Commandant Phil Cacciola General Mgr. Dave Darling Sr. Manager Tim D'Aquila Jr. Manager Josh Cofield

Click here to get a PDF version of 2009 Connecticut American Legion Rules.   Click here to get a PDF version of 2010 National American Legion Rules.   Click here to link to 2010 Major League Baseball / Sporting News Rules.   Note: PDF files require Adobe Reader - it's free and available by clicking here.

Mr. Middletown American Legion Baseball ...long life, well lived.     William “Bill” Joseph Pomfret passed away, July 1, 2010. He was born in Hartford on May 16, 1917, a veteran of World War II, he served with the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a member of various veterans service organizations: VFW Post 583, Catholic War Veterans Post 1166-CT, American Legion-Milardo Wilcox Post 75, where he served as a member and was the past state commander.    He received the Distinguished Citizen Award for the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, was the founding member and past president of the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame, was the past president of Ahern Whalen Baseball League and also coached the American Legion Post 75 Basketball team and a member of the American Legion Hall of Fame.    He was active in all aspects of the American Legion at local, state and national levels, including Department of Connecticut Commander in 1992, and was the heart and soul of the Middletown Post 75 baseball program for the last 45 years. Bill was well known for his many years of dedicated service, understanding and compassion for the needs of veterans and their dependents.

Middletown wins bid to host 2010 Northeast Regional American Legion Baseball Tournament By JIM BRANSFIELD --- Middletown Press Correspondent --- Published: Thursday, June 11, 2009 The National American Legion has awarded the 2010 Northeast Regional American Legion Baseball Tournament to Middletown. Under the American Legion’s policy of awarding all of the states in a region the tournament in sequence, Massachusetts was due to receive the 2010 bid. However, according to Legion sources, there were no towns in the Bay State willing to take the tournament. Thus Middletown made a bid and it was accepted. “I think it’s a good thing, said longtime Legion baseball official Bill Pomfret. “We’ve been known for running tournaments well here, so I’m happy that we have the tournament next year. It’s good for the city. Middletown has hosted numerous state and regional tournaments. The city has also hosted two Legion World Series in 1988 and 1999. The 1988 Series drew more than 22,000 fans and the 1999 event drew more than 17,000. Middletown has played in several regional tournaments. The Post 75ers won state championships in 1965, 1968, 1979 and 1992 and played in regional tournaments in each of those years. In 1965, Middletown lost the final game to Berlin, N.H., 8-5. Middletown lost in three games in both Middletown in 1968 and again in three games in Milford, Mass. in 1979. Middletown made the semifinals in Montpelier, VT. in 1992, where it lost to Utica, N.Y. The advantage that comes to the city that hosts the regional is that the host team gets an automatic bid to the regional. Thus next year’s Middletown team will be in the regional. It’s rare — but not unknown — that a host team wins the regional. Last summer, Bristol hosted the regional and won the Northeast title and went to the World Series in Shelby, N.C. In 1995, Middletown won the Zone 3 title, but was eliminated from the state tournament with a 2-2 record. Yet the regional was in Middletown and the 75ers nearly won the event, losing to Portland, Me., 3-1, in the championship game. Middletown also advanced to the title game in 1970 as host team, losing to Manchester, N.H., 2-1, in 10 innings. Teams in the Northeast Regional include the state champions from the six New England states — Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut — plus the host team and either the state champion from New Jersey or the runner-up, whichever is closer to Middletown. The Regional tournament will be played Aug. 5-9, 2010. Middletown will host part of the State Legion tournament this summer from July 25-29.

Contributions to the Post 75 American Legion Baseball Program ... Each team sponsored by the American Legion Post 75 falls under the national umbrella for exemption from Federal Tax under section 501(c)(19). Likewise, donations to the Post 75 for its baseball program may be considered deductible under these provisions. Post 75 can provide you with a copy of the Group Exemption Letter from national headquarters.

RELEASE Changes ... While American Legion Baseball believes very strongly in young men playing for the teams where at least one of their parents or legal guardians live, releases are available on a limited basis to expand their opportunities to play in our program. First of all, there are no releases in Junior Legion. If you try out (make yourself fully available) for the team in the town where your parents live, are not picked for the team and are in your last two years of eligibility (born in 1990 & 1991), than you must be granted your release - which allows you to try to play for another team. All releases are permanent. How this rule works has changed beginning with the 2009 season. You should contact your Zone Chairman (Chuck Berry - Email: cberry1@comcast.net) for their assistance in the process. Basically using MapQuest (shortest driving distance) you determine the next nearest team (using your home address and the address of the team's town hall). You would contact that team, if not selected, you would then contact the next nearest team. If you were not selected for that 3rd team (original town you belong to and two additional chances), you would not be able to play American Legion Baseball this summer. For town hall info, click here.

