Listed below are the new and returned leagues for Dixie Softball in 2012. Any league interested in becoming associated with the best softball association that offers softball to ALL the girls can contact Dixie Softball by e-mail at OBIEDSI@aol.com or call 205-785-2255.
New
(Dixie Softball is always proud to introduce its program in new areas. Hopefully, new leagues will lead us to more leagues in the new league's area. To the new leagues: WELCOME!)
South Levy, Florida
Returned
(When a league returns to play Dixie Softball after having been away for a year or more it is an extra feeling of proudness. For when a league returns it tells us that Dixie Softball is a good program or they would not be returning. To the returned leagues: WELCOME BACK!)
Gautier, Mississippi
Timberlake, Virginia
Hopkins County National, Texas
Ramer, Tennessee
2012 STATE MEETINGS
Each league should make sure they have at least one person attending from their league. New rules, forms, state tournament sites, etc. will be discussed. Below are the dates and sites for the 2012 Dixie Softball state meetings:
Alabama - February 4 at Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville
Mississippi - February 4 at Holiday Inn in Laurel
South Carolina - February 11 at Irmo Middle School in Irmo
Arkansas - February 18 at Nashville Park & Recreation in Nashville
Lousiana - February 18 at Community Center in Alexandria
Tennessee - March 3 at Dickson High School in Dickson
X-play INTRODUCED IN DIXIE ANGELS, PONYTAILS, BELLES AND DEBS
In 2011, Dixie Softball experimented with what will called X-play rules in the Dixie Belles and Debs World Series. Everything went well and the decision was made to expand X-play rules into the Dixie Angels and Ponytails divisions. This will mean that in the Dixie Angels and Dixie Pontyals divisions only there will be two World Series for each division. The Dixie Belles and Debs will have only one World Series each.
X-play rules will allow leagues that want to play a more X-cellerated, X-panded style of play for their girls to do so. A league may choose to play the TRADITIONAL style of softball for their girls that Dixie Softball has offered since 1975. A league can choose to offer both X-play and TRADITIONAL style to their programs for their girls if they desire to do so.
Below will be the changes rules that will govern the X-play style of play. All other rules of Dixie Softball will remain the same:
X-play DIXIE ANGELS
Regular season and tournament play
1. Baserunners may leave the base when the ball reaches the batter. If a baserunners leaves the base early, the umpire shall signal "delayed dead ball" to indicate the violation at the time it occurs. The defensive team shall have the privilege of having nullified any portion of the play that occurred on the violation.
2. Baserunners may attempt to steal only one (1) base at a time. There will be no further advancement on overthrown balls or missed throws by any baserunner. Following an attempted steal the ball will be ruled "dead".
3. Baserunners may steal home. No stealing is allowed on throw backs to the pitcher, any other player or coach.
4. If the catcher of record is on base with two (2) outs, a coach has the option of putting in a courtesy runner for the catcher. The courtesy runner will be the player who made the second (2nd) out of the current inning.
X-play tournament play only
1. The consecutive game rule for pitchers will NOT be in effect.
2. A coach will be allowed to use the number of innings alloted a pitcher in any manner he chooses. EXAMPLE: A coach may pitch a pitcher the first eleven (11) innings of a tournament or he may choose to spread out the eleven (11) innings over the course of the tournament.
3. A starting pitcher cannot pitch more than six (6) innings in one day when a double header is played. Otherwise, the pitcher has her allotment of five (5) innings per game with the one (1) extra inning in case of a tie game and the pitcher is the starting pitcher and has pitched the complete game.
X-play DIXIE PONYTAILS
X-play regular season and tournament play
1. Baserunners may leave the base when the ball leaves the pitcher's hand.
2. The third (3rd) strike rule will be in effect.
3. If the catcher of record is on base with two (2) outs, a coach has the option of putting in a courtesy runner for the catcher. The courtesy runner will be the player who made the second (2nd) out of the current inning.
4. The batter's box will be measured seven feet (7') by three feet (3'). The batter's box will be measured four inches (4") out from the side of home plate and from the center of home plate the batter's box will be measured with four feet (4') extending toward the pitcher's plate and three feet (3') extending toward the backstop.
X-play tournament play only
1. The consecutive game rule for pitchers will NOT be in effect.
2. The coach will be allowed to use the number of innings alloted a pitcher in any manner he chooses. EXAMPLE: A coach may pitch a pitcher for the first thirteen (13) innings of the tournament or he may choose to spread out the thirteen (13) innings over the course of the tournament.
