Two great sports
No “soft” in softball
versus hardball game
1. TYPICAL FIELD: baseball, 16,700 sq. ft. / softball, 7,200 sq. ft.
FASTPITCH ACTION: every player constantly on the move when the ball is in play; every player potentially part of every play -- fielding a ball, backing up a play, covering a base, etc. -- on a compact field. Almost every play is within the easy purview of every spectator seat.
2. BASEBALL, A NINE INNING GAME / softball, a seven-inning game.
FASTPITCH ACTION: faster game, every play that much more crucial to the final score. Less time (innings) to recoup or catch up!
3. BASEBALL'S 90 FEET BETWEEN BASES / softball's 60 feet between bases.
FASTPITCH ACTION: typical reaction time for an infielder to throw out a runner at first base is 3.2 seconds compared to 4.3 seconds for baseball.
4. BASEBALL RUNNERS LEAD OFF BASES ROUTINELY / softball: NO LEADING OFF of the base allowed. (If a runner make a move to another base when the pitcher has the ball, the runner must go! No turning back!)
FASTPITCH ACTION: takes an average runner 3+ seconds from first to second (on shorter base paths), slightly faster than baseball.
5. BASEBALL PITCHER'S MOUND IS RAISED / softball pitcher's circle on flat ground.
FASTPITCH ACTION: lacks the advantage of throwing down from a height; softball pitcher relies on windmill arm speed to fire from level ground.
6. BASEBALL PITCHER THROWS 60 FT AND SIX INCHES / softball pitcher throws 43 ft to home plate!
FASTPITCH ACTION: a softball reaches the plate as fast as 0.35 seconds after thrown (i.e., this is equivalent to a 100+ MPH baseball pitch)!
7. BASEBALL'S AVERAGE PITCH SPEED IS 90 MPH / softball's average pitch speed is 58-60+ MPH.
FASTPITCH ACTION: ball comes off the bat at speeds up to 100 MPH; infield may have only 0.61 seconds to react!
8. BASEBALL'S OVERHAND PITCHING / softball's underhand pitching.
FASTPITCH ACTION: on average, 0.35 seconds for a batter to locate pitch compared to 0.395 seconds for a baseball player.
9. BASEBALL HITS & BUNTS / softball's hits, bunts & SLAP HITS!
FASTPITCH ACTION: third base infield must react in 1.5 seconds to catch average SLAPPER at first!
No “soft” in softball
versus hardball game
1. TYPICAL FIELD: baseball, 16,700 sq. ft. / softball, 7,200 sq. ft.
FASTPITCH ACTION: every player constantly on the move when the ball is in play; every player potentially part of every play -- fielding a ball, backing up a play, covering a base, etc. -- on a compact field. Almost every play is within the easy purview of every spectator seat.
2. BASEBALL, A NINE INNING GAME / softball, a seven-inning game.
FASTPITCH ACTION: faster game, every play that much more crucial to the final score. Less time (innings) to recoup or catch up!
3. BASEBALL'S 90 FEET BETWEEN BASES / softball's 60 feet between bases.
FASTPITCH ACTION: typical reaction time for an infielder to throw out a runner at first base is 3.2 seconds compared to 4.3 seconds for baseball.
4. BASEBALL RUNNERS LEAD OFF BASES ROUTINELY / softball: NO LEADING OFF of the base allowed. (If a runner make a move to another base when the pitcher has the ball, the runner must go! No turning back!)
FASTPITCH ACTION: takes an average runner 3+ seconds from first to second (on shorter base paths), slightly faster than baseball.
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| Wesley Wolverine sophomore #5 U Amanda Curry (Williamsport, MD). |
5. BASEBALL PITCHER'S MOUND IS RAISED / softball pitcher's circle on flat ground.
FASTPITCH ACTION: lacks the advantage of throwing down from a height; softball pitcher relies on windmill arm speed to fire from level ground.
6. BASEBALL PITCHER THROWS 60 FT AND SIX INCHES / softball pitcher throws 43 ft to home plate!
FASTPITCH ACTION: a softball reaches the plate as fast as 0.35 seconds after thrown (i.e., this is equivalent to a 100+ MPH baseball pitch)!
7. BASEBALL'S AVERAGE PITCH SPEED IS 90 MPH / softball's average pitch speed is 58-60+ MPH.
FASTPITCH ACTION: ball comes off the bat at speeds up to 100 MPH; infield may have only 0.61 seconds to react!
8. BASEBALL'S OVERHAND PITCHING / softball's underhand pitching.
FASTPITCH ACTION: on average, 0.35 seconds for a batter to locate pitch compared to 0.395 seconds for a baseball player.
9. BASEBALL HITS & BUNTS / softball's hits, bunts & SLAP HITS!
FASTPITCH ACTION: third base infield must react in 1.5 seconds to catch average SLAPPER at first!
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| Wesley Wolverine senior #13 IF Ashley Royer (Lititz, PA). |