The Panthers Wrocław softball team will start the season on April 15th. What is this sport about? What should we know before coming to the stands or starting a game? Explains Ada Majgier - Panthers Softball player.
Preparations for the softball season will soon enter its final phase. There are just over two months left until the start of the Polish Women's Softball League. The Panthers players will start this year's season with an away tournament in Kutno. Softball is a sport popular mainly in the United States - in Poland it is still gaining popularity.
What, simply put, is a softball game?
Ada Majgier: It is a team sport consisting in the rivalry of two 9-person teams, in which the team with the advantage in points in the last inning wins. There are usually seven such changes, but there are also overtimes or the point advantage of one of the teams is so high that the match ends earlier. Teams compete in attack and defense. Points are scored on offense, while on defense you try to make three outs as quickly as possible to trigger a change and go on the attack.
What equipment is needed to play softball?
We use a softaball bat. Softball bats are made of composite while baseball bats are made of wood and are slightly shorter.
What is the difference between softball and baseball?
Primarily the way the pitcher throws the ball. In softball, it is the pitch from the bottom, and in baseball, it is the pitch from the top. In addition, the dimensions of the softball field are slightly smaller, while the ball is slightly larger and differs in color. The softball one is 12 inches and is neon yellow, while the baseball one is white and is about 9 inches. As I mentioned, we hit with a composite bat, and baseball players with a wooden bat.
How many bases are there on the field?
We have a total of four bases, which are located in the infield, i.e. in the orange part of the pitch made of clay. They form a square with one base in each corner. The one where we start and where we end is called home base. After the hit, we run to first base, then we have second and third consecutively, and finally we return to home base.
How are points earned?
A point is scored when we run out and touch home base, provided we have also touched the other three bases. If we haven't done that, we're out, and as I explained earlier, three outs are enough to trigger a change. These are the most important rules of the game.
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