⚾Baseball / Softball

Baseball and softball are bat-and-ball sports played between two teams of nine players (baseball) or nine to ten players (softball), who alternate between defense (in the field) and offense (at bat). The team at bat tries to score points called "runs" by sending its batters around the four bases, while the defense tries to record three outs to take its turn at bat. Softball is a variant derived from baseball, played on a smaller field with an underhand pitch.

Score more points ("runs") than the opponent. A run is recorded each time a player on the batting team legally and successively touches first, second and third base, then returns to home plate before three outs end that team's turn at bat.

• •Two teams alternate: one bats (offense), the other defends in the field.
• •The pitcher throws the ball toward the batter; in baseball the pitch is overhand, in softball it must be underhand.
• •The batter has three strikes before being out, and four balls (pitches outside the zone) earns a free base on balls.
• •After putting the ball in play, the batter becomes a runner and tries to reach at least first base.
• •The defense puts runners out by catching the ball on the fly, touching the base before the runner (force out), or tagging the runner with the ball.
• •Three outs end the half-inning; the teams then switch roles.
• •A baseball game lasts nine innings, a softball game lasts seven.