Provincial Fast Pitch Championships

TOURNAMENTS must be registered online at the MHSAA website at least one week prior to the tournament start date.

ONLINE ROSTER is due by MAY 20. All teams must enter their roster online regardless of whether or not they will be attending the Provincial Championships.

ZONE AND INTERZONE PLAYOFFS must be completed by MAY 26. Please inform the MHSAA as soon as your representative has been determined.

WILDCARD APPLICATIONS are due by MAY 25 at 1:00 pm sharp. Wildcards are open to zone semi-finalists and finalists only. Applications must include the
following:
- Complete season record of all games played (exhibition, league, tournament). Season Record Form available on the MHSAA website.
- Letter of intent to participate signed by the Principal.
- All Schools applying for a wildcard must pay a $25 non-refundable application fee. Schools selected to play in a wildcard game will additionally be invoiced for the wildcard game fee of $125. The school will then have 20 working days from the date of the invoice to pay the fee(s) or they will be subject to further sanctioning.

If your application does not include the complete season record and letter of intent, and/or is late, the application will not be considered. See page 131 for an example wildcard application. Wildcard game date and location will be determined once the teams have been selected. Automatic wildcard spots may be awarded.

SEEDING INFORMATION will be taken from the MHSAA website. All teams will have until MAY 26 to ensure their season record accurately reflects all games played throughout the season. In addition any team that participates in an out of province tournament or exhibition game must email greg@mhsaa.ca with the date, opponent(s) and scores of those games by the deadline above.

FORMAT & RULES
A) FORMAT: Championship will be twelve (12) team round robin with four (4) pools of three (3). There will be a championship play-off with no consolation.

B) RULES: Softball Canada (U19 category) rules will be in effect. Special playing rules approved by the MHSAA will take precedence over playing rules in the official rule book.

It is expected that all teams attend Opening Ceremonies and relatedfunctions. Non-attendance may result in fines, and/or further sanctions
against the school.

Uniform Rule: Style and colour of uniform must be consistent throughout the team. Each team must have matching caps (no commercial advertising allowed on them) and shirts with clearly visible numbers on the shirts. (No commercial or ‘club’ shirts permitted.) Coaches must wear school team cap. Coaches should be advised that if the uniform rule is not adhered to, the team may not be allowed to compete and may be fined up to $200. The school may also be put on probation (probation being that if the school violates the infraction again, the school may be fined $200 and be suspended from all MHSAA activities). Advertising on uniforms must adhere to guidelines as outlined on pages 132-133 of the MHSAA Handbook.

Fast Pitch:
All games except for semi-finals and finals will be 5 innings; 10-run rule after 3 innings. All semi-final and final games - 7 innings with 10-run rule after 5 innings. Ties at all stages must be broken by continuation of play until a winner is declared. Tie breakers will be decided by the International Tie Breaker Rule. The last batter at the end of regulation play for the home team, will start the extra inning at second base. Play will continue until a winner is decided. 

The following procedure will be used to break any ties in the pool following the completion of pool play:
1. Won/Lost records (%). If still tied, then:
2. Winners of games between tied teams
3. Difference PLUS or MINUS of total runs scored, with a limit of 7 PLUS or MINUS per game allowed.
      (a) If still tied within 3) then: The least (fewest) amount of runs scored against in all games will be used. If still tied, then:
      (b) The total runs scored in all games will be used with a maximum of 10 runs scored per game will be used. If still tied, then:
      (c) Positions will be settled by a coin toss.

Pitching distance - 43 feet. (measurement is from the back of home plate to the front of the pitching rubber)

Official batting helmets must be worn while batting and while running bases.

Smoking or chewing tobacco will not be permitted on the field or on the player benches while the game is in progress.

Back catchers must wear protective helmet and mask with an attached throat protector, in addition to the appropriate protective wear. All of this equipment
is to fit properly.

For MHSAA competitions the 9 person batter order will be used.

AWARDS
The winner will receive the championship banner, championship t-shirt, and 1 st place medals (16 each). The finalists will receive the finalist banner, and 2 nd place medals (16). Third place team will receive a plaque and bronze medals (16). An all-star team along with a M.V.P. will be selected.

SUPERVISION
At all MHSAA Provincial Championships, interzone and wildcard games, participants must have a teacher from the school division in attendance as a supervisor, or they will not be allowed to compete. In individual sports where it may be unrealistic for one teacher to accompany one student, the zone may designate teacher supervisors for athletes. This must be a written request, signed by each principal involved, and approved by the MHSAA, well in advance. The designated teacher supervisor should have a copy of the letter, with them during the championship. Teachers employed in the school division where they are coaching a team, may be the supervisor for that team. The responsibility rests with the school to ensure that supervisor(s) are fully acquainted with all MHSAA rules, regulations, and consequences. Violation of this rule may result in a fine up to a maximum of $200.

INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURE
The MHSAA, in cases of severe weather disruptions, may have to make decisions as to the possible rescheduling of Provincial Championships. MHSAA decisions will be based on Environment Canada weather reports, the Manitoba Highway reports and weather conditions at the host site. Information on possible schedule changes will be posted on the host website between 6:30 and 7:00 am on the day of the Championship. Schools will also be emailed any changes. In case of inclement weather, schools should refrain from travelling to Provincial Championships until they receive notification from the MHSAA Assistant Executive Director with instructions and updated scheduling. Schools deciding to travel prior to receiving notification from MHSAA Assistant Executive Director do so at their own risk and will be responsible for their travel and hotel costs, should the event be postponed or changed. Many schools travel to Provincial Championships on the day prior to the championship beginning. In cases where most schools are already at the host site, the convenor along with MHSAA assistant director will try to modify schedules to accommodate teams that will be arriving later due to weather conditions.