Softball Vocab

Assist

Fielding credit to a player who helps a teammate make a putout.

Bases Loaded

Base runners on every base.

Chopper

A batted ball that bounces high.

Cleanup

The fourth hitter in the batting order. This name is given because it is the best

hitter and most able to bring runners home.

Crowd the Plate

Standing close to the plate.

Cutoff

The intercept a throw for the purpose of throwing out a runner.

Dead Ball

A ball no longer in play.

Diamond

The area formed by the four bases (infield).

Double Play

Two outs resulting from one batted ball.

Error

A defensive misplay.

Extra-base Hit

A batted ball on which the batter reaches more than one base other than

on an error.

Force Out

An out occurring when the defensive player in possession of the ball merely

touches the base before the runner, who must move to that base because of the batter’s

becoming a base runner, reaches it.

Full Count

Three balls and two strikes.

Grand Slam

A homerun with the bases loaded.

Hot Corner

Third base.

Lead Off

The first batter up at the beginning of the game and or inning.

Pop Up

A short, high fly in or near the infield.

Pull Hitter

A hitter who tends to hit the ball too soon and then sharply through.

RBI

Runs batted in.

Relay Man

A player who catches a ball from another fielder for possible direction or

redirection.

Shoestring Catch

A low diving catch by an outfielder. This term is used the fielder literally

catches the ball off his shoestrings.

Three-bagger

A three-base hit or triple.

Two-bagger

A two-base hit or double.

Tally

To score a run.

Batting Order

Official sequence in which the batter will appear at the plate (line-up).

Fly Ball

A batted ball hit into the outfield.

Free Trip

A base on balls.

Skipper

Team manager.

Inning (wasn’t on the vocab list)

a primary segment of play where both teams alternate between playing offense (batting) and defense (pitching and fielding) to score runs and record outs.