Quick Links: Schedules / Rosters / Pay Dues

Rain line: 408.795.5844

Note..... July 18th, 2026 "1.5 Pitch Tourney" ... email intent to play NLT 7/10/26 to  [email protected](see below for more details)

Note...... 2026 Summer Schedules & Rosters are posted

Santa Clara County

Here is a quick, bulleted breakdown of the tournament details and rules:
 Event Info & Perks
* **Date & Location:** Saturday, July 18th at Arcadia Park in San Jose.
* **Registration:** Deadline is July 10th by email reply to play, manage, or attend.
* **Teams:** Pre-formed and balanced to a 2.5 average ranking.
* **Check-In:** Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled game time.
* **Free Food:** Register by July 10th to get an Arcadia snack bar voucher (entree, side, and drink).
  Format & Timing
* **Tournament Structure:** Seeding games followed by single-elimination (2 games guaranteed).
* **Game Length:** 7 innings long.
* **Batting Flow:** Teams bat for 2 consecutive innings using a continuous game-to-game lineup.
* **Home Team:** Decided by a coin toss before the game.
* **Game Timer:** Open inning is called 15 minutes prior to the scheduled end of the game.
  Pitching & Batting Rules
* **The 1.5 Count:** If the first pitch is a strike (swing, hit plate, foul, or hits the screen), the batter is out. If it hits the dirt, a second pitch is granted where the batter must get a hit or they are out.
* **Warm-up Pitches:** Starting pitchers get 3 practice pitches before their first inning; relief pitchers get zero. Extra practice pitches award an out to the defense.
* **Offensive Pitcher:** The batting team provides their own pitcher who only throws pitches and cannot touch a live ball, or the batter is out.
  Rosters & Defense
* **Fielding:** 10 defensive positions are used, including 4 deep outfielders (170+ feet), 4 infielders, 1 rover, and 1 catcher (no defensive pitcher).
* **Minimum Play Time:** Every player must play at least 5 defensive innings (or 4 if the game is shortened).
* **Short Rosters:** Teams need 12 players; short teams will add "bucket players" via a blind draw to the end of the lineup.
* **Pinch Running:** Allowed once per inning with no sub-running. If a runner's turn to bat comes up, they are out but still get to bat (unless it is the third out).
* **Umpires:** Batting teams provide 1st and 3rd base umpires. The tournament director assigns umpires for the championship game.
  *Standard Vintage rules apply for anything not specified above.*

A "Fair, Fun & Safe" way to play

The Vintage Softball Club of Santa Clara County, a California not for profit corporation, was founded in 1987 for men and women 50 years and older to play slow pitch softball. With over 200 active members, we offer both weekend and weekday leagues that enable players of all skill levels- some players are novices, most are intermediate and a few are actually in the Senior Softball Hall of Fame- to participate in organized softball as many as 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year. To play, all you need is a bat, glove and payment of a nominal annual membership fee. 

Are you or a friend interested in playing with us?  Check us out by  visiting our Join Us page for information about how to sign up.... [Note: 1st time players are encouraged to come out and play in a game or 2 to see if there's a fit (at no cost!)...  A completed Vintage Softball Club Application/Waiver form is required and can be delivered directly to any team manager or club board member just  prior to any of our games.  Check out our current schedule for game times and locations.]  

Summary Update: Bucket Player Guidelines & Parity Rules (ref Vintage Handbook Sect E)

• Balanced Team Assignments: To maintain league parity, the Commissioner (or an appointee) will assign "bucket" players to teams. If no official is present, managers must agree on distribution or use a blind draw from a hat to reach equal team sizes.

• Mandatory Parity Trades: If a team loses the first game by 8 or more runs, bucket players must be traded between teams for the second game to rebalance the competition.

• Managerial Conduct: Managers are strictly prohibited from hand-picking specific bucket players or promising a player a spot on their team for the day.

Effective October 1st 2025, Vintage dues have been increased in order to meet overall league costs while playing on higher quality fields (i.e. field & equipment costs)...for additional details see "Vintage Board Meeting Minutes August 5 2025 (New Business section)"

As a reminder, payments for the 2025-2026 season are due by December 31, 2025 after which you will not be allowed to play until dues are paid. Paying early is always helpful.

(Note: New members paying after October 1, 2025 will be eligible to play for up to 15 months!)

• Safe/Out Calls (Rulebook G-2-a on Page 9): Dramatic, mid-air "Superman" dive across the bag is impressive, but if your foot isn't on the ground when the ball arrives, you're still OUT. Gravity (and the rulebook) hates show-offs.
• Correct Base Running (Handbook 2-A, parts 1, 2, 3 on Page 16): Learn which side of the base to run to, or the ball will find you. Also, if you try to "linebacker the defender," you're out and probably suspended, because this is baseball, not a contact sport.
• Defender Interference (Handbook 2-A-5 on Page 16): Defenders: If there's no throw, stop impersonating a statue on the base. Block the runner when there's no play, and they get a free base—you lose.

The Vintage rain line is (408) 795-5844.  The rain line for the Arcadia fields is (669) 275-4938. (We'll strive to post updates by 8am on game days. 

Please let your manager know if you can't attend a game and

call the rain line to check if you are playing (408) 795-5844

Thanks to Lisa Unruh for taking these great pics!