About

The Lynnfield (Mass.) Men’s Over-40 Softball League is an organization that provides its participants with a recreational and social outlet to play softball during the Spring and Summer months in a collegial, fraternal-like environment.

The league is open to all current or former male residents of the town who will be 40 years of age or older either at the start of the 2011 season on April 26, or during the course of the 15-game schedule, which ends on August 11.

Teams play one game a week on either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday nights.  Any rainouts or makeup games that may be required are typically rescheduled on Monday evenings.  ASA umpires oversee all league games.

The cost to play in 2011 is $110 per player (non-refundable), and for those who also wish to participate in the league’s annual golf tournament, the cost is $160 per player.  If for any reason the golf tournament should be cancelled, this additional $50 fee will be refunded.

Mission Statement

The goal of the Lynnfield Men’s Over-40 Softball League is to provide an enjoyable season of competitive – but not cutthroat – softball for men 40 years of age and over.  All participants need to fully understand, support, and agree with the league’s core founding principles of safety, sportsmanship, respect for all coaches, players, and umpires, mature behavior, and having a pleasant night out.

Fields

All league games are played at either the softball diamond behind St. Maria Goretti’s Church on Chestnut Street, or the softball diamond behind Lynnfield High School on Essex Street.  Please consult the schedule for the exact field being used for a particular game.  All games start promptly at 6:30 p.m.

Specific League Rules

The Lynnfield Men’s Over-40 Softball League features the following specific rules that are intended to promote the safety of its players and as a means to try and prevent injuries:

  • Wooden Bats Only:  All players must use the ASA-approved wooden bats that are supplied by the league.  No aluminum bats are allowed.  The bats are stored in the sheds at each field, and must be returned to those locations after each game.  Bats cannot be taken home as they are shared by all teams.
  • No Metal Cleats:  Players are not allowed to wear metal cleats.  Only rubber-soled cleats or sneakers can be worn.
  • No Bunting:  Bunting as a means to either get on base or to sacrifice a runner along is not allowed.
  • No Leading or Stealing:  Once a player reaches a base, no leading or stealing is permitted.  Players must have one foot on the base in question at all times and cannot advance until the batter puts the ball into play.
  • No Sliding or Diving into Bases:  Sliding or diving into any base or Home Plate is strictly prohibited.  Any player doing so will be called out.
  • Overrunning of Bases:  A runner may overrun first base, second base, and third base with no penalty.  If the runner subsequently decides to advance to the next base, he must re-tag the overrun base in question first prior to advancing.  Runners who fail to re-tag will be called out.
  • No Blocking of Bases:  No defensive player may prevent a runner from reaching either a base or Home Plate by blocking or otherwise obstructing the runner in any manner.  If this occurs, the umpire, at his discretion, may choose to call the runner safe without his having touched either the base in question or Home Plate.
  • Substitute Runner:  Due to injury, fatigue, or as a concession to the aging process, a team may elect to use a substitute runner for one of its players, but only after they reach a base (i.e., not from the batter’s box).  This substitute runner also must be the player who made the last out in the lineup — no exceptions.
  • No Wild Pitches/Passed Balls:  There are neither no wild pitches nor passed balls.  Any runners on base cannot advance if this happens.
  • No Third Strike on Foul Ball:  If a batter hits a foul ball after two strikes, he is not out.
  • Minimum Number of Players:  In order to start a game, both teams need to have a minimum of eight players in the field.  Typically, this involves having defensive position players at 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, three outfielders, plus a pitcher, with the shorthanded team(s) “borrowing” a player from the opposing team to be the catcher.  However, by the start of the top of the second inning, teams need to have at least nine of their own players in the field, otherwise the team that is shorthanded will forfeit the game and be given a loss in the standings, and the opposing team will be awarded a win.  By mutual consent of both coaches and the umpire, the game can then continue to be played if both teams just want to use it as a scrimmage.

Ground Rules for Field At St. Maria Goretti’s

  • Any batted ball that hits the hill in left- and left-center field on the fly is a home run.
  • Any batted ball that hits the hill in left- and left- field on one bounce is a ground-rule double.
  • Any batted ball that rolls past the outfielders and onto the hill in left- and left-center field is a ground-rule double.
  • Any batted ball that rolls past the outfielders and into the church parking lot is a home run.

Legal Notices

To the furthest extent permitted by law, all participants in the Lynnfield Men’s Over-40 Softball League, hereinafter called the “the player,” hereby agree and acknowledge this league is not an official program of the Town of Lynnfield, or any agency, officer, or employee thereof.  The player further agrees, understands, and acknowledges that watching and participating in these games is inherently dangerous and injuries and death can occur.  The player hereby further agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Town of Lynnfield and any agency, officer, and employee thereof, as well as any and all league officers, members, agents, employees, or servants, from and against any and all claims or demands, either legal or equitable, on account of or arising out of the player’s participation in this league.  The player agrees to abide by all rules and regulations as may be established from time to time by the league officials concerning the participation in various league activities, and the player further agrees to conduct himself as a gentleman at all times.

The information and content on this web site are copyrighted © 2011 by the Lynnfield Men’s Over-40 Softball League.  All rights reserved.  All information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

Web Site Design

The Lynnfield Men’s Over-40 Softball League web site was designed by Life Is Local, a web  site design and online marketing firm based in Pepperell, Mass.  If you need a new web site, help in revamping an existing site, or want to talk about how you can promote your business or organization using today’s social media tools, please contact Chuck Smith at Life Is Local.

Header image courtesy of flickr user laura padgett, released under a Creative Commons License.

Lynnfield-specific images taken by, and courtesy of, Kim Ricciardone.