Softball
Table of Contents
(Page 1)How softball started.
(Page 2)What fields look like.
(Page 3)Softball vs Baseball.
(Page 4)Not enough girls?
(Page 5)Pitching injuries.
H ow Softball Started
Softball started in 1887 on thanksgiving day when several
alumni sat in Chicago. They were waiting for the outcome of the
Yale versus Harvard football game. When Yale was announced
as winner, he threw a boxing glove at a Yale support to be
playful. The support threw the glove up and hit it with a stick,
when he did that the crowd looked surprised, but when that
happened George Hancock jokingly yelled out “Play Ball!” After
that as they played the new game they made up rules as the
game went on. Those rules still slightly different from today’s
rules but you can easily search up the old rules!
What Fields Look Like
The softball field is outlined with white chalky texture. In
the middle of the field there is a pitchers stand for the pitcher
to stand on while they are pitching. Around the field are usually
fences but inside the fence it’s grass. On the sides of the field
there are benches to sit on while you are waiting to bat. The
catcher usually catches the ball right behind you but if it goes
past them there is a big gate. Near where the catcher squats
there are two boxes and home plate. When you are on the field
up to bat you stand in the side of your box. If you don’t know
what box you are it’s easy, it’s just the hand you are! (Lefty,
Righty) You stand a couple feet away from the pitcher to hit the
ball.
Softball vs Baseball
Softballs are very different from baseballs. In differences
softballs are very different sizes from a baseball ball. Baseballs
are usually smaller than Softballs. The games are played very
different also. To play softball you have to pitch underhand,
but for baseball you pitch overhand. Softball field bases are
closer than the baseball ones too. They do that because girls
are usually smaller than boys, so the boys have to run more.
Softball and baseball fields are set up the same way. They are
also played by the same rules the require to both.
Not Enough Girls?
Sometimes softball can have problem and solutions with it
to! Softball has many problems in it like injuries, batting, and
pitching, but I’m gonna tell you about a big one! So sometimes
the other team can have missing players or have a low amount
of players. If that happens they would have to reschedule the
game or borrow one of the other teams girls. If they borrow one
of the other teams girls they would have to borrow a jersey.
After they borrow a jersey they would play how they normally do
just with the other team. If you go to the other team you usually
play the outfield.
Pitching Injuries
My last paragraph is about cause and effect. One of the
main causes and effects are hitting a girl when pitching.
Sometimes when you pitch you can accidently hit a girl with the
ball if you don’t aim right. If you do that the girl that you hit has
to take a base. If you do hit a girl though, you’ll have a strike on
you. There are a limit of 3 strikes per pitcher per inning. If you
have 3 strikes on you in a inning you will have to switch out with
another pitcher on the team. Once you bat again and go to the
next inning you’ll be able to pitch again because it resets! But if
you get 3 more strikes you’re gonna have to wait till the next
inning.
All about the author!
The author who wrote this is Ella Sullivan.
She lives in enola, pa with her mom, dad, brother,
dogs, and bunny! She plays softball, basketball,
flag football, and cheer! She loves to play with
animals and help any animal in need! She likes to
swim in the summer with friends and watch
movies. Ella loves to go to the beach and swim in
the ocean every summer with her mom and
brother.
Glossary
Softball- Softballs are the balls softball players use.
Pitching- Pitchers that throw the ball to the girls while batting.
Overhand- Throwing over your head.
Underhand- Throwing by your waist, not over your head.
Catcher- The person behind the batter catching the ball.