2 Pitch Softball Rules and Strategies

Comprehensive vocabulary and rules for traditional and modified 2 pitch softball based on lecture notes.

Objective of Softball

Score more runs than the opposing team by hitting the ball and running around the bases.

Team Composition

Catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman, and three outfielders (left, center, and right).

Innings

A standard game consists of $7$ innings.

Pitching Style

Underhand pitch.

Strike

A swing and miss or a pitch in the strike zone that is not swung at.

Foul Ball

A ball hit outside the designated fair area.

Run

When a player successfully crosses home plate after rounding all bases.

Single

Hitting the ball and making it safely to $1 ext{st}$ base.

Double

Hitting the ball and making it safely to $2 ext{nd}$ base.

Triple

Hitting the ball and making it safely to $3 ext{rd}$ base.

Home Run

Hitting the ball so far that the batter makes it all the way around the bases and scores on their own hit.

Force out

When a fielder gets the ball and steps on a base before a base runner can reach it, specifically when the runner is required to advance because the batter hit the ball.

Tag out

When a fielder physically touches a base runner with the ball while the runner is not on a base, used when there is an empty base behind the runner and they are not forced to run.

Overrunning Bases

A player is allowed to over run $1 ext{st}$ base, but overrunning $2 ext{nd}$ or $3 ext{rd}$ base allows the defense to tag the runner out.

Batting Pitch Limit

In this modified format, each batter receives no more than $2$ pitches per at bat.

Own Pitcher Rule

In modified $2$ pitch softball, the batting team supplies their own pitcher.

Modified Foul Ball Rule

It is considered a foul ball if the hit does not pass the pitcher.

Pitcher Interference Out

It is an OUT if the pitcher gets hit with a batted ball.

Thrown Bat Rule

If a batter throws the bat, they are ruled out.

Leading Off

Not permitted; base runners must stay on their base until the ball is hit.

Tie at First Base

If the defense steps on $1 ext{st}$ base at the exact same time the batter reaches it, the runner is safe.

Flyball

An out occurs if the defense catches the ball before the ball touches the ground.

Runner Hit by Batted Ball

A base runner is ruled out if they are hit with a batted ball.

Amount of players on a team at any given time

8

A batter is out after they hit __ strikes

2

How many outs in an inning

6