Softball

Softball is a team sport in which a ball, eleven to twelve inches in circumference, is thrown by a player called a pitcher and hit by an offensive player called a batter with a round, smooth stick called a bat. The ball itself is also called a softball. Scoring is accomplished by the batter running and touching a series of four markers on the ground called bases. Softball is a direct descendant of baseball (sometimes referred to as hardball to differentiate the two), but differs from it in several ways, of which the chief four are:

Play

The teams take turns batting. Each team bats until three players have been put out, as described below. An inning consists of a turn at bat by each team, with the home team batting second. Seven innings constitute a game, unless extra innings are required to break a tie.

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Play begins with the pitcher attempting to throw the ball to the catcher past the batter at home plate. The throw, or pitch, must be made with an underarm motion? the ball must be released below the hip when the hand is no farther from the hip than the elbow.

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A strike is called if the pitch crosses home plate between the batters' armpits and the top of his or her knees without being hit by the batter. A first or second strike, but not a third, is also called if the batter hits a foul ball:

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• by hitting a ball so it first falls to the ground anywhere in foul territory
• by hitting a ground ball which rolls foul and stops in foul territory before passing either first or third base.
• by hitting a ground ball which rolls foul and is picked up by a fielder in foul territory before passing either first or third base.

A pitch which is not a strike and which the batter does not swing at is a ball (an uncaught foul ball with two strikes on the batter is neither a strike nor a ball). The number of balls and strikes is called the count. The number of balls is always given first, as 2 and 1, 2 and 2, and so on. A count of 3 and 2 is a full count, since the next ball or strike will end the batter's turn at the plate (see next). If the catcher drops the ball on the 3rd strike, the batter may try to advance to 1st base.

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If four balls are called the batter advances to first base. The batter may also advance after hitting the ball into fair territory without being put out.

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After hitting the ball into fair territory, the batter must run to first base.

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The batter is out if:

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• three strikes are called
• a ball hit by the batter is caught before touching the ground
• the batter is touched by the ball or by a glove holding the ball while the batter is away from a base (off base)
• a fielder holding the ball touches a base which is the only base towards which the batter may run before the batter arrives there (a force out or force play)
• in certain other circumstances.

The most common type of force play is made at first base. A batter that drives a ball forward into fair territory must run to first base. If the ball is thrown to first base (that is, to a fielder standing on first base) before the batter can reach it, the batter is out. If the batter reaches first base without being put out, then that player can then be forced to run towards second base the next time a ball is driven into fair territory. That is because the player must vacate first base to allow the next batter to reach it, and consequently can only go to second base, where a force out may be recorded.

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If the player hits the ball and advances to a base without a fielding error or an out being recorded, then that is called a 'base hit'. The bases must be reached in order counterclockwise, starting with first base. After hitting the ball the batter may advance as many bases as possible. An advance to first base on the one hit is a single, to second base is a double, to third base is a triple, and to home plate is a home run. Home runs are usually scored by hitting the ball over the outfield fence, but may be scored on a hit which does not go over the fence.

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The batter stands facing the pitcher inside a batter's box (there is one on each side of the plate). The bat is held with both hands, over the shoulder away from the pitcher. The ball is usually hit with a full swinging motion in which the bat may move through more than 360 degrees. The batter usually steps forward with the front foot and swings the bat. However, a bunt is made by holding the bat stationary over the plate and stabbing at the ball so it strikes the ground in front of home plate. Bunting is not allowed in slow-pitch.

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A batted ball hit high in the air is a fly ball. A fly ball hit upward at an angle greater than 45 degrees is a pop fly. A batted ball driven in the air through the infield at a height at which an infielder could play it if in the right position is a line drive. A batted ball which hits the ground within the diamond is a ground ball.

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A player on base is called a runner. When on first, second, or third base the runner may be retired by being forced out, by being touched with the ball while away from a base, and in certain other circumstances (being hit by a batted ball, for example).

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A run is scored when a player has touched all four bases in order, proceeding counterclockwise around them. They need not be touched on the same play; a batter may remain safely on a base while play proceeds and attempt to advance. The runner must be on base until the pitcher releases the ball. The runner may advance as many bases as possible.

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A runner may advance:

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• on a hit by another player
• automatically, when a base on balls advances another player to the runner's current base
• by stealing a base (running to the next base on the pitch and reaching it before being tagged with the ball)
• after a fly ball has been caught, provided the player was touching a base at the time the ball was caught or after
• automatically, when a pitch is delivered illegally
• on an error by a fielder

Base-stealing is not allowed in slow-pitch.

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The team with the most runs after seven innings wins the game. The last (bottom) half of the seventh inning or any remaining part of the seventh inning is not played if the home team is leading. If the game is tied, play continues until a decision is reached. In games where one team leads by a large margin, the "mercy rule" may come into play. A lead of 10 runs after five innings, 15 after four, or 20 after three is sufficient for a win to be declared early to avoid embarrassing weaker teams. In elite games, the required margin after five innings is 7 runs.

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