WhataBash Baseball Tournament

When:	June11-14, 2026
Registration Deadline:	June 7, 2026
Location:	AJ Wilson Sports Complex (see the "Fields" tab for map and address)
Cost:	Teams will pay a $200 slot fee, then receive a $100 credit after the tournament
# of Games:	3
Links	Team Registration Who's In Schedule

**Complete the application by using the link below to register and make payment.  We will guarantee the slots for the 1st 8 paid teams in each age bracket with a priority given to teams playing in NKCA Baseball League.  It will fill up fast.  Registration will not be complete without payment.

Available brackets for ages (open 12-man rosters)

• 6U - 8U Machine Pitch 
• 9U - 14U Kid Pitch 

Gate Fee: $7.50 per adult 13 & older.  

Gate fees are now cashless.  Please be prepared to tap your phone, chip or swipe your card
Rainouts:  Please visit our homepage for field condition information
League Director Michael Cantwell 816-729-5355

Park Rules

Rules and Format:

• 3 Balls will be provided per game.  Teams will replace any home run balls
• 2 pools of 4 teams
• Pool games Thursday through Sunday, with pool winners advancing to a single championship game
• 6 inning ball games (7 for 13U and 14U)
• 1:45 time limit (6U - 8U 1 hour 15 min)
• Mathematical spreads will be in effect (15 runs after 3 innings, 12 after 4, and 8 after 5 respectively)
• Entire line-up bats regardless of age level
• Flip for home team throughout pool and bracket games
• Games may end in a tie if time limit has expired
  • In the event of a bracket game tie at the end of regulation or 6 innings (6U-12U) / 7 innings (13U-19U), at the top of the next inning, place the last 3 batters on base and begin the inning with 1 out...
• In the event of a tie in standings, the teams involved in the tie for the championship game will be decided by...
  • Head to head
  • Runs allowed
  • Runs scored 
  • Coin flip
• Players in the tournament are eligible to play on one roster for the entirety of the tournament

9U Tournament Rules

Lead-offs are not allowed:

1. ​Base stealing is allowed, after the pitched ball crosses home plate. 

2. If a player leads off or leaves a base early on a pitch, on the first offense by a team in the game the umpire shall declare a “dead ball” and send the runner back to the base. On any subsequent violation the umpire shall call “dead ball” and the player will be called out.  

3. There shall be no stealing of home plate, nor advancement to home plate on an attempt to put out a runner who is attempting to steal second or third.

4. A dropped third strike the batter/runner is out.

5. There shall be no stealing of home on a wild pitch, passed ball, base on balls unless forced, missed exchange between pitcher & catcher, or on a missed third strike; a runner from 3rd may score if an attempt to put him out is attempted.

Machine Pitch Rules

​

Rules:

1. Bases shall be 60 feet apart. Pitching Machine will be 42 feet from the plate.

2. Fields shall use dual pitching rubbers, prior to the pitch, the pitcher must stand with both feet on the rubber.  The pitcher shall have the choice of which rubber to stand on.  In the event a field doesn’t have dual rubbers, the pitcher shall stand adjacent to the pitching machine behind the front legs and in front of the back leg at the time of the pitch. Pitchers may move freely after the pitch is made.

3. No steel cleats will be worn by any player. Rubber cleats are acceptable.

4. Face and Heart protectors are required for pitchers in all Machine Pitch age groups.

Players

1. If a player leaves the game due to illness or injury, the batting sequence will move to the next batter in the lineup with no out recorded, once removed the player may not return.

2. Each player should get to play in the field at least half of the game.
   

Game

1. A game shall consist of 6 innings or 1 hour and 15 minutes. No inning shall start after the time limit expires. 

2. At the completion of 6 complete innings or time limit, if the game is a tie, it shall remain a tie in pool play.  No extra innings will be played in Machine Pitch.

