| In today's sports, softball is considered to be the | | | | The offensive pitcher is usually employed when |
| most common sport that is able to accumulate | | | | playing informal sets of games. The bottom line |
| approximately 56 million Americans who will vie | | | | here is that the game is more of a social function |
| for anything just to be able to play this well-loved | | | | rather than being on its bloodthirsty field actions. |
| game in a year. | | | | The defensive pitcher, on the other hand, is |
| Before, softball was considered as a game only | | | | normally used in most slowpitch games. Here, it is |
| for women, but later on gained acceptance and | | | | required for a thrown ball to define a curve with |
| was widely played by more players regardless of | | | | the highest point slightly over the batter's head. |
| their respective genders. | | | | Because of this condition, the pitcher is made to |
| Basically, the concept behind this very competitive | | | | throw the ball in such a slower pace so as to |
| game is for a player, known as the batter, to hit | | | | define the said curve. That is why most batters |
| the ball thrown by another player, known as the | | | | achieve considerable scores in this kind of softball. |
| pitcher. | | | | Consequently, softball is based on this concept of |
| The ring-shaped rod being used to hit the ball is | | | | hitting the ball and pitching that the score can be |
| identified as a bat. To be able to score in the | | | | identified. A score can only be achieved if a player |
| game, the batter has to run and tap the four | | | | makes one complete rotation in the four bases. |
| bases in the playing field after hitting the ball. | | | | Accordingly, the batter is considered out or is no |
| In reality, the mechanics of softball is not at all | | | | longer allowed to hit the ball when he or she had |
| different to that of baseball. Though, they also | | | | accumulated three strikes, was hit by the ball or |
| differ in some ways like the ball's size, the way | | | | by the glove that contains the ball, the fielder |
| the ball is being thrown, the size of the playing | | | | touched the base even before the batter gets |
| field, and the number of innings in a given game. | | | | close to it, and when the ball hit by the batter |
| Basically, there are two types of softball: fastpitch | | | | was caught by a fielder and had not yet touched |
| and slowpitch. Fastpitch is, generally, focused on | | | | the ground. |
| the pitcher. | | | | The conditions of the ball being pitched and hit and |
| In this game, the chance of winning the game is | | | | the position of the players in the field while playing |
| based on the ability of the pitcher to release the | | | | softball are all being decided by umpires. They |
| ball at utmost velocity in an even curve, thus, | | | | render their decisions through the use of hand |
| making it very hard to hit. With this kind of ball | | | | signals. |
| delivery, the batter is usually blasted with | | | | Indeed, softball is a more modern way of playing |
| numerous ground balls and strikeout cases. | | | | baseball. But the reason why most players |
| The next type of softball is the slowpitch. Here, | | | | appreciate softball more than the baseball game is |
| the batter gains more confidence in winning the | | | | that softball is a game that requires a combination |
| game. However, the slowpitch softball is still | | | | of constant force and power at the same time |
| dependent on the pitcher, whether he or she is an | | | | use of strong mind power coupled with skills and |
| offensive pitcher or a defensive one. | | | | determination. It is certainly an art playing softball. |