Softball

​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.