3. An inning shall consist of 3 outs or 6 runs.

4. Nine players are required to start and finish a ballgame.

5. Teams must bat their entire roster. Late arriving players will be added to the end of the lineup.

6. Batting team shall provide a coach to feed the pitching machine.

7. Pitching Machines:  machines are to be set up prior to the start of the game.  

   1. The Jugs (one wheel) machines may be adjusted before the top of an inning if needed. There is no adjustment between the top and bottom of the inning.  You can throw a couple practice pitches to verify alignment. 

   2. The Hack Attack Jr (3 wheel) machines may be adjusted for each batter using the lever on the machine only.  There are no practice pitches after adjustments.

   3. Speed will be set at approximately 6U/7U - 36mph - 8U - 38mph, as determined by the league.  Coach provided radar detectors will not be used.

8. If a team is mathematically unable to tie or win the game, the game will end no matter what the game situation.

9. Coaches:

   1. Only 1 manager and 4 coaches per team will be allowed in the dugouts during any game.

   2. 6U-8U:  Each Machine Pitch team is to provide 3 coaches while on offense: 1st base coach, 3rd base coach and a coach to load the machine.  Base coaches are to provide instructions to runners.  Coaches loading the machine are not allowed to instruct runners.  

   3. 6U division only, 1 coach may be on the field while their team is on defense and should stay behind the base paths at all times.

10. Pitches per batter

    1. 7U-8U:  Each batter will receive a maximum of 6 pitches or 3 “strikes” to put the ball in play. If they fail to do so, the batter will be declared out.  If an at bat comes down to the 6th pitch, any outcome other than a ball batted in play on the 6th pitch will be called an out.  

    2. 6U: players will receive 5 pitches to put the ball in play regardless of strike quantity, if the batter fails to put the ball in play on the 5th pitch, the batter shall be called out.

    3. There are no hit-batters or walks in Machine Pitch. 

11. Home Team is the official scorekeeper.

12. There will be no gentlemen's agreements to vary any of the rules. 

Ball in Play

1. If the ball hits the pitching machine, (machine, stand, or cord) umpire or coach in any way, the ball is dead and all runners shall advance one base.

2. Bunting the ball will not be allowed. 

   1. Any attempt to bunt will be an out.

3. The “Infield Fly Rule” will not be in effect.

4. Leading off and stealing will not be allowed in Machine Pitch. In all divisions, the runners must stay in contact with the base until the ball crosses the plate.  

   1. If an umpire sees a runner leaving a base early, he shall be given a warning and may be called out for a second offense.

5. Pick-off plays will not be allowed regardless of the call of ball or strike.

6. TIME-OUT:  The defense or the Umpire can call timeout. For the defense to call timeout a player must be in possession of the ball and in the infield dirt, fair or foul territory. 

   1. Effect on Base Runners at the moment timeout is called: if in the umpire’s opinion the runner was fully committed to reach the next base, the runner shall be awarded one base otherwise the runner shall return or remain on the last occupied base.

   2. The Umpire shall call time-out once the lead runner ceases to attempt to advance as long as the ball is in the infield dirt, fair or foul territory. 

      1. meaning the runner stops on a base or stops running

7. OVERTHROWS – An overthrow is a ball that is thrown to an infielder, in the infield area, that is not cleanly caught. When an overthrow occurs the umpire will raise one hand in the air signifying the overthrow. 

   1. There may be only one-base advancement on any overthrow even if the ball remains in play. The runners advance at their own risk. 

   2. If a second overthrow occurs runners may not advance and must remain at the base they occupied following the first overthrow.

   3. If the runner where the overthrow occurred doesn’t attempt to advance, All runners will be allowed to advance to the base they were going to at the time of the hit, plus an additional base at their own risk.

8. Ten players will play in the field. Six infielders, (pitcher, catcher, first, second, third and shortstop), and four outfielders, (left, left-center, right-center, and right, playing at approximately equal depth). While playing an outfield position, players cannot assume an infield position. The use of a “rover” will not be allowed.