGER’S ADDRESS: __________________________________________________
Street, City Zip
HOME PHONE: ____________________ CELL PHONE: ______________________
E-MAIL: _____________________________________________
ENTRY DEADLINE: Wednesday, January, 23, 2019
ENTRY FEE: $500.00 per team
CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Nor Cal USA Softball
CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS: Contact Sandy Scott @ (916) 962-1631
MAIL TO: Nor Cal USA Softball
c/o Sandy Scott
P.O. Box 2829, Fair Oaks, CA 95628
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES WILL BE POSTED ON WWW.TOURNAMENTUSASOFTBALL.ORG AND ARE
GENERALLY E-MAILED OUT TO TEAMS ON THE TUESDAY PRIOR TO TOURNAMENT START DATE
From Vanessa O’Laughlin, District 9 Commissioner / At Large Player Rep
The committee agreed that the tournament may need to be limited to 12 teams, the Rincon facility has 3 fields. We may be able to stretch it to 16 teams if we can use a field or two at the Pala reservation. Bob McCormick will be checking on this for us.
The deadline for team entry is set for January 23, 2019, that will give the committee time to adjust the plans if needed. I have received word that the buzz is on about this event so I am hoping to get it filled with teams paid in full in a timely manner.
Hotel accommodations at the Rincon Reservations are available but room rates are extremely high. There are smaller motels around the area that are about 10-15 minutes driving distance from the fields that teams can stay at for a cheaper room rate.
Nor Cal softball will collect all entry fees and will register teams that are not USA Softball registered for the tournament and 2019 season. The registration fee has been built into the entry fee.
I will be sending updates as needed. I must say thank you for everyone’s support and help getting the word out to our Men’s Fastpitch world. Please do not hesitate to contact me if any questions or concerns arise.
Best wishes to all,
Vanessa O’Laughlin, District 9 Commissioner / At Large Player Rep
(510) 703-8352
e-ail: Volaughlin@norcalusasoftball.org
website: www.norcalusasoftball.org