Baseball and Softball

Question 1

A baseball/softball game is played by 2 teams who alternate between ______ and _______.

Answer 1

offense, defense

Question 2

The goal is to score more runs than the opponent, which is achieved by one circuit of __ bases that are placed on the diamond.

Answer 2

4

Question 3

The defense wears _______, a leather contraption that fits on the hand, to catch the ball.

Answer 3

baseball/softball glove

Question 4

A baseball is a ______ ball roughly ___ inches in diameter with red stitching.

Answer 4

white, 3

Question 5

A softball is roughly _____ as big as a baseball and sometimes ______. It is no softer.

Answer 5

twice, yellow

Question 6

The offense uses a bat, which is made of _____ in the professional ranks, and likely made of ______ or metal composite at amateur levels.

Answer 6

wood, aluminum

Question 7

Almost all softball bats are _______ or ______.

Answer 7

aluminum or metal

Question 8

The part of the field closest to the bas is called the _______, and the part beyond the bases is called the ______.

Answer 8

infield, outfield

Question 9

The bases are ____ feet apart on the diamond, closer in children’s leagues and softball.

Answer 9

90

Question 10

Other fields are variables, and the outfield fences or the amount of “_____ _______” - the amount of ground that borders the field between the long white lines that connect first base to home plat and third base to home plate - varies from field to field.

Answer 10

foul territory

Question 11

Pitcher (in the middle of the mound who initiates the action by throwing the ball toward home plate); the catcher (catches the ball if it’s not hit); infielders - 1st, 2nd, shortstop (between 2nd and 3rd), and 3rd; and 3 outfielders - left, center, and right

Answer 11

Defensive positions

Question 12

There are _____ innings in professional baseball games (sometimes fewer in lower levels) and each inning is divided in half to the top of the inning (when the visiting team hits and the home team plays defense) and the bottom of the inning (when the home team hits and the visiting team plays defense).

Answer 12

nine

Question 13

Each team gets ______ outs in each half of the innings.

Answer 13

3

Question 14

Each team has __ players in the batting order, and they must stick to that order throughout the game (players may substitute in for other players).

Answer 14

9

Question 15

A play begins with a _____ waiting to hit a pitch from the ________. If the batter hits the ball into the playing field of play, the batter runs to first base and can run to as many bases and he/she sees fit without getting “out.”

Answer 15

batter, pitcher

Question 16

A batter gets ___ strikes (a swing and a miss or a ball over the plate in what’s deemed the “strike zone by an umpire) and he/she is out.

Answer 16

3

Question 17

If there are four balls (a pitch that is not in the “_____ ____”), the batter is automatically allowed to go to first base.

Answer 17

strike zone

Question 18

When a batter begins running, he/she is referred to as a “______.”

Answer 18

runner

Question 19

Runners attempt to reach a base, where they are “____” and can remain on the base until the next hitter comes up.

Answer 19

safe

Question 20

The ______ must prevent this by putting the runners out using the ball; runners put out must leave the field.

Answer 20

defensive

Question 21

A batter gets a “______” when he/she reaches a base without getting out, or forcing another runner to get out (and without the defense making an error).

Answer 21

hit

Question 22

______ are scored when a player completes a circuit of the diamond before there are three outs in the inning.

Answer 22

runs

Question 23

If a players hits the ball over the outfield fence in fair territory (between the fold lines), it’s a ______ _____, and the batter can circle all four bases.

Answer 23

home run

Question 24

There are many ways that the team on defense can get an offensive player out. Four common ways are:

Answer 24

Strike outs (hitter misses 3 pitches)
Force Outs (when, after the ball is hit, the defensive player with the ball reaches a base before the runner)
Fly Outs (when a player hits the ball in the air and it's caught by a defensive player before the ball hits the ground)
Tag outs (when a runner is touched with the ball, or a glove with the ball in it)

Question 25

hitter misses 3 pitches

Answer 25

strikeouts

Question 26

when, after the ball is hit, the defensive player with the ball reaches a base before the runner

Answer 26

force outs

Question 27

when a player hits the ball in the air and it’s caught by a defensive player before the ball hits the ground

Answer 27

fly outs

Question 28

when a runner is touched with the ball, or a glove with the ball in it

Answer 28

tag outs

Question 29

In fast pitch softball, the pitcher throws the ball _______ instead over overhand, and the field is __/__ smaller all around. Games typically last only __ innings.

Answer 29

underhand, 1/3, 7

Question 30

On the championship/Olympic level, softball is a ______’s sport, but both sports are played by men and women throughout the world.

Answer 30

women

Question 31

Slow-pitch softball, when the pitcher is underhand and lobbed, is generally played on ________ basis.

Answer 31

recreational