BASEBALL

Championship Dates: Thursday, April 17 - Sunday, April 20, 2008 (rain date is Monday, April 21) hosted by Barton College in Wilson, NC. (Required coaches meeting Wednesday evening April 16 at TBA)

League Created Schedules: 2006-2010 Baseball Schedules (09/07)

Method: A nine team/all inclusive double elimination tournament at a site determined by bid. Minimally two umpires will be used for all tournament games with the exception that 3 umpires will be used for championship game(s). NCAA official rulebook will govern all tournament games.
In the event weather requires cancellation of the tournament, the highest seeded team remaining in the tournament well be declared league champion and receive the NCAA automatic qualification.

Seeding ties: Ties will be broken in the following manner: 1) Head to head results during the regular season for a two way tie; 2) Records against all opponents involved in the tie; 3) record against opponents not involved in the tie working down from #1; 4) random selection by Commissioner.

Regular season play: Conference teams will play each other in a three game series each year per distributed schedule. The first two games of each series will be played, starting at noon Saturday (Friday of Easter Weekend) (Day 1), as a 9-inning first game and 7-inning second game doubleheader. The third nine inning game is played on Sunday (Saturday of Easter Weekend) (Day 2) at the same site starting at 1:00 PM or Link To: Baseball: Sunday Latest Start Time in the event of a delayed start.  The schedule will reflect a rotation each year as described previously and Erskine College home dates exception (policy - nine inning game played Friday rather than Sunday). Teams will alternate sites for the three home games each year. Each member is required to distribute its full schedule to every other member and the conference office prior to February, 1st. Each member is required to pay their umpires check (Hal Stewart, C/O the league Office) for umpiring for the year by February 15th. Members agree to admit opponents students, with student ID, without charge (8/11/04).

Rainouts: (1) If it rains out contest(s) Day 1, play double header (two 7 inning games) on Day 2. (2) Monday will be used as the rain date when Saturday games are cancelled.  (3) When games can't be played on consecutive days, the Monday rain date will be used only with both institutions Athletics Director approval.  (4) Rainouts will be cancelled and tournament seedings are based on won-loss percentage.

Media Policy Regarding Officials: Link to Conference Media Policy

Delay of Game Policy: Link to:  Delayed Game Conference Policy

Conference Pre-Game Policy: Link to: Baseball Pre-game Policy (Batting Practice, etc.)

Baseball Code of Conduct: Link to: Baseball Code of Conduct

Admissions Policy: Any sport in which there is an admissions charge, Conference Carolinas students with valid ID to be admitted free (except rented facilities off campus). Passed 8-11-04.

Ejection Policy: When a player or team party member is ejected both the team’s coach and (if a CVAC opponent) the opposing coach are to notify their Athletic Director, in writing, within two working days. The Athletic Director will complete and submit to the CVAC office the Ejection Report Form found on the web.

A coach ejected for an "unsporting act" will be cautioned by the institution’s Athletic Director or immediate superior in a form provided by the conference. Copies of cautions and suspensions will be provided to the institution’s President, FAR, the Supervisor of Officials and the Commissioner. A second ejection in the same year will, minimally, carry a next game suspension. A third ejection in the same year will, minimally, carry a next two games suspension. End of year suspensions will be carried forward to the next year.
Ejected coaches must leave sight of the playing field/floor when ejected. If the ejected coach does not comply in a timely manner, the game is forfeited.

Halted Game Policy: Definition - A halted baseball games occurs when the umpire terminates play by calling " Game " and the contest is either not a regulation game by NCAA rules or is a tie defined by NCAA rules.

Philosophical basis - To complete as many league games as possible within the weekend format and play no more than 2 games any individual day.

1) The decision to call " Game " is the responsibility of game umpires, using consolation at the umpire's discretion.
2) A conference game is deemed completed by NCAA rules when:

A) After 4 1/2 innings the home team is leading.
B) After 5 equal innings the visiting team is leading.

3) Halted games are to resumed, at the halted point (see NCAA rules 5-8-b), prior to the next contest between opponents. A conference game is deemed halted when the non-completed or tied contest:

A) The second game of a first day doubleheader.
B) The first or second game of three single date contests.

4) A conference halted or tied game will be deemed not played for league purposes and will not be used in the conference standings when:

A) It is the non-completed or tied first game of a series scheduled to include a doubleheader.
B) It is part of the last day of the series schedule (both first and second games of a doubleheader) and is a non-completed or tied game.

5) A conference game deemed not played for league purposes and not to be used in the conference standings may, at the contestants discretion, be completed with the following considerations:

A) Both members agree to complete the contests, from the halted point, using NCAA and conference rules.
B) It is suggested that this decision be decided by members prior to the series.
C) The series umpiring assignment and fees are fulfilled and completion of the contest(s) will require additional arrangements by the competing institutions.

All conference team: Each team through their SID may nominate and send supporting statistics for players, pitchers, Player of the Year, & True Freshmen of the Year for all-conference consideration. All nominations received by the Service Bureau prior to the stated deadline will be compiled and returned to league SIDs for distribution to baseball coaches. Two teams mirroring the all-region team (16 on each team: 1b, 2b, 3b, SS, C, IF, OF, OF, OF, OF, DH, P, P, P, P, RP) will be selected at an in-person meeting of all league baseball coaches prior to the conference tournament.   The baseball All-Conf. Team will be selected by nominations via email submission to league office.  Upon compilation and distribution of nomination information, coaches will then meet at this coaches meeting to determine All-Conf. Team members. 

Player and Pitcher of the Year: Each league member will vote for three players & three pitchers excluding their own, in rank order. Ballots will be sent to and received from SIDs and the winners will be named Player of the Year & Pitcher of the Year. Ties will be broken by greatest number of 1) 1st place votes, 2) 2nd place votes, 3) 3rd place votes.

Coach of the Year: Each member will vote for three players excluding their own, in rank order. Ballots will be sent to and received from SIDs and the winner will be named Player of the Year. Ties will be broken by greatest number of 1) 1st place votes, 2) 2nd place votes, 3) 3rd place votes.

Freshman of the Year: The top true freshman vote-getter of the members using the same procedure and time frame as Player of the Year.

All Tournament: Coaches will select the all tournament team as follows: 1st place-MVP + 4 All Tournament, 2nd Place- 3 All Tournament, 3rd Place - 1 All Tournament & 4th Place - 1 All Tournament.

Student Sportsmanship Pledge Form & Link (Reminder to be signed by each student athlete during preseason and filed in schools athletic department)

Committee Chairperson: Kermit Smith, Belmont Abbey College
Athletic Director Liaison: Dick Dull, Belmont Abbey College