BASEBALL IS A BALL GAME for two teams of nine players. The batter hits the ball thrown by the opposing team’s pitcher, into the area between the foul lines. He then runs around all four fixed bases in order to score a run, touching or “tagging” each base in turn. The pitcher must throw the ball at a height between the batter’s armpits and knees, a height which is called the “strike zone.” A ball pitched in this area that crosses over the “home plate” is called a “strike” and the batter has three strikes in which to try and hit the ball (otherwise he is “struck out”). The fielding team tries to get the batting team out by catching the ball before it bounces, tagging a player of the batting team with the ball who is running between bases, or by tagging a base before the player has reached it. Members of the batting team may stop safely at a base as long as it is not occupied by another member of their team. When the batter runs to first base, his teammate at first base must run on to second—this is called “force play.” A game consists of nine innings and each team will bat once during an inning. When three members of the batting team are out, the teams swap roles. The team with the greatest number of runs wins the game.
BASEBALL IS A BALL GAME for two teams of nine players. The batter hits the ball thrown by the opposing team’s pitcher, into the area between the foul lines. He then runs around all four fixed bases in order to score a run, touching or “tagging” each base in turn. The pitcher must throw the ball at a height between the batter’s armpits and knees, a height which is called the “strike zone.” A ball pitched in this area that crosses over the “home plate” is called a “strike” and the batter has three strikes in which to try and hit the ball (otherwise he is “struck out”). The fielding team tries to get the batting team out by catching the ball before it bounces, tagging a player of the batting team with the ball who is running between bases, or by tagging a base before the player has reached it. Members of the batting team may stop safely at a base as long as it is not occupied by another member of their team. When the batter runs to first base, his teammate at first base must run on to second—this is called “force play.” A game consists of nine innings and each team will bat once during an inning. When three members of the batting team are out, the teams swap roles. The team with the greatest number of runs wins the game.
