Baseball and softball words · Beginner

The words you will hear in your first match, grouped the way you meet them.

B · Beginner · 45 words · Step 1 of 2

Basic setup terms

Team

In baseball a team always has nine eligible players in the game, with a designated hitter allowed. In softball a team has nine players, or ten when it uses a designated player (DP) and a FLEX.

Diamond

The square formed by the four bases. The sides are 90 ft (27.43 m) in baseball and 60 ft (18.29 m) in softball.

Base

One of four marked points (first, second, third and home plate) a runner must touch in order to score.

Home plate

The five-sided slab where the batter stands and where a runner must finish to score. In baseball one 17-inch edge faces the pitcher.

Inning

The part of a game in which each team bats until three outs are made; each team's turn at bat is a half-inning. A regulation game is seven innings in softball and six, seven or nine in baseball, depending on the event.

Pitcher's mound

The raised area in baseball from which the pitcher throws, with the top of the pitcher's rubber 10 inches (0.25 m) above the top of home plate. Softball has no mound; the pitcher pitches from a plate inside a circle.

Umpire

The officials who call balls, strikes, outs and enforce the rules.

Game rules

Regulation game

A game of the full number of innings, which is seven in softball and six, seven or nine in baseball depending on the event. A game called early is a regulation game if enough innings have been completed (five in softball; four or five in baseball depending on the length of the game).

Dead ball

A ball that is out of play. Play stops and nothing can happen until the umpire resumes the game.

Live ball

The ball in play after the umpire calls 'Play'. In baseball this follows the pitcher engaging the rubber with the ball and the batter taking position in the box.

Batting and scoring terms

Turn at bat

A batter's turn, from first entering the batter's box until they are out or become a batter-runner.

Also called: at-bat
See also: Batter-runner, Batter, Base runner

Pitch

The delivery of the ball to the batter by the pitcher. In baseball the pitcher must be in contact with the pitcher's rubber while delivering it.

Strike

A legal pitch the umpire calls a strike: one the batter swings at and misses, one that enters the strike zone and is not swung at, a foul that is not caught when the batter has fewer than two strikes, a foul bunt attempt, a foul tip, or a pitch in the zone that hits the batter.

See also: Umpire, Pitch, Strike zone, Bunt, Batter

Ball

A pitch that does not enter the strike zone in flight and is not swung at. In baseball a pitch that bounces and then passes through the zone is still a ball.

Strike zone

In baseball, the area over home plate from the bottom of the kneecaps to the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, judged from the batter's stance as they prepare to swing.

Strikeout

When a batter accumulates 3 strikes during their at-bat, they're out.

Walk

First base awarded to a batter who receives four balls. A manager can also ask for an intentional walk; in baseball by signalling the plate umpire, in softball the defence asks and the ball is dead. In softball an illegal pitch counts as a ball.

Also called: base on balls
See also: Umpire, Pitch, Batter

Hit

When the batter successfully strikes the ball into fair territory and reaches a base safely.

Home run

A fair ball that leaves the playing field in flight over fair territory, which lets the batter-runner and all runners score. In baseball a ball that hits the top of the fence in fair territory and bounces over is also a home run.

Run

The point scored by a runner who touches first, second, third and home plate in order. No run scores if the third out is made by a batter-runner before first base, by a force out, or (in baseball) as the runner touches home plate.

Also called: score
See also: Home plate, Batter-runner, Force out, Batter, Base runner

RBI

A stat crediting a batter for a hit (or other play) that directly causes a run to be scored.

Also called: run batted in
See also: Batter

Fair ball

A legally batted ball that settles on fair ground between home plate and first or third base, bounds past first or third on fair ground, first falls on fair ground beyond them, touches a base, or leaves the field in flight over fair territory. Fair territory includes the foul lines.

Fielding and defense terms

Out

The umpire's declaration that a player trying for a base is not entitled to it. Three outs end a team's half-inning.

Fly ball

A ball hit high into the air, if caught by a fielder before it touches the ground, the batter is automatically out.

Ground ball

A ball hit along the ground, usually fielded and thrown to a base to try to get the runner out.

Catch

A ball in flight that a fielder holds long enough to show complete control. It is not a catch if the fielder collides with another player, an umpire or a fence, or falls and drops the ball as a result, or (in baseball) if they touch dead ball territory when they make it.

Tag out

Putting a runner out by touching them with the ball, held securely in the hand or glove, while they are off a base. It is not a tag if the fielder drops the ball after touching the runner, unless it is dropped while making a throw following the tag.

Force out

Putting a runner out by touching the base they are forced to run to, before they arrive. A force play arises when a runner loses the right to their base because the batter has become a runner; on a dropped third strike the batter-runner may not force anyone.

Double play

A defensive play that results in 2 outs on the same continuous play.

Foul ball

A legally batted ball that settles in foul territory, goes foul past first or third base, or touches something other than the playing surface while foul. It is a strike when the batter has fewer than two strikes. A foul bunt attempt is a strike even with two strikes, and so can be strike three.

Pitching terms

Fastball

A pitch thrown at high speed with minimal movement.

Curveball

A pitch thrown with spin that causes it to bend/curve as it approaches the batter.

Changeup

A slower pitch thrown with the same arm motion as a fastball, designed to fool the batter's timing.

Windup

One of the two legal pitching positions in baseball, usually used with no runners on base. The other is the set position.

Wild pitch

A pitch so high, so low or so wide of the plate that the catcher cannot handle it with ordinary effort.

Positions

Pitcher

The player who throws the ball to the batter to start each play.

Catcher

The fielder who takes position behind home plate. The catcher must stand with both feet in the catcher's box until the pitcher releases the ball.

Infielders

The fielders positioned in the infield, usually four. In softball the pitcher and catcher also count as infielders.

Outfielders

Players positioned in the grassy outfield (left field, centre field, right field) to catch fly balls and stop hits from advancing far.

Batter

The offensive player currently at home plate trying to hit the ball.

Base runner

An offensive player who has reached base and is trying to advance toward home plate to score.

Also called: runner
See also: Home plate

Designated hitter

A baseball player who bats in place of the pitcher and does not play in the field. The WBSC rules accept the designated hitter at WBSC tournaments, with stated exceptions.

Also called: DH
See also: Pitcher

Softball-Specific notes

Underhand pitching

Fast pitch softball is pitched underhand, with a windmill or slingshot motion. The pitcher must come to a full stop with the ball in both hands for at least two and at most five seconds before delivering. The pitching distance depends on the category, 13.11 m (43 ft) for women and 14.02 m (46 ft) for men.

Smaller field

A softball diamond has 60 ft (18.29 m) between bases, against 90 ft in baseball, and a shorter pitching distance.

Designated player

In softball a starting offensive player who bats for the FLEX. The FLEX is listed tenth on the line-up card and plays defence, and may enter on offence only in the DP's batting position.

Also called: DP
See also: FLEX

I · Intermediate · 43 wordsNext: Intermediate words