Module 2 Softball

Chapter 2.2 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of this chapter, the students are expected to:

1. Discuss the terms used in softball

2.2.1 Softball Terms and Definitions:

1. Altered Bat – when the physical structure of a legal softball bat has been changed
2. Assist – a defensive statistic credited to each fielder who throws or deflects a batted
or thrown ball in such a way that a putout results, or would have resulted except for a
subsequent error by any fielder
3. Backstop – the fence behind the batter’s box (the umpire stands behind the catcher
with his/her back to the backstop)
4. Ball – as called by the umpire, a pitch that does not enter the strike zone in flight and
is not struck, or attempted to be struck, by the batter
5. Base – one of four points on the infield that must be touched by a runner in order to
score a run. Also applies to the rubber or canvas bags comprising first, second, and third
base, as well as the hard plastic or rubber plate known as home plate
6. Baseline – the area between each base along which the base runner must generally
run
7. Base on Balls (BB) – also called a “walk”; the award of first base to a batter woe,
during his/her time at bat receives four pitches outside the strike zone;
8. Base Runner – a batter who has reached base safely
9. Bases Loaded - referring to the offensive team when there are runners on first,
second and third base
10. Batter – also known as “hitter”; an offensive player who takes his/her position in the
batter’s box to try to hit a pitch
11. Batter’s Box – a rectangular area beside home plate where the batter must stand to
hit the pitch
12. Batting Average – an offensive statistic; it is the number of safe hits divided by the
number of at-bats
13. Batting Order – the official list giving the sequence in which members of the
offensive team must come to bat
14. Box Score – the summary of a game which lists the line-up for each team, including
substitutions, such offensive statistics as at-bats, runs, hits, and runs batted in. The box
score also lists the defensive statistics as winning pitcher, losing pitcher, pitcher credited
with save, errors, wild pitches and passed balls
15. Bullpen – the area in foul territory adjacent to the outfield where pitchers wait and
warm-up during the game, except where the pitcher is currently being used in the game
16. Bunt – an attempt by the batter to tap the ball instead of swinging at it; the bat is
lowered to approximately chest height, parallel to the ground
17. Catcher – the defensive player who normally positions herself behind home plate
and receives pitches
18. Center Fielder – the defensive player positioned near the middle of the outfield
19. Change-up – a pitch thrown deceptively slow to surprise the batter
20. Complete Game – a pitcher’s statistic recorded when he/she has thrown every pitch
for his/her team during a game
21. Curveball – a pitch thrown with a rotation that makes the ball curve
22. Defensive Team – the players in the field
23. Designated Hitter (DH) – a player who bats in place of a designated teammate in the
batting lineup
24. Designated Player (DP) – a player designated to bat for any starting player without
otherwise affecting the status of player(s) in the game. Unlike the DH, this player may
play a fielding position for any player in the game
25. Double – a scoring statistic credited to a batter when she has hit a ball safely into
fair territory and can advance to second base without the aid of defensive errors
26. Double Play – a defensive play in which two offensive players are put out as a result
of continuous action, providing there is no error between put outs
27. Dugout – the semi-enclosed area beside the playing field where players sit when
they are not actively involved in the game
28. Earned Run – a run for which the pitcher is held accountable
29. Earned Run Average (ERA) – the number of runs charged to a pitcher averaged over
a seven inning span; determined by multiplying the total earned runs charged against a
pitcher by seven and dividing the result by the total number of innings she pitched
30. Error – a defensive statistic charged for each misplay (fumble, muff, or wild throw)
which prolongs the time at-bat of a batter or which prolongs the life of a runner, or
which permits a runner to advance to one or more bases
31. Fair Ball – a ball hit into the field of play
32. Fastball – the pitcher’s fastest pitch
33. Fielder – any one of the players on the defensive team
34. Fielder’s Choice – the act of a defensive player who handles a fair ground ball and,
instead of throwing to first base to put out the batter, throws to another base in an
attempt to put out the preceding runner
35. Fielding Percentage – a defensive statistic also called fielding average, it is the sum
of putouts and assists divided by the sum of putouts, assists and errors in each fielding
position played by a player
36. Fly Ball – a ball hit in the air
37. Force Out – an out made when a base runner, forced to run because another
teammate must run to the base being occupied, cannot reach the next base safely
38. Foul Ball – a batted ball that settles on foul territory between home and first base or
between home and third base; a foul shall be judged according to the relative position
of the ball to the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the infielder is
on foul or fair territory at the time she touches the ball.
39. Foul Lines – two straight lines extending from home plate past the outside edges of
first and third bases to the outfield fence

