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Rules are up to date as of July 10, 2010.
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1.
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A regional tournament consists of teams from one area or region participating against each other.
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2.
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Rosters for Regional tournament play cannot exceed 18 boys.
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3.
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Entrants in the District or Regional Tournaments must be decided by the Regional Commissioners and
State VFW Baseball Chairman as soon as possible. Regional Tournament sites will be determined by
Regional Commissioners and approved by State VFW Baseball chairman. Regional Commissioner will make
the drawings for Regional Tournaments. In a situation where the Regional Commissioner is also a
coach of a team within the region, a drawing must take place in front of one or more coaches within
the region or an official from the Department Headquarters. Before any Varsity A or Varsity B
Regional Tournaments are held, the State A 13-14 Year Old Tournament must be completed.
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4.
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All VFW Baseball Tournaments games shall be of 7 innings duration unless a team is leading by 10 runs
at the end of the 5 innings, 4 ½ innings if the home team is leading by 10 runs, or if a team is leading
by that number of runs any complete inning thereafter. A team leading by 15 runs or more after 3 complete
innings, or any complete inning thereafter until the ten run rule becomes effective will be declared
the winner.
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5.
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At least one of the umpires for all regional and state tournaments must be registered. A registered
umpire shall act as the umpire-in-chief unless waived by the teams involved. All championship games
must have three umpires in state tournaments.
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6.
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All varsity regional tournaments shall be either single or double elimination with the decision to be
made by the coaches and regional commissioner involved; and the A Varsity and B Varsity State Tournaments
shall be single elimination. The AA Varsity State Tournament format maybe single elimination, double
elimination or pool play divided into two classes, majors and minors to be determined by the regional
commissioners. In AA, when a four region (champion and runner-up advancing to the state tournament)
format is used the four regional champions will be awarded home team status in the first around. All
registered teams must play in a qualifying regional tournament. If pool play format is used in an “open”
state tournament, there would be no need for a qualifying regional tournament.
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7.
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Insurance is mandatory for each team in tournament play. A copy must be placed on file with the State
VFW Headquarters by June 10th, at the same time team entry forms and team rosters are required.
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8.
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All teams, including coaches, shall be in baseball uniforms for tournament play. If a coach or team
player is not in uniform they will not be allowed on the field.
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9.
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A state tournament consists of one team from each region, plus a host team from the host region for
Class A Varsity and Class B Varsity State Tournaments. The Class AA Varsity State Tournament consists
of two teams from each region, with one team from the host region being the host team for the tournament.
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10.
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There will be seven A Varsity teams and a host team and seven B Varsity teams and a host team taking part
in the respective state tournaments. AA Varsity will have seven teams or all teams within the classes
divide into majors or minors.
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11.
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The State Varsity AA Tournament will be rotated by regions each year starting in 1976 with Region 1 as
the host, and following each year thereafter in order 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Starting in 2008 the State
Varsity AA Tournament, when a pool play format is used, will be divided into two divisions called Major
and Minor. Major Division will consist of teams with more advanced players than minor division teams. A
baseball program must have a team in the major division before they can have a team or teams in the minor
division. The format will be a pool play format and regional tournaments will be eliminated. Number of
teams and baseball diamonds will determine if the tournament will be played over a three day or four day
period. The format for the tournament will be determined by the registered teams in the Varsity AA Class.
One vote per team. Tournament can be played at one site or two sites with the Major Division at one
location and the Minor Division located at another site. The State A Tournament will be rotated each year
starting in 1976 with Region 3 as the host and following each year thereafter in the order 4, 5, 6, 7, 1
and 2. The State B Tournament will be rotated by regions each year starting in 1976 with Region 3 as the
host and following each year in the order 4, 5, 6,7, 1 and 2. The regional commissioners in each class
will pick the site of the State Tournament during the annual VFW Baseball Committee Meeting. Starting in
2009 tournament dates and sites will be chosen one year in advance. Starting in 2007 a State Tournament
Fee of $300 will be charge to each host team of a state tournament. Fee shall be paid to the State VFW
Headquarters within 30 days prior to the tournament. Starting in 2010 the right to waive the tournament
shall be in order for all classes until November 1st of the prior year the tournament will be play in,
and if the tournament is waived it shall be offer to another team within the region or it shall progress
to the next region in order. The Regional Commissioner shall select a host site by January 1st of the year
the tournament wil1 be played in.
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12.
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Rosters for State Tournament play cannot exceed 18 players for AA, A and B tournaments.
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13.
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The game to determine 7th and 8th place in the AA, A and B State Tournaments will not be played in
any of the tournaments.
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14.
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Any team that does not report to play or notify the tournament officials at any regional or state
tournament of a bonafide reason for being late by 30 minutes past the time established to play, shall
forfeit the game.
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15.
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State tournaments will not be played on any diamond where another baseball tournament is being played
on the same diamond on the same dates.
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16.
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Trophies shall be furnished for state tournaments by the Department of South Dakota Veterans of Foreign
Wars. Trophies for all state tournaments with eight team format shall be awarded to the winner, runner-up,
third and fifth place winners. Individual medals will also be presented to the members of all the teams
that participate in the tournament. Trophies for all state tournaments with a pool format shall be awarded
to the winner, runner-up, third place winner and in some tournaments their maybe an 4th place trophy.
Individual medals will be presented to members of the top four teams. Sportsmanship Team Plaque will be
presented in the memory of Louie Thury by the South Dakota Baseball Umpire Association for the Varsity AA,
A and B Tournaments. Sportsmanship Team Plaque will be presented in memory of William Radigan by the South
Dakota Veterans of Foreign Wars for 13-14 Year Old AA and A Tournaments. These awards are the only awards
presented at a VFW State Tournament.
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17.
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Photo copies of Birth, Baptism or Hospital Certificates; Certified Copy from the Bureau of Vital Statistics
or a valid Driver’s License must be presented at the regional and state tournaments.
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18.
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Birth certificates and team rosters for state tournament play should be submitted to the tournament chairman
if possible at least 2 hours before game time so that they may be checked. It is also necessary to check birth
certificates and rosters at regional tournaments.
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19.
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Tournament officials have complete autonomy on taking whatever action is necessary in behavior problems of
participants. Severe cases may result in a team being disqualified.
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20.
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In interest of time all rained out or postponed championship round ball games in tournament play will begin
from point of stoppage unless the Ten Run Rule has taken effect. It is recommended during regular league play
that if a game is rained out it should be called a game if five or more innings have been played.
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