Tommy K Classic

Both divisions follow the same team structure:

• Six players per team.
• Five defensive players take the field: pitcher, catcher, and three fielders.
• All six players bat.
• Once a player competes for a team, they may not play for another team during the tournament.

Only official yellow Wiffle® bats and balls are used. (Any year — including the best years. If you know, you know!)

Players may use their own official Wiffle® bat provided:

• Tape is only on the handle (Sandlot bats can be fully decorated!).
• The barrel has not been altered.
• No weighted bats. No modified bats.

No gloves — bare hands only. Footwear: sneakers, turf shoes, or barefoot. No metal spikes.

• Pitching distance: 35 feet
• Base paths: 40 feet
• Home run fence: approximately 100 feet

Pool play: five innings or a time limit — 30 minutes for Sandlot, 45 minutes for Legends. No new inning begins once the time limit is reached. Championship games are played to completion.

Mercy rule (Legends only): a game ends early if a team leads by 10 runs after 3 innings.

The Tommy K Classic uses different on-field officiating in each division. Balls and strikes are always determined by the Strike Zone Stand.

Sandlot Division: A field official tracks the count (balls, strikes, outs) and makes safe/out calls on the field.

Legends Division: Teams call their own outs on the field, backyard-wiffle-ball style. If a call is disputed and can't be settled between the teams, the play is a do-over.

Game official: A game official is on hand for both divisions to help settle disputes, overrule a team-made call when needed, and enforce the 40 MPH pitch speed limit.

Balls and strikes are called by the Strike Zone Stand itself — a pitch that hits the stand is a strike. The stand is built to Major League Wiffle Ball dimensions (18″ × 22″) and is set behind the batter.

• 4 balls = walk.
• 3 strikes = out.
• A foul ball on strike three is an out.
• No bunting.

Medium-speed pitching only, with a maximum pitch speed of 40 MPH for both divisions.

If a pitch is ruled too fast, it is called a ball. If the batter puts it into play, they may choose the result of the play or take the ball.

Warm-ups: New pitchers get five warm-up pitches when they enter the game. A pitcher returning to the mound for another inning gets no warm-ups.

No leading. No stealing. Runners may leave the base only after the bat makes contact with the ball.

This is classic backyard wiffle ball. Players may record outs by force outs, tagging the base, or pegging (throwing the ball at the runner).

If the runner is hit: the runner is out immediately and the ball becomes dead. Other runners advance only to the next base they were already moving toward. If the throw misses and leaves the field of play, each runner advances one base.

Pool play: each team begins with a runner on third, the last batter from the previous inning, and a full count (3 balls, 2 strikes). Three outs per inning. Continue until a winner is determined.

Championship games: continue under normal extra-inning rules until a winner is crowned.

Both divisions run as pool play into single-elimination semifinals and championship.

• Sandlot: 6 teams in two pools of 3. Each team is guaranteed 2 pool games.
• Legends: 8 teams in two pools of 4. Each team is guaranteed 3 pool games.
• The top two teams from each pool advance to the semifinals, followed by the championship game.

Pool standings are determined by:

• Winning percentage
• Head-to-head
• Fewest runs allowed
• Coin flip

Home run horn: every home run gets a siren, music, cowbells or a stadium horn.

Respect opponents, umpires, volunteers and fans. Unsportsmanlike conduct may result in a warning, ejection, or removal from the tournament. The Tournament Director's decision is final.

Compete. Laugh. Cheer for kids. Celebrate great plays — even by the other team. Leave the field with new memories and old friends.

And remember… no whining.