Check out the video above as Newport Gulls Manager Mike Coombs reviews the Ground Rules at Cardines Field with CBUAO umpires Danny Collins and Dan Salce, filmed by Newport Gulls Media's Milka Tolich on July 16, 2013 prior to Newport's game vs. the Laconia Muskrats.
Standard Ground Rules:
Please note: The unofficial ground rules listed below are for basic informational purposes only, and in no way reflect or represent an official ruling or document to be enforced on game day. Only the verbal ground rules reviewed by the home team manager with the opposing manager and umpires prior to a game shall be utilized in making, enforcing or reviewing any decision made on the field.
A batted ball striking the following areas is a dead ball:
- The open area behind the white line in the home team dugout closest to the backstop.
- The opening between the two dugouts.
- The far open area of the visiting dugout closest to the ballpark player entrance.
- Behind the white line where screens are stored opposite the concession stand.
- Into the opening of the Mudville Pub or behind the flagpole and scoreboard in foul territory in front of the warehouse.
A batted ball that strikes the warehouse without first hitting the fence or white pole is a foul ball. Any ball striking the ground, the fence or the white pole and bouncing off the warehouse is a fair ball.
A batted ball that hits any light tower above the fence line is a home run.
A batted ball becoming lodged between the light tower that is in play in right center field and the adjacent fence, if determined to be unplayable in the judgement of the umpire, is a ground-rule double.
A batted ball that becomes lodged in the ivy growing through the fence in right field is a ground rule double. A ball that directly deflects off the fence and onto the field of play is a live ball.
A batted ball striking any branch or part of the tree in left field where the fence is lowered and cut out is a home run.
A batted ball striking any tree over the fence line and bouncing back into the field of play is a home run.
A batted ball that strikes the screens, netting, fences or gates adjacent to foul territory on the first and third base side and behind the plate is a dead (foul) ball.
A thrown or batted fair ball that strikes the backstop, wood paneling or fence in foul territory and remains in the field of play is a live ball.
A thrown or batted fair ball that strikes the soft netting above the fences in foul territory is a dead ball.
A batted ball that lands behind the chalk line in the shared bullpen area is a dead ball, unless caught by a player who is still in the legal field of play at the time of making the catch.
A batted ball that bounces behind the chalk line in the shared bullpen area from fair territory is a ground rule double.
A batted fair ball that strikes any equipment or personnel in and around the shared bullpen area is a ground rule double.
A fielder throwing a batted ball from behind the bullpen in foul territory must return to the foul line or fair territory prior to throwing the ball to the infield. A fielder cannot directly throw the ball from foul territory in the left field corner wherein doing so would cause the ball to cross over the dead ball area and personnel in the bullpens on the throw. A fielder must have an unobstructed line of sight on the throw. If a fielder fails to quickly recover the ball, throws over the bullpen, or falls down in this area, in the judgement of the umpire a dead ball and ground rule double will be ruled.
