Grades 5-6 - Majors Division (Travel League)
The Majors Division ramps up the competition level of play to keep pace with the girls' abilities in the 5th and 6th grade. The program will continue to develop and expand their softball skills with situational play and game strategy being introduced. Game rules will closely resemble high school rules to further development the girls as they take the next step in preparing for a higher level of play. Girls will pitch from 40 feet with a 12" ball. Games are 6 innings and finish in under two hours. Scores and season standings are kept for end of the season playoffs.
Starting in 2026, MGSL will be competing in the KP League against the towns of Franklin, Norfolk, Plainville, Wrentham, and others.
Teams are randomly selected with 5th and 6th grade girls of all skills being assigned to each team. The preseason starts out with 1 to 2 practices a week. Once the season starts, teams will have 1 practice and play 2 to 3 games per week. Practices usually start late March (weather dependent) and Games usually start the last week of April following April vacation week.
Games will be held on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and some Saturdays.
First time players are welcome and are encouraged to play. They will be given the opportunity to catch up and learn from the more experienced players.
This is a travel program with out of town travel. Program cost will include the game jersey.
Required Equipment:
- Fielder's Mask
- Batting Helmet with Face Guard
- Fielding Glove
- Softball Bat
- Softball Pants
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2025 Softball Majors
ASA/USSSA Fast Pitch 12U Rules apply with the following highlights/modifications
Game Rules
- Home team provides patched umpires and balls.
- The home team is responsible for canceling the umpire on the day of the game in case of rainouts (no later than 2 hours prior to game time).
- 6 inning games.
- After one hour and forty-five minutes (1:45), no new full innings can be started (home team will get the opportunity for its last at bat, if needed). or for field time limitation (no new innings can be started if less than 20 minutes until next scheduled game).
- A game is official after 4 innings (home team does not need to bat in their half of the fourth inning if ahead).
- 4 runs per inning rule/ waived in the 6th or last inning (no limit in last inning).
- A team must have eight players in order to play. Less than eight players will result in a forfeit.
- “Live” ball format
- Dropped third strike in effect
- Stealing home
- Ball in play on steal attempts
- Free substitution of players in the field
- Protective Fielder's Mask / face cages for Pitchers and all Infielders are mandatory.
- 12 run mercy rule (home team has last at bat if behind).
- Scorebook is kept by both teams.
Batting
- Continuous batting order/free substitution.
- Batters must wear helmets with cages and chin straps.
- If a player is injured during a game and cannot continue or leaves in the middle of the game for other reasons, that player’s position in the order is skipped for the remainder of the game without penalty (i.e. no automatic out).
- If a player is late to the game, the player should be inserted at the end of the batting order.
- Infield fly rule in effect
- No slashing (faking bunt, then hitting away)
- Slap hitting and drag bunting are allowed
Base Running
- A courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher or catcher - runner shall be the last batter of the previous inning (and second to last batter of the previous inning if both pitcher and catcher are on base at the same time).
- Players must slide or avoid contact. All sliding rule decisions are at the discretion of the umpire.
Pitching
- Pitcher shall be removed from pitching the rest of the game after directly hitting 3 batters in an inning or 5 in the course of the game (bounced pitches will not count).
- Pitchers shall not pitch more than 4 innings per game during the regular season. Special situations to allow a pitcher to exceed this game limit shall be at the discretion of home and visiting head coach.
- Pitching mound is 40 feet, bases are 60 feet distance.