Softball Overview
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams, a variation of baseball played with a larger ball, on a smaller field, and with underhand pitches. It is played on a diamond-shaped field with bases 60 feet apart, and the goal is to score runs by hitting the ball and running around the bases.
Key Differences From Baseball
- Ball Size: Softballs are larger than baseballs.
- Pitching Style: Softball pitches are thrown underhand, while baseball pitches are thrown overhand.
- Field Size: Softball fields are smaller than baseball fields.
- Innings: Softball games are typically seven innings, while baseball games are nine innings.
- Pitching Distance: Softball pitchers pitch from 43 feet from the plate, while baseball pitchers throw 60 feet from the plate.
What You Need To Play
To play softball, you'll need a softball, a bat, a glove for each fielder, a batting helmet, and cleats. Optionally, you will need batting gloves, sliding shorts, and a fielder's mask.
Positions You Can Play
In softball, the nine positions are pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder. You can also have a FLEX player who only plays the field. In addition to this, you may have a DH which stands for 'designated hitter' in order to bat for the FLEX player.