3rd Quarter Learning Notes in P.
E 8 BASIC SKILLS OF BASEBALL
BASEBALL/SOFTBALL A. HITTING
The game of baseball is said to This is an offensive skill used to strike
have begun in the early 19th century, but the pitched ball using a bat.
that’s half the truth. The game was played
B. THROWING
much earlier but the first baseball clubs
were formed around that time. In 1845, Place the ball in your dominant hand
an Englishman named Alexander and extend your forefinger and middle
Cartwright devised the first set of finger on top of the ball, with your thumb
rules in baseball. In fact, many of the underneath. Bring the ball up to ear level,
rules listed then still used in the game. step forward with your opposite foot and
bring your arm forward and snap your
In the early 20th century, the concentration was wrist to propel. Throwing is the most
more on hitting the home runs. Babe Ruth basic skill in baseball.
changed the course of the game with his magical
abilities to achieve homeruns. C. BASERUNNING
This is a very important skill you
OBJECTIVE OF THE GAME need to master because it allows you to
advance safely form one base to the
Baseball is a team game played other with full speed and agility.
by two teams of nine players each on an
enclosed. Baseball field under the D. PITCHING
direction of a manager in accordance with Pitching is a skill puts the game to
rules under jurisdiction of one or more play. It is performed by a pitcher, one of
umpires. An offending player tries to hit the key players in baseball/softball who
the ball away from the reach of the stay at the center of the plying filed called
defenders and score runs by running diamond.
around the bases. Players of the
defending team try to out the player who E. CATCHING
is batting. Both the teams take turns at This is a defensive skill used to receive a
batting and fielding. Three consecutive thrown ball and hold a base runner or batter
outs from each team make an innings, from proceeding or prevent the opponent from
and nine innings make a game. The earning a point or a run.
objective of each team is to win by
scoring more runs and try to prevent There are several ways to record an out on
opponents from scoring runs. defense:
EQUIPMENT Strikeouts – hitter misses three pitches.
Force outs – when, after the ball is hit, the
1. Ball 6. Suit defensive player with the ball reaches a base
2. Gloves 7. Mask before the runner.
3. Bat 8. Shin guard Fly outs – when a player hits the ball in the air,
4. Shoes 9. Gear/body armor and it is caught by a defensive player before
5. Playing area the ball hits the ground.
Tag outs – when a runner is touched with the
PLAYERS POSITIONS ball or a glove with the ball in it.
Offense These are several ways that a batter may
- Batter reach base safely:
Defense
1. Pitcher 5. Short Stopper Base on balls: if the pitcher throws four
2. Catcher 6. Right Fielder pitches out of the strike zone before the batter
3. 1st Baseman 7. Left Fielder hits the ball fair or strikes out, then the batter is
4. 2nd Baseman 8. Center Fielder awarded first base.
5. 3rd baseman Hit by pitch – if a pitched ball strikes the batter
on any part of his body, the batter is awarded
OFFICIALS OF THE GAME first base.
Catcher’s interference – if the batter’s bat
1. Chief umpire makes contact with the catcher while he
2. 1st base umpire attempts to swing at a pitch, the batter is
3. 2nd base umpire awarded first base.
4. 3rd base umpire Dropped third strike – if a batter swings and
5. Scorer misses at a pitched ball for the third strike, but
6. Timekeeper (in case inning are the catcher drops the ball, the batter may
timed) attempt to run to first base.