Policies and Information
Insurance verification – All teams must submit proof of insurance for each team participating in this tournament. This is the responsibility of the head coach or team manager. No team will play without proof of insurance.
Right to modify and amend – Tournament management retains exclusive right to modify and/or amend these Rules and Regulations for the Tournament. Each team is required to review the Rules and Regulations prior and during this tournament.
Acknowledgement of rules and policies – Your electronic signature on your applications acknowledges that you have reviewed and accepted tournament Rules and Policies as posted on the website.
Team Name Change – The Keystone Travel Cup Will NOT change a teams name on the web site unless the team manager listed on the registration submits a request via e-mail or letter. If this is not done within 20 days of the tournament all mailings, tournament information, and T-shirts will reflect the original name that was posted by the teams manager or coach. There are NO exceptions!
Rules and Tournament Schedule. – In the event there are any changes and/or modifications to the Rules and/or Schedule, said changes/modifications will be posted on the website and it is the responsibility of all coaches to regularly check for any changes and/or modifications.
Change in tournament format – Due to any last minute changes in teams, weather or any other reasons, the tournament director reserves the right to modify the format of this event. Any changes of the format will be posted as soon as possible online, announced to the teams during the tournament.
There is “Zero” tolerance for any verbal or physical abuse between parents, coaches, players and the particular volunteer working at that location. Any altercation of this nature will result in the removal of all fans of that team, as well as the team and the coaches themselves form the ball park, the tournament, and all future tournaments. This not only includes that team, but the whole organization with whom they are affiliated with.
Outside food and beverage – No outside food and/or beverage is permitted within the ballpark. Please request that your fans comply with this rule. NOTE – If any game played outside of Showers Field and the facility does not have concessions, then you may bring in outside food and/or beverages. Please check with the facility.
Alcoholic is Prohibited at all facilities- no exceptions
Teams that do not meet deadlines for required Hotel information, Rosters, Insurance forms will not be eligible to participate in the Tournament! Teams that are removed from the tournament, because of their inability to meet the set deadlines will not receive a refund of their fee’s. The deadline are as follow
Insurance forms deadline: May 15th
Roster forms deadline: May 20th
If the Keystone Travel Cup, herein known as tournament, is canceled due to inclement weather, refunds will be issued as follows: If no games are played a full credit for next year’s tournament will be issued. This credit will be carried over to the following year only. If one game is played a half credit towards the tournament will be issued for next year’s Tournament. If two are games played there will be no credits, transfers or refunds for the next years tournament.
If a team wishes to transfer or sell their tournament credit to another team it must be in writing with all correspondents to be sent to the tournament management. This team must be approved by the tournament management before a credit is issued or transferred. If a team wishes to list their credit on the tournament website it will be at no charge to that team. All funds, monies or fee’s to transfer credit to another team will be between those two teams only. The tournament management will not be responsible for any financial transactions between teams. The tournament management will only be responsible to post the team’s information or credits on the website.
Refund Policy: Withdrawal more than 45 days prior to the tournament- In all cases, a team must provide written notice to tournament management about their intent to withdraw from the tournament. If this notice is received at least 46 days prior to the tournament, tournament will refund the entry fee less a One hundred and Fifty Dollars ($ 150.00) administrative fee. Withdrawal less than 45 days prior to the tournament – There are NO refunds for any withdrawal within forty five (45) days of the Tournament date.
Deposit Policy: The tournament will take a deposit to hold a spot for your team until April 30th. You must complete and sign the tournament application then mail the application with your $200.00 deposit. We will place your team on the confirmed list once signed application and deposit is received. The tournament management will hold your teams spot open until May 1st if total fee’s are not received by this date we will open your spot to other teams. Your team will forfeit the whole deposit once your team is removed from conformed list.
Tournament Rules
The tournament management may remove an organization from future events. If your team or organization has had a history of verbal abuse towards umpires, players, fans, coaches, high school volunteers or tournament employees or a history of players, fan’s or coaches being ejected from games on a regular basis your team or organization will not be invited to play in our tournament. The final decision will be up to the tournament director’s. All decisions are final with no exceptions and no appeals!
Teams must be at the field 30 minutes before their game. If the previous games end early, the next game will start in exactly 15 minutes. Teams must be ready to play or they forfeit.
Home team will be determined by coin flip only during the Pool Play games. During the Championship and/or Elimination Rounds, the “home” team will always be the higher seed. If both teams are the same seed, then a coin flip will be taken (unless the teams have previously played and, if so, “head-to-head” tie-breaker shall be used for the “home team”) The umpires do not need to be present for the coin flip.
Games suspended by rain will be handled by the umpire.
No metal cleats/spikes. No exceptions will be made.
Emergency contact number – Each team must have, at least, one (1) emergency contact number where they can be easily reached during the tournament.