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40. Foul Tip – a batted ball that goes sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher’s
hands and is legally caught; it is not a foul tip unless caught, and any foul tip that is
caught is an out. It is not a catch if it is a rebound.
41. Grand Slam – a home run with a base runner on each base scoring four runs
42. Hit – when a batter reaches first base (or any succeeding base)safely on a fair ball
43. Hit Baseman – also known as “hit by pitch” (HBP); a batter who has been hit by a
legally pitched ball, and is awarded first base
44. Home Plate – the five-sided piece of whitened rubber that the batter stands beside
to hit the pitch
45. Home Run – a safe hit, when no error or putout results, which allows the batter to
reach all four bases and score a run, usually a fly ball in fair territory that goes over the
outfield fence
46. Illegal Pitch – an act by the pitcher not allowed by rule, with or without a runner on
base; the batter is credited with one ball
47. Infield – the diamond-shaped area in fair territory formed by the three bases and
home plate that is normally covered by defensive players known as infielders
48. Inning – that portion of the game within which the teams alternate on offense and
defense and in which there are three put outs for each team. Each team’s at-bat
comprises a half inning
49. Intentional Walk – a base on balls intentionally issued by a pitcher
50. Interference – an act by a catcher that hinders or prevents a batter from hitting a
pitch. On any such interference, the ball is dead and the batter is awarded first base
51. Left on Base – those runners who have not scored and have not been put out, but
remain on base at the time of the third out in the half inning
52. Line Drive – a ball hit sharply in a straight line, roughly parallel to the ground
53. No-hitter – a pitching statistic credited when the pitcher completes a game and
allows the opposing team no hits
54. Offensive Team – the team that is at bat
55. On-Base Percentage – offensive statistic; for any player, divide the total of hits, all
bases on balls, and hit by pitch, by the total number of at bats, all bases on balls, hit by
pitch and sacrifice flies
56. On Deck – offensive player waiting to bat next
57. Passed Ball – a pitch that should have been held or controlled by the catcher
58. Perfect Game – a statistic credited to a pitcher when she completes a game and
allows no one on the opposing team to reach first base
59. Pinch Hitter – a player who bats in place of a teammate
60. Pinch Runner – a player who enters the game at a base to run for another player
61. Pitcher – the player who throws the ball to the batter
62. Put Out – credited to each fielder who: catches a fly ball or a line drive; whether fair
or foul; catches a thrown ball which puts out the batter or runner; or tags out a runner
when the runner is off the base to which the runner is legally entitled
63. Rise Ball – a technique used by the pitcher so that the ball goes up as it reaches the
batter
64. Run – the point scored when a batter or base runner advances safely to home plate
65. Run Batted In (RBI) – an offensive statistic credited to a batter for every run which
reaches home plate because of the batter’s safe hit, sacrifice bunt, sacrifice fly, infield or
outfield choice; or which is forced over home plate by reason of the batter becoming a
runner with the bases loaded on a walk or being hit by a pitched ball or for interference

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66. Sacrifice Fly – an offensive statistic scored when, before two are out, the batter hits
a fly ball or a line drive which is handled by a defensive player in the outfield which: is
caught, and a runner scores after the catch
67. Sacrifice Hit – an offensive statistic; a sacrifice bunt is scored when: before two are
out, the batter advances one or more runners with a bunt and is put out at first base, or
would have been put out at first base, except for a fielding error
68. Slap – performed by mostly left-handed hitters, it is an attempt to hit a ground ball
with a controlled short, chopping motions (rather than a full swing). A slap is not
considered a bunt
69. Steal – a base runners successful advance from one base to the next on a pitch that
is not hit
70. Strikeout - when a batter is put out by a third strike caught by the catcher, a batter
is put out by bunting a ball into foul territory after two strikes
71. Strike Zone - the space over any part of home plate between the batter’s armpits
and the top of her knew when she assumes a natural batting stance
72. Substitute – any member of a team’s roster who is not listed as a starting player, or
a starting player who re-enters the game
73. Triple Play – a continuous action play by the defense on which three offensive
players are put out
74. Utility Player – a player that may appear at more than one fielding position or
strictly as a designated hitter
75. Walk – also called base on balls (BB); an automatic advance to first base for the
batter after the pitcher delivers four “Balls” as called by the umpire because they are
outside the strike zone
76. Wild Pitch – a pitch so high, so low, or so wide from home plate that it cannot be
handled with ordinary effort by the catcher

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