The Art of Softball

People not in the sport don't know about softball. Most think it’s a lazier version of baseball. Although similar in terms of rules and design, it’s a completely different sport. There are two types of softball, slow-pitch and fast-pitch. Yes, slow-pitch is much more laid back and less athletic, but fast-pitch requires extreme skill and athleticism, just like baseball.

Fast-pitch softball is played on a softball field, fence distances between 200 and 230 feet to right field and leftfield. Bases are 60 feet from home (90feet for second base) and the pitching rubber is 43 feet from home (40 feet in high school). There is no pitching mound like in baseball, but a rubber to push off from and an 8 foot chalk circle around the rubber.

The circle serves as a "rule" for base runners. In softball you cannot lead off or leave the base before the ball is released from the pitcher's hand. When the pitcher is in the circle with the ball, the base runners must decide if they will stay at their current base-or try to advance. This is a way to distinguish each play and require runners to not lead off. Runners cannot take a lead until the ball is released from the pitcher's hand.

Pitching is one of the most important aspects about softball and distinguishes it from other sports. It is thrown underhand and is the only position at which that occurs. Most types of pitches are fastball, drop, rise, off-speed, curve, change and knuckle-change-each one using the seams of the ball to create movement and spins to throw off the batter. A strong pitcher has several pitches and is also very good at ball placement (putting the ball to the exact location in reference to the plate that the catcher is looking for).

Another distinction between softball and baseball is slap-hitting. This is where fast runners learn to make contact with the ball from the left side (as a left-handed hitter) to use their speed to get to first base. There are various forms of slap defense including pulling the second baseman next to the pitcher and putting the first baseman a few feet from first base to make the out.

In comparison to baseball, the rules are generally the same- three outs per inning, infield fly rule, same positions, umpires, coaches, batting, etc. A softball is 12inches in diameter, so it is much larger, but in no way is it softer. It is more difficult to hit a softball over the fence and homeruns are rare, but it dose not mean softball players are not as good of hitters as baseball players; it is just a different type of game.

CU Softball Pitcher Ariel Quigley