Tie game or 2:15 time limit (speed up rule): If, at the end of regulation pool play or both teams are tied after time limit. The following will occur: “The Shoot Out” the visiting team will place the player who made the last out on second base; each batter will begin with a pitch count of 3 balls and 2 strikes both teams will bat until conclusion of inning. There are no ties a winner must be determined at the end of the inning and game.!!! “Note if an inning starts before the time limit ends that inning must be completed before “the shoot out” can begin”
All Teams will play 3 pool play games. These teams may or may not be in your pool. Your team’s record win / loss record will determine which championship pool division you play in.
The tournament will follow the ‘Pennsylvania High School Rules’, PIAA, with exceptions list in tournament rules.
Exception: A 2:15 time limit will be in effect. If an inning starts and the home team is behind, the inning will be completed.
Game two (2) hour time limit starts on delivery of first pitch teams can play up to 9 inning in the time limit before using shoot out. Exception there is no time limit on championship and semi-final games.
Exception Run Rule: The run rules will in come in effect after a team is up 15 runs after 3 innings and 10 runs after 5 innings.
Exception: DH and EH can be used; however, if you choose to use an EH, you must have 10 players bat the entire game, if you lose a player and only have 9 players left in the batting order, the 10th batter will be an out. You can replace that player with another player that has not yet played in the game.
Exception: Speed up Rule – A runner can be used for the pitcher and catcher upon reaching base. This player must be someone not in the game.
Each team will be required to check the website daily for updates on standings during the tournament. After pool play after 8:00 PM, each team will be required to check website for Sundays championship bracket schedule
Keep the games moving, on deck batters must retrieve all balls. Bench players should be expected with assisting to retrieve any foul balls that leave the park.
In the event of rain or other matters beyond the control of the Tournament Director, the Tournament Director reserves the right to change the tournament format as he sees fit in order to complete the tournament in the scheduled time period.
Sunday scores will not be posted for championship rounds. In championship games its win or go home.
Baseballs – All teams must provide two (2) new baseballs to the home plate umpire prior to the start of the game. The baseballs should be of high school baseball quality. Each team must provide used baseballs as needed during the course of the game. Coaches please see that each team retrieves foul balls on their respective sides.
Physical confrontation – This tournament has “zero tolerance” for any physical confrontations by players, coaches, fans or anyone else. Upon the first violation, the violating party shall be removed from the facility and the tournament. Once again, absolutely no physical confrontations will be permitted, tolerated and/or found to be acceptable.
No pre-game warm up is allowed on the infield.
Team using an illegal bat at home plate will receive an out.
Score Verification during Game – It is the responsibility of the home team to maintain the score book. At the end of each inning, the home team is required to provide the score to the umpire. Any score disputes should be resolved at this time. Once the next inning starts, the score for the previous inning is final.
No team can share a player with another team. If teams are caught sharing players that player’s position in the lineup will be an out that each at bat. Plus the player will be removed from the tournament. If team’s attempts this twice the teams will be removed from the tournament.
All teams need to be prepared to play Friday morning.
After Pool Play will be completed weather permitting. Teams that advance to championship play depending on pool positions. Check tie breaking rules in the event of a tie in pool play. Note all teams are required to check the website after 8:00 to locate their game schedule for The next day. The higher seeded team will be home team during championship games.
In the event of a tie in pool play to determine a pool winner or wild card team, (1st) tie-breaker is head to head, (2nd) lowest runs allowed, (3rd) Run differential, (4th) Total runs scored, (5th) Flip of a coin, in the case of a three-way tie, head to head will be eliminated.
THIS APPLIES TO all DIVISIONS: We understand that PA High School rules require teams to use BBCORE -3 bats.
Pinch Runner – This player must be someone not in the game.
All decisions made by the umpire are final. Any player or coach who verbally abuses an umpire will be ejected from that game and the next game. A second ejection of a player or coach means removal from the tournament! If a coach, player or fan physically assaults on umpire the team and it’s fans will be removed from the tournament and the local authorities will be contacted to file charges. Team forfeiture: in the event an ejection is made and the ejected party refuses to leave the playing facility, the Tournament Director, at his sole discretion, may elect to declare a forfeiture of the game and/or tournament. The tournament director shall have final decision on all tournament ejections.
Coaches must wear tennis shoes or cleats on field. (No Sandals) Coach must also wear team shirt with logo or team jersey.
All forfeits result in a 7 to 0 victory in the score book.
Final Score Verification: A tournament site manual will be located inside the concession stand. In the absence of a concession stand, it will be inside one of the dugouts. At the end of each game both teams are required to record their score in the site manual and sign it. After scores are posted on the website, teams have up to four hours to dispute the posted score. After four hours the posted score is final.
