BASEBALL

Rules committee reinforces definition of regulation games

The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee issued a reminder March 11 of existing rules governing regulation games and doubleheaders.

The committee, in a memorandum to conferences and institutions sponsoring baseball and to umpire coordinators, noted that Baseball Rule 5-7's definition of a doubleheader does not permit a team that plays one opponent in the morning and another in the afternoon to count the competition as a doubleheader, or apply a provision in the rule to limit the games to seven innings. Both games must be nine innings to be considered regulation contests for statistical and championships
selection purposes.

It also noted that Rule 5-8 prohibits counting as a regulation contest games that have been scheduled or shortened to less than nine innings.

The NCAA membership services staff, in response to questions from the membership regarding enforcement of the rules, has published an educational item in the NCAA's online Legislative Services Database pertaining to seven-inning games.

The item states that a scheduled seven-inning game is a countable contest for purposes of Bylaw 17 maximum-contest limitations, including a game that does not meet the baseball playing rules definition of a regulation contest.

Staff contacts: Ty Halpin (baseball rules) and Leeland Zeller (membership services).

DEGREE COMPLETION

Division II invites applicants for awards totaling $390,000

Applications are being accepted for
the NCAA Division II Degree-Completion Award Program.

The program provides deserving Division II student-athletes with financial assistance to complete their undergraduate studies. The application form and requirements for applying for the 2005-06 awards may be downloaded at www1.
ncaa.org/membership/scholarships/degree-completion/d2/ index. html.

Application materials must be postmarked not later than April 8 to be considered.

The program was implemented in 2002 as part of a division-wide commitment to increasing education resources. For 2005, about $390,000 will be awarded.

Staff contact: Rich McGlynn.

LITIGATION

Settlement reached in lawsuit filed by baseball bat maker

Parties to a lawsuit by a baseball bat manufacturer alleging tortious interference with a contract have agreed to a settlement in a Detroit federal court.

Steve Baum of Baum Research and Development Co. agreed to the settlement with the NCAA, the Sporting Goods Manufacturers' Association and three other bat manufacturers.

The lawsuit, filed in 1998, claimed that the Association favored metal-bat manufacturers in devising standards for bats used in NCAA baseball.

Staff contact: Elsa Cole.

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