All About Softball - Did You Know This?
Not yet named, this game was played indoors. The game was played using a large stuffed ball, which later led to the game being called ‘kitten ball’ and ‘mush ball’, before setting the name of ‘Softball’ in 1926.*
The Basics - Softball is Similar to Baseball
Both sports ‘field’ a team; The playing field or ‘diamond’ is a combination of a dirt infield and a grass or turf outfield. Each infield has three bases, a home plate, and a pitcher’s mound. A fence borders the outfield.
Each team sits in a dugout, situated behind a fence between home plate and third base on the left, and home plate and first base, on the right side of the infield.
The teams alternate between batting and fielding once per inning. An inning is decided when three outs are made. An out is either a fly ball caught by the fielder or a base runner thrown out before safely reaching the base.
Behind home plate, balls and strikes are called by an umpire. Based on the level of play, there could be base umpires as well.
The team is declared the winner when they have ‘scored’ more runs by crossing the plate and successfully touching all the bases in succession after hitting the ball.
Variants – Slowpitch and Fastpitch Softball Differences
The similarities
In baseball, a team consists of nine players, a batter can bunt, a runner can steal, and a pitcher can be charged with a ‘balk’. A ‘balk’ is a pitch that is not delivered correctly by the pitcher.
In fastpitch softball also fields a team of nine players. Like baseball, batters can bunt the ball, and runners can steal a base.
When the pitcher falters in their wind-up or makes sudden movements once a delivery is made, an ‘illegal pitch’ is called, the ball is dead, and the batter is awarded a ‘ball’.
In Both: If the batter hits the ball that is declared as ‘illegal’, the batter can run to first, and play continues. There is then no penalty because the ball was ‘live’ and ‘in play’.
The differences
The Game
- A baseball game consists of nine innings
- A softball game is seven innings
- Slowpitch softball fields a team of ten players, using four outfielders
Game Times
- There is no time limit on how long it takes to play a baseball game.
- Fast-pitch and Slowpitch softball games have set time limits.
The Equipment – Slowpitch, Fastpitch, and Baseball
The Ball – Softball
Slowpitch softball uses two different ball sizes. Adult women’s teams use the 11” size softball. Adult men’s teams use the 12” size softball. Currently, the official ball is bright yellow with red stitching.
Both of the fastpitch men’s and women’s teams use the 12” softball.
On co-ed teams, two balls are used – the 11” for the female batter, and the 12” for the male batter. The play is ruled ‘dead’ if a batter of either gender is pitched the wrong ball. The ball is dead, and runners return to their respective bases. The batter returns to bat again.
The Ball – Baseball
In baseball, 9” ball is used in 
Both softballs and baseballs are made with either a cork or polyurethane core, covered by two pieces of leather that are stitched together to form the seam. This seam provides a grip that helps players throw with accuracy, and helps the pitchers control the motion of the ball.
Softball Equipment – The Softball Bat
Softball bats were originally made of wood. In the early 1970s, the aluminum bat was introduced and continues to be the ‘go-to bat for slowpitch and fastpitch softball.
Currently, softball bats can be found to be made of wood, aluminum, or composite materials and bamboo.
Metal bats have a wider ‘sweet spot’ than a wooden bat, which provides more bat for your buck when you’re up to bat.
The sweet spot is the location on the bat which produces the least sting in the batter’s hands when contact is made with the ball.
Slowpitch bats are different than fastpitch bats, due to the speed of the pitch. All softball bats are regulated by softball organizations (ASA/USA, USSSA, etc) who determine the type of bat that can be used.
For example, fastpitch bats cannot be used for slow pitch, and vise versa. Check with your local leagues to find out if your bat is approved for play.
The Baseball Bat
In the Major Leagues, baseball bats are made of wood. Without getting into the science behind the differences between the ‘aluminum’ bat and the wooden bats, the aluminum bat is much lighter than a wooden bat, yet due to the materials, and makes it easier to hit the ball a greater distance. When you consider the speed of the baseball coming across home plate at 90+ miles an hour, the impact made when the bat and ball collide could result in injuries.
If you have any questions about what you have read here, or would like to share your softball experience, I would like to hear about it! Use the comment section below.
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