What Are Baseball & Slowpitch Softball?
Baseball and slowpitch softball are American bat-and-ball team sports played between two teams. The objective is simple: score more runs than your opponent by hitting the ball and running around the bases.
Both sports share the same core principles, but each has its own character and pace.
Baseball
A standard baseball game consists of 9 ‘innings’. The players, one-by-one, try to hit the thrown (pitched) ball and get around the three bases and back to the home plate where they started, without being out. This is called a ‘run’. After three ‘outs’, the other team gets a chance to try to get as many runs as possible. After both teams had their chance at bat, an inning has passed.
A baseball team consists of 9 members, 6 infielders and 3 outfielders. The infielders are the pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, short stop and third baseman. The outfielders are the left field, center field and right field.
Slowpitch Softball
Slowpitch is a variant of baseball. The skills and abilities needed in baseball are also needed in slowpitch. There are three main differences from baseball that make it easier to hit a slowpitch ball:
1. the ball is pitched more slowly
2. the ball is bigger
3. the bat is thinner
As a result, there is more action on the field and the games generally end with higher scores.
A standard slowpitch game consists of up to 7 ‘innings’. During an inning, the players, 1 by 1, try to hit the pitched ball away. After a hit, the player must run as fast as possible past the three bases, to the home plate where they started. These are called runs. If the player cannot hit the ball away, or the ball gets to a base faster than the player, the player is out. After three outs, the other team gets a chance to score as many runs as possible. After both teams have been at bat, an inning is done.
A slowpitch team consists of 10 players, 6 infielders and 4 outfielders. The infielders are the pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop and third baseman. The outfielders are left field, left center field, right center field and right field.
Interested in joining or trying out?
Come watch a game or join one of our training sessions!
Get in touch with us via info@leuventwins.be for more information.