As we prepare for the second week of play, please make note of these clarifications!
Firstly, ALL TEAM MUST USE GAMECHANGER AND RECORD ALL SUBSTITUTIONS. Both teams. When a team makes a change – this is just like High School, college and beyond – you MUST notify the umpire and opposing team.
After my last rule clarification, it also became clear that we needed to clarify the DH rule and the Extra hitter rule. Here they are pasted from the Rulebook starting at page 7 found here: https://baseballmaine.com/go/2025Rules
The Designated Hitter Rule (Pitcher Only) – The DH Rule is allowed in Maine American Legion
Baseball. Refer to Rule 5.11 of the Official MLB Rules and ALB National Rule 1I. If you use the
designated hitter, it must be for the pitcher only for the junior and senior program. The American
Legion does not use the “Ohanti Rule.”
Also Please note Note the EH can not sub into the field at any time. Make to plan accordingly when preparing your lineup.
Note the Extra Hitter rule:
Extra Hitter Rule – Applies to Regular Season games ONLY.
1. Teams may bat a nine (9) player line-up or a ten (10) player line-up using an Extra Hitter
(EH). Such a line-up must be declared before the start of the game and used the entire game.
RATIONALE: Teams have the option of batting the traditional 9-man batting order (with or
without a DH) or adding a 10th hitter. Using an Extra Hitter will allow more student/athletes to
participate in the competition.
2. If a team uses a line-up that contains ten (10) players, the player in the Extra Hitter position,
while not actually playing a defensive position, will be treated as such for substitution purposes.
The declared Extra Hitter may not substitute in any defensive position.
RATIONALE: Unlike the Designated Hitter, who is allowed to substitute in any defensive
position, the Extra Hitter is not allowed to substitute in defensively; he is strictly a hitter. This
simplifies administration of the rule. The language also clarifies that if the EH is substituted for
(Pinch hit or run), his substitute now becomes the EH.
3. If a team uses a line-up that contains ten (10) players, all starting players may be removed
and re-enter the game once, but must re-enter in their original position in the batting order. Non-
starters are not allowed to re-enter. When a starter re-enters, the player in the starter’s batting
position in the batting order must be removed from the game and is ineligible for the remainder
of the game.
RATIONALE: The EH is treated the same as the other starters for purposes of the re-entry rule.
Once again, this simplifies administration of the rule.