Some Eligibility Questions ... Player is attending a CT college and lives in state, although he is using this address so he can get in-state tuition. His parents live out of state. This player can't play American Legion baseball in Connecticut. Player goes to school in Branford. His father lives in Hamden. His guardian lives in Branford. This player belongs to Hamden; in most cases, player is eligible where PARENT lives. A player in 2007 who is doubled rostered may be put on JUST the Junior roster in 2008, if he is still age-eligible.

Helmet Rule for the 2008 Season ... Rule 4.05 in Official Baseball rules now requires that a coach, until being passed by a batted ball, must position himself no closer to home plate than the front edge of the coach's box and no closer to fair territory than the edge of the coach's box closest to the field. Major League's General Managers also adopted a new coaches helmet rule, which mandates all coaches "on the lines" shall wear a protective helmet. The American Legion uses Official Baseball Rules authorized by the Commissioner of Baseball; therefore American Legion coaches shall be mandated to observe the new coaching box rules as well as wearing a protective helmet. Coaches may wear a no-flap; a single flap or a double flap helmet. The type of helmet shall be a personal choice of the coach. MLB will not mandate the type of helmet nor shall The American Legion dictate the type of helmet a coach wishes to wear while in the coaching box. These rule changed do not appear in the 2008 American Legion rules. We did not get this official language until after our 2008 rulebook was printed and distributed. Rule Changes for the 2007 Season ... Pitcher's position on the rubber (8.01a, 8.01b) - From either the windup or set position, pitchers are now allowed to have a portion of their pivot foot in contact with the rubber, as opposed to their entire pivot foot. Also, in the windup position, a pitcher is allowed to have their free foot at either side of the rubber and to step to either side of the rubber. Batter becoming a runner after a third strike is dropped (6.09, 7.08a) - Previously, on a dropped third strike with two outs or with less than two outs and first base unoccupied, the batter could run to first base as long as he had not reached the dugout or his defensive position. Now the batter is called out if he does not realize a third strike is not caught and he leaves the dirt circle surrounding home plate en route to the dugout or his defensive position. Catching the ball in the dugout is prohibited (6.05a) - While fielders may still reach into the dugout to make a catch, they may no longer step into the dugout to do so. (In most cases, ground rules applied at most American Legion games did not allow a fielder to make a catch when in contact with dead ball territory that generally included the dugout or dugout area.) Batter refusing to take position in batter's box (6.02c) - If a batter refuses to take his position in the batter's box, the penalty now is an automatic strike call. Previously, the pitcher had to pitch the ball for the umpire to call a strike. The ball is dead and no runners make advance while the action is being penalized. Comment - Umpires shall give the batter a reasonable opportunity to take his proper position in the batter's box after the umpire has called a strike pursuant to rule 6.02c and before a successive strike is called pursuant to rule 6.02c. Batter's Box rule (6.02d) - The batter is now required to leave one foot in the batter's box unless one of the eight exceptions occurs. If one of the following eight exceptions applies, the batter is allowed to leave the batter's box but not the dirt area surrounding home plate. The batter swings at a pitch; The batter is forced out of the batter's box by a pitch; A member of either team requests and is granted Time; A defensive player attempts a play on a runner at any base; The batter feints a bunt; A wild pitch or passed ball occurs; The pitcher leaves the dirt area of the pitching mound after receiving the ball; or The catcher leaves the catcher's box to give defensive signals Time reduced for pitcher to deliver a pitch (8.04) - Pitcher now have 12 seconds (instead of 20 seconds) to deliver the next pitch with no runners on base. The time starts when the pitcher has the ball and the batter is in the box and alert to the pitcher. The timing stops when the pitcher releases the ball. Penalty - A ball is called. Multi-colored gloves allowed (1.15a, 1.15c) - Previously gloves had to be of a single color. Now, as long as the glove is not white, grey or in the judgment of the umpire to be distracting in any manner, it is legal. (The pitcher will change gloves if requested by the umpire to be able to continue to pitch in the game.) Illegal bat use (6.06d) - A batter shall now be deemed to have used or attempted to use an illegal bat if he should bring such bat into the batter's box. Penalty - The batter is out for illegal action. Pitched ball touched by detached equipment (7.05) - Runners are awarded one base when a pitched ball is touched by a cap, mask or any part of the uniform detached from its proper place on a person. The ball is in play and the base award is made from the position of the runner(s) at the time the ball was touched. Complete stop not required with no runners on base (8.01b) - A pitcher using the set position is not called for an illegal pitch with no runners on for failing to come to a complete stop. The umpire could however declare a "quick pitch" if he feels the pitcher was deliberately trying to catch the batter off guard. Pitcher suspended for intentionally defacing the ball or having foreign substance on or about his person (3.02, 8.02b) - 10 game suspension