3. A pitcher cannot pitch more that seven (7) innings in a day when a double header is played. Otherwise, the pitcher has her allotment of six (6) innings per game with one (1) extra inning in case of a tie game and the pitcher is the starting pitcher and has pitched the complete game.
NOTE: Leagues may choose to play by "TRADITIONAL" rules only or play by "X-play" rules only. A league my choose to offer both styles of play if they so choose. If a league offers both styles of play they must register that they are playing both styles and pay the proper fees. Players cannot play on the "TRADITIONAL" tournament team and the "X-play" tournament in the same season.
If the interest is there for both "TRADITIONAL" and "X-play" styles of play the district and state will offer tournaments for both styles of play. There will be a World Series for both styles of play as well.
2012 APPROVED SUPPLIERS
As of December 14, 2011, those listed below are the 2012 Approved Suppliers of Dixie Softball, Inc. As more suppliers are approved their names will be listed:
FUND RAISERS
Brax, Ltd.
Pro Time Sports
BK Distributor
World's Finest Chocolates
SOFTBALLS
Diamond Sports Equipment
BATS
Miken
Mizuno, USA
Rawlings
Rip It Sporting Goods
NEW RULES AND POLICIES FOR 2012
The Dixie Softball, Inc. national board of directors met in Litchfield Beach, South Carolina on September 23 & 24 and the following rule & policy changes were put into place:
RULES
1. Page 79, Section VII, DIXIE ANGELS SPECIFIC PLAYING RULES
The following will be added as a new Article: (D.) - (LOCAL LEAGUE OPTION 2) Each time a player-pitcher issues four (4) balls to a batter, the batter will not receive a base on balls. Instead the coach-pitcher will pitch three (3) pitches to the batter in which the batter can: 1. Strike at and miss three (3) pitches thus creating a "strike out" or, 2. Hit the ball where a play can be made. After the batter has either successfully reached base or made an out, the player-pitcher will resume pitching to the next scheduled batter. Present coach-pitch rules that appear in the DIXIE DARLINGS SPECIFIC PLAYING RULES in this rule guide will apply with the above exceptions.
2. X-play rules will be developed for Dixie Angels, Ponytails, Belles and Debs.
POLICY
1. Page 5, Section DEMOCRATIC ACTION, 3rd complete paragraph
With written permission from the President, states may have more than nine (9) districts.
2. Page 13, Section DATES TO REMEMBER
Suggested changes for rules and policies must be in the hands of the vice president no later than May 5 of the current year. Any rule or policy change received after the proper deadline date in a season must be resubmitted the following season (year) and must be received by the proper deadline date.
3. Fees for registering as a DSI umpire in 2012 will be $30.00. The $30.00 fee will include an umpire's manual sent to each umpire free of charge for each umpire request.
3. Page 96, Section XII, Article (C)
Firearms of any kind will NOT be allowed within the confines of the actual playing/practice area. The only firearms allowed at actual playing/practice areas will be those worn by law enforcement officers who are called to the actual playing/practice area to handle situations that may occur from time to time.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 World Series!!
Dixie Darlings
Arnold King Championship Award: Summertown, Tennessee
Dixie Softball Runner-up Award: Holmes County, Florida
James E. "Obie" Evans Sportsmanship Award: Hanahan, South Carolina
Dixie Angels
Charles R. "Zack" Black Championship Award: Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Dixie Softball Runner-up Award: Wesley Chapel, Florida
Ashlie Lyn Pipkin Sportsmanship Award: East Central, Mississippi
Dixie Ponytails
Richard T. Murphy, Sr. Championship Award: Burgaw, North Carolina
Dixie Softball Runner-up Award: Spring Hill, Florida
James E. "Obie" Evans Sportsmanship Award: Hope, Arkansas
Dixie Belles
Carl O. Boelte/J.D. Painter Championship Award: South Hill, Virginia (Host)
Palmer "Buddy" Suggs Runner-up Award: Alexandria American, Louisiana
James E. "Obie" Evans Sportsmanship Award: Burgaw, North Carolina
Dixie Debs
James A. Webb/Clarence Jordan Championship Award: Decatur, Alabama
Dixie Softball Runners-up Award: Alexandria American, Louisiana; Halifax American, Virginia
James E. "Obie" Evans Sportsmanship Award: Blazer (Baconton), Georgia
Online Registration
Offer the convenience of online registration.WORLD SERIES REQUIREMENTS
