Posted by Fingers on March 15, 2004 at 20:31:57:
Since it was posted in today's title for the OTL gallery as a question, here is what "Over the Line" (OTL) is.
Over the line is baseball game played on a sand lot. There are no bases, just a pyramid shaped zone attached to a rectagular shaped zone. The two are connected by "The Line".
Two three person teams play, and during the tournament 30 games go one at the same time over the legnth of the day (8:30 to about 6PM). If the batter hits the ball "Over the line" into the rectangular shaped outfield and the ball is not caught, a run has scored.
Teams have fun with their names, and the group that puts on the event "OMBAC - Old Mission Bay Athletic Club" turned down a contract from ABC sports to broadcast the event because ABC wanted to tone down the names. Examples?
These are actual team names from some of the winning teams:
Eat the Peanuts out of My Shit
Jerk One Out
We Could, But We Won't
It's Not Pretty Being Easy
The Pope's Jewels
Stroke It
Firemen In Heat
Sit On A Happy Face
Dare-A-Licks
Three Squaws from the Bang a Ho Tribe
Hooters Of The Century
Saddam's Harem Unveiled
Substantial Penalty For Early Withdrawal
... and the names for the teams that didn't win are even better.
The important thing to remember is that this group takes the profits from the entry fees, concessions and program sales and gives it all to charity.
The offical rules follow:
1 PLAYERS
Three players per team— substitutes allowed if player has not played for any other team. A replaced player many not re-enter the same game. He may play in subsequent games.
2 AT-BAT POSITIONS
Bat from home marked. Teammate pitches from anywhere in front of "The Line" or its extensions.
3 FIELDING POSITIONS
Fielders may play anywhere past "The Line" or its extensions.
4 HITS
Ball hit into fair territory on the fly without being caught by fielders.
Any ball touched and dropped by fielders.
Fielder crossing "The Line" or its extensions when attempting to catch ball (see Rule 12).
5 HOME RUNS
Any ball hit PAST last player in fair territory, on the fly, without him touching it. (Not necessarily over his head– just past him).
6 OUTS
Two foul balls (see Rule 7).
One strike.
Fly balls caught by fielders.
Ball hitting "The Line" or lines around out area.
Ball touched or dropped by batter or pitcher (see Rule 13A). Foul tips that hit batter and land in foul territory are foul.
Batting out of turn.
Pitcher crossing "The Line" after hit ball (see Rule 12).
7 FOULS
Any ball landing outside "Out" or "Fair" areas on the fly. foul line liners are foul.
Any taken pitch.
Any false pitch or "Balk".
8 SCORING
Three hits in an inning scores one run. Each additional hit in the same inning scores one more run. Home runs "Clear the Bases".
Intentional throwing of the bat is a three-run penalty (Officials' decision).
9 LENGTH OF GAME
Games will be five innings.
If tied at the end of the five, play an additional inning to break the tie. If tied after six, play one more.
If still tied after seven innings, the team with the most hits is the winner. If a tie exists in hits, play additional innings until the tie is broken, either by hits or by runs. Runs take preference over hits in this situation.
If at the end of any inning a team has an eleven or more run lead, the game is over.
10 UMPIRING
Winning team (all three members) will be the officials for the next game on the same court. Captain of the winning team will be responsible for keeping track of the game ball.
Start the games within five minutes after completion of pervious game. Any team not ready to play will forfeit; any exceptions will be at the discretion of the rules committee.
Turn in score cards to officials' stand.
11 EQUIPMENT
No gloves to be used for fielding except in women's divisions. Taping of hands and fingers permissible if no padding is used.
Golf gloves may be used for batting.
Softball and little league bats only. furnish your own bats.
Regulation size softballs to be used will be furnished by the tournament directors.
12 CROSSING-OVER ("THE LINE")
At no time may players cross from one side of "The Line" or its extensions to the other when catching or attempting to catch a hit ball.
To avoid penalty, you must make a definite stop before crossing the line. If you catch the ball and your momentum carries you into or across the line, it is a penalty. (See Rules 4 and 6).
13 GENERAL
A ball caught on the fly by either the batter or pitcher counts as a "No Pitch".
You must have a full team (three players) to start a game.
No warming up on playing courts. Begin games immediately.
Decisions of the rules committee are final.
Field Dimensions: 55 feet from point of triangle to the "line" and 55 feet across from foul line to foul line.
Three outs to a side per inning.
14 DIVISIONS
Men's Open
Men's Century (Players total 100 years of age, each 30 or older)
Men's Canardly (Players each 40 or older)
Men's Cannever (Players each 50 or older)
Men's Cadaver (Players each 60 or older)
Women's Open
Women's Century Players total 100, each 30 or older)
Women's Canalways (Players 40 or older)
Women's Caneasy (Players 50 or older)