By Abby Strusowski and Regina Volpe -- STAFF WRITERS
Since there’s no crying in baseball (or softball), remember these basic rules in case you’re ever up to bat.
There are nine fielding players: pitcher, catcher, four infielders and three outfielders. The other team sends one player up to bat (the visiting team is up to bat first).
They switch positions every inning once the fielding team gets three outs. The most common ways of getting outs are strikeouts, groundouts, fly outs and tag outs.
The winning team scores the most runs batted in (RBIs) by hitting the ball and running to the various bases without getting out. When the player only makes it to first base from one hit, it’s a single; when they make it to second base, it’s a double; and when they make it to third, it’s a triple.
Here’s some lingo that you’ll hear before or after the seventh inning stretch:
Bullpen: the spot on the field where the pitchers warm up
Cleanup Hitter: the fourth batter up to the plate; they get their name not from their neatness but from their power as a hitter to clear the bases
Donut: the weighted ring hitters put on a bat to strengthen their swing once they get up to the plate (we don’t recommend taking a bite)
Double Play: when the fielders get two batters out in the same play; shocker: a triple play is when three outs are made in one play
Dugout: no shovels needed, but benchwarmers are welcome; the place for team members to sit while they’re not in play
Home Run: player hits ball out of park (or fielders just can’t keep up), player rounds all four bases, crowd goes wild
No-Hitter: awarded to the pitcher when the batting team never makes it to base, or only does via a walk
Perfect Game: it’s a no-hitter with no walks; the batting team never makes it to the bases
Rundown: also known as a pickle or hotbox, when the base runner is in between two bases and is in danger of being tagged out from both sides
Stealing: in a ball game a runner can attempt to advance to the next base before the pitcher throws the ball (no, you won’t go to jail)
Strike: a swing and miss – or when the pitch is in the strike zone - three strikes and you’re out
Walk: when the pitcher throws four unhittable balls but the batter doesn’t swing, the batter advances to first base automatically
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: So what’s the difference between baseball and softball?
A: A baseball is smaller than a softball; baseball is played in nine innings but softball is only in seven; baseball pitches from 60 feet and six inches away and softball from 43 feet; baseball is pitched overhand and softball is pitched underhand.
Q: Why is it called softball if the ball is hard?
A: The most common explanation is because of the way softball is pitched; as mentioned above, softball pitchers throw underhand. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not because mainly women play the sport.
Now go forth with your newfound knowledge and root, root, root for the home team!