Braves Country Baseball and Softball

Empowering Communities, Building Champions: On and Off the Field

Braves Country Baseball and Softball is a youth association with a focus on emphasizing the importance of playing at the local level. Our mission is to create a deeper relationship with our fanbase while also bringing prestige back into playing for your community. We are committed to providing a strong cultural environment that will promote a lasting love for the game.

We would like to thank all of our 2024 Braves Country Baseball and Softball members, and welcome both new, and returning, members for our 2025 season. We’re glad you’re here!

Eligibility

What is the eligibility for Braves country baseball and softball?

They have to be registered and approved through LeagueApps registration as a BCBS park and meet the rec park criteria (refer to the next question).

What determines a rec All-Star team? A park must be deemed a rec park by county, city, or state.

Park must have an All-Star selection process, and players must have played at least 75% of their rec team’s games.

If a player plays up in his rec league, can he play in his age group for All-Stars?

Yes, players may play their appropriate age for All-Stars regardless of what age group they played for rec season.

Can our team play up in classification?

Yes, teams may play up in classification but may not play down.

Can All-Star teams also participate in travel tournaments?

Yes, as long as players and teams meet the rec criteria, they are not prohibited to participate in other tournaments.

Rosters

Can players be on two BCBS All-Star rosters?

No, players cannot be on two BCBS All-Star rosters at the same time. To switch rosters, they must gain BCBS advisory board approval.

Can teams pick up players?

No, rosters are frozen once the first BCBS game is played. To add players, they must gain BCBS advisory board approval.

Lineup

Can I play DH/EH?

Teams may bat anywhere from nine players up to their entire roster which would constitute a continuous batting order.

Anyone in the batting order at the start of the game may not be removed from the batting order except for a sub.

Free substitution on defense is allowed for any players in the batting order.

Refer to lineup construction in rules for more information.

If a player is injured and cannot bat, is that considered an out?

If the team has no eligible subs to bat for that player, they must take an out each time that player is unable to bat.

Refer to Hitting Topics in rules for more information.

Playing Rules

For baseball, how is a pitch count determined for a player?

The official pitch count is the number of the first pitch to the last batter they face.

When does a dropped third strike apply?

For baseball, dropped 3rd strike starts at 11u.

For softball, dropped 3rd strike is for 12u only.

When do balks apply for baseball?

Balks start at 11u for baseball.

Is there a run limit per inning?

Softball- 5 runs per inning max in all ages except for the 10u and 12u in the Braves Country Championship tournament only.

Baseball- 7 runs per inning in 5u-8u, and no run limit from 9u and up.

Refer to Game Topics in rules for more information

What determines tie breakers?

For baseball- Winning percentage, head-to-head (if only two teams), run differential (max 7), runs allowed, runs scored, coin flip

For softball- Record, head-to-head (if only two teams), runs allowed, runs scored, coin flip

Refer to Game Topics in rules for more information.

In baseball, why is there a run differential max?

Setting a max on run differential discourages coaches from running up a score and encourages them to play players in positions they may not otherwise play.

Can pitchers finish the batter when they are at their pitch limit?

Yes, pitchers can always finish a batter, but they can’t start a new one.

Time Limit

If time runs out with the home team batting and winning, do you finish the inning?

No, if a winner is already determined once the time limit runs out, we do not finish playing just for run differential.

In this instance, the game can end even in the middle of an at-bat.

Can the game end prior to the time running out?

Barring a mercy rule situation, all games must be played until time runs out.

Umpires do not have the authority to stop a game prior to time running out.