BASEBALL

Time to find out what getting to first base really means. Baseball, the first American professional sport, is a classic. Think of it like the Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, or She’s All That of sports, you kind of HAVE to watch it before you die. And, it may be my personal favorite sport, so allow me to be the Cher Horowitz to your Tai!

RULES

1. There are nine players on each team. The players take turns playing offense and defense.

2. The pitcher throws the ball as fast and sneakily as possible at the guy standing at home plate (the white squares on the dirt) with the bat.

3. If the batter hits the ball, and the defense on the field catches the ball, taps the player running with the baseball in their glove, or steps on a base with the ball before the runner/batter gets there it’s an out and the batter does a walk of shame off the field.

4. Basically, the offense wants to hit the ball so they can run around the bases on the field and then get back to home plate to score a point or “run”. The team with the most runs wins.

5. The defense has to get three outs against the offense and then the teams switch playing offense and defense.

6. There are nine “innings” or periods of time in the game, and each inning ends when each team gets three outs.

POSITIONS

Both teams play offense and defense.

OFFENSE

Batter/Runner - Stands at home plate with a bat and tries to hit the ball as hard and far as he can. He also runs from base to base until he gets to home base to score a run for their team.

DEFENSE

The defense is split up into infielders and outfielders. Infielders stand on the dirt part of the field where the bases are and outfielders stand on the grass behind the bases.

Pitcher - Stands on the little dirt hill in the middle of the field Throws the ball at the batter trying to make him swing and miss until the player get out after three tries. If the pitcher sucks, the coach takes him out of the game and uses another pitcher.

Catcher - Squats behind the batter to catch all the balls thrown by the pitcher. He also protects home plate if the batter tries to score a run.

First Baseman - Stands at first base to keep the runner from going anywhere or get him out.

Second Baseman - Stands at the base in the middle to protect it from the runner or get him out.

Shortstop - Stands on the dirt in between second and third base for extra help on defense.

Third Baseman - Stands at the third base to make sure the runner can’t get to home plate.

Left Fielder - Stands all the way on the left of the grassy part of the field to catch any balls hit by the batter for an out or throw the ball to any of their teammates on the bases.

Center Fielder - Stands in the middle of the grass to catch the ball if it’s hit there for an out or to throw back to their teammates standing on the bases.

Right Fielder - Stands on the right side of the grass to catch the ball for an out or throw it to his buddies on the bases to keep the runner from going too far.