LOL, I don`t know where we got the rule from, but at some point we started throwing it at the runner, and it could lead to bench clearing brawls! Reminds of the time I charged the mound haha...I was brushed back and just got drilled running the bases right before my AB...man they were the days!
Later though we played HomeRun Derby (in one on one gms) style rules where we didn`t run the bases....We had to field the ball cleanly for it to be an out, if the ball stopped rolling it was a single , on fly balls it had to either be caught or fielded cleanly on one bounce for it to be an out... if it hit the fence on the bounce it was a double, in the air a triple and over a homerun...it worked out well this way...man, I`m ready to play now Rob! The HomeRun Derby was more a one on one game...We would also play fast pitch this way...(no curves)
The other way we did allow all kinds of pitching.