2026 Fastpitch Softball at SMLL

This page describes the 20261 spring softball season at SMLL.

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Divisions

Common Rules

The following rules apply to all divisions:

  • 5-run limit per team per inning2
  • Pitchers may wear a face mask while in the pitching position.
  • Pitchers are only allowed to pitch 2 consecutive innings, after which another pitcher must be substituted in for at least 1 inning. After this, the original pitcher may return.
  • A team will have a minimum of 8 players at game time. A maximum of 2 players may be borrowed from the opponent to reach 8. A player may only be picked up 3 times per season.
  • Continuous batting order is used: all rostered players will bat, in roster order, whether or not they are playing a defensive position in the current inning.
  • Parent or coach may serve as umpire if no official is available
  • Runners are required to slide or attempt to avoid a defensive player on base if the play on the runner is close.3

8U

No 8U at SMLL this season! We didn’t have enough players for more than 1 team.

10U

Ages 7-10*
Ball 11” standard softball*
Pitch Distance 35’
Base Distance 60’
Game Times 75 minutes or 7 innings*
Run Rules 5 runs per team per half-inning*

:page_facing_up:     *: ages4, balls5, limits6, runs2

10U is our transition division, where girls begin to play with nearly all the regular rules of fastpitch softball.

10U Rule Highlights

:heavy_check_mark: Uncaught 3rd strike rule IS APPLIED
:x: Infield fly rule IS NOT APPLIED

10U Lead-Offs

Lead-off rules follow those of regular NSA fastpitch softball:

Rule 8.8(u): The baserunner is out
“when the baserunner(s) fails to keep contact with their base until a legally pitched ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. The ball is dead, ‘NO PITCH’ is declared and the baserunner(s) is declared out.”

12U

Ages 11-12*
Ball 12” standard softball*
Pitch Distance 40’
Base Distance 60’
Game Times 90 minutes or 7 innings*
Run Rules 5 runs per team per half-inning*

:page_facing_up:     *: ages4, balls5, limits6, runs2

Our 12U division has full NSA fastpitch softball rules.

12U Rule Highlights

:heavy_check_mark: Uncaught 3rd strike rule IS APPLIED
:x: Infield fly rule IS NOT APPLIED

15U

Ages 12-15
Ball 12” standard softball*
Pitch Distance 43’
Base Distance 60’
Game Times 90 minutes or 7 innings*
Run Rules 5 runs per team per half-inning*

:page_facing_up:     *: ages4, balls5, limits6

15U Ground Rules

  • 40 foot pitch distance may be used if a pitching rubber is not available at 43 feet

15U Rule Highlights

:heavy_check_mark: Uncaught 3rd strike rule IS APPLIED
:heavy_check_mark: Infield fly rule IS APPLIED
:heavy_check_mark: Metal cleats are allowed. Rule 3.4, Equipment/Shoes: “Metal cleats or any type of shoe that has exposed metal on the sole other than the cleat or rivet are not legal in youth play in the 12u division and younger. Metal cleats are legal in 14u, 16u, 18u….

Nearby Leagues

SMLL schedules interleague games throughout the season with:

Mariposa Girls Softball (aka MGS)7
Games are played at Mariposa County High School: 5074 Old Hwy N, Mariposa, CA 95338

Other nearby leagues include:

Schedules

Please see our softball schedules page for game times and live scores.

Footnotes

  1. [Past Years] For previous years, see: 2023, 2024. 2025 Softball. ↩

  2. [Run Limits] 5-run limit is found in LL Rule 5.07: “… (Minor League: The side is retired when three offensive players are legally put out, called out by an umpire, or when all players on the roster have batted one time in the half-inning or when the offensive team scores five (5) runs.” ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  3. [Sliding] There is no “must slide” rule. Little League says runners must “slide or attempt to avoid”. NSA is more colorful with Rule 8.7: “When a defensive player has the ball and is waiting for the runner and the runner remains on his/her feet and deliberately, with great force, crashes into the defensive player, the runner is declared out. The ball is dead, and all other runners must return to the last base touched at the time of the collision.” ↩

  4. [Ages] New for the 2025-26 season, division ages listed here are based on Sep-Aug age groups. See the USSSA Softball age calculator, and the NSA announcement. In prior seasons, SMLL aligning with Little League in using birth year divisions. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. [Softballs] .47 COR, 375 lb compression, 11” or 12” circumference ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  6. [Time Limits] For game limits in marked divisions, no new inning is started after the time or inning limit is reached. Once an inning has started, it must be finished regardless of time unless the home team is ahead. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  7. [Partners] MGS and SMLL have worked in close partnership each year to create a strong interleague program. ↩