(1) Softball

Softball

          "Sometimes the only thing fair is a ball hit between third and first base."
"Softball is for everyone, fast-pitch is for athletes."

Softball is played with a larger ball than played with in baseball and a smaller field. Softball was invented in 1887 in Chicago as an indoor game. It was at times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground, softbund ball, kitten ball, and, since women played it, ladies baseball. The name Softball was given to the game in 1926. Women's fast-pitch softball became a Summer Olympic sport in 1996, but it and baseball were dropped in 2005 from the 2012 games.

There are two types of softball. The most common type, slow-pitch softball, the ball, sometimes larger than the standard 12 inches, must make a curve kind of like an arch on its way to home plate or the batter; there are 10 players in a team; and bunting and stealing are not allowed. In fast-pitch softball, the ball is pitched is fast, there are nine players on the field at one time, and bunting and stealing are allowed. Softball rules are different from the rules they play with in baseball. Two major differences are that the ball must be pitched underhand and that seven innings instead of nine are played in one game.

Even though its called Softball, the ball used in softball is not very soft. It is about 12 in. and larger than a baseball. The infield in softball is smaller than the infield in baseball.

(2)Rules for Softball

Rules for softball

Basic Rules

Field

• The bases need to be 60 feet apart. The distance between home plate and the pitcher's mound will need to be 50 feet.

Players

• Each team needs to have at least 9 players, 10 at the most, to start or continue a game. (Not including an EP or Extra Player)

Equipment

• No metal screws or screw-in cleats are allowed. Rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc. are allowed. Bats must be official softball bats.

                                        

Batting

• Each player on the team up to bat will be a batter in order in which her name is written on the scoresheet.
• The batter cant interfere with the catcher when she is trying to field or throw the ball by standing in the batter's box.
• Players on the team up to bat cannot interfere with a player trying to field a foul fly ball.
• A strike is called when the softball is pitched in the strike zone and not swung at or when its a swing and a miss.
• A ball is called when the softball is out of the strike zone and not swung at.
• A foul tip is when the batter touches the bat and goes into the catcher's glove the batter is not out unless the ball goes above the batter's head and is caught or if its the third out.
• The batter gives up all rights if she swings at an illegal pitch.

Balls and Strikes

• 4 balls equals a walk
• 3 strikes means the batter is out but if the ball is dropped then the batter has a chance to beat the throw to first and be safe
• If the batter has a foul after receiving the third strike the batter is out.

                                                        Credits: http://web.mst.edu/~ima/rules/Softballrules.html

(3)Top 3 All Time Softball Players

Top 3 All Time Softball Players

1. Dot Richardson- At age 13(1974), she played her first ASA Women's Fast Pitch National Championship, which makes her the youngest softball player in ASA history to play in a Women's Fast Pitch National Championship. She started her career in 1972, playing for Union Pack Jets in Orlando. Between 1972 and 2000, Richardson won All-American honors 15 times, played on 10 championship teams, won the Erv Lind Award(top defensive player in Women's Major National Championship) 7 times, won 2 Olympic Gold Medals, was a member of 5 Pan American teams, and 4 ISF World Championship Teams.

  2.  Lisa Fernandez- One of the five Bruins to play on the 1996 gold medal winning US Olympic Team and one of the six Bruins included on the active roster for the gold medal winning team of 2000. She was the top hitter and pitcher in the tournament and led the team to a third consecutive gold medal in 2004 in Athens, Greece where she posted a .545 batting average which was a new record for the Olympic tournament.

3.  Jennie Finch- She is arguably the most famous softball player of all time. She won a gold medal as a pitcher for the team USA in the 2004 Summer Olympics. Finch played softball for the University of Arizona. While she was there, she was a three time All-American pitcher and first-baseman and "Honda Award" winner for the player of the year as a member of the Wildcat softball team. The University of Arizona retired her number (27) on May 9, 2003 at Hillenbrand stadium. She had 24 wins in her freshman season, 29 wins in her sophomore season, 32 wins, no losses, in her junior season to set an NCAA record, and 24 wins in her senior season, to make a total of 109 victories which was the twelth at the time. While at the University of Arizona, Finch also also struck out a total of 1028 batters, the 23rd most at the time. Finch had a 2-0 win/loss record in the 2004, Athens, Greece, Summer Olympics, striking out 13 batters in eight innings while giving up only one hit, one walk, and no runs at all. Her pitching helped lead the American team to the gold medal.

                  Credits:https://prezi.com/8zof9-uqar_m/top-10-softball-players/

(4)Dot Richardson

Dot Richardson

Born: September 22, 1961 (age 53), Orlando, FL

Education: Western Illinois University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California

Dorothy ("Dot") Richardson (born September 22, 1961 in Orlando, FL) is an American physician and former international softball player, and the head softball coach of the Liberty University softball team.

Richardson played in first ASA Women's Major Fast Pitch National Championship. At age 13, she was the youngest player to ever play in a Women's Major Fast Pitch National Championship. She used to play on the sidelines at her brothers' baseball games. Starting in 1972 she played for the Union Park Jets of Orlando Florida, the Orlando Rebels, the Raybestos Brakettes of Stratford, Connecticut (1984-1994), and the California Commotion of Woodland Hills, California. She is presently the head coach at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

She was a key part of the United States national team that won the gold medal during the sport's Olympic debut in 1996 hitting the home run that won the game. After her win at the Olympics, she continued with her career as an orthopedic surgeon. She is married to Bob Pinto. Dot Richardson is currently Executive Director and Medical Director of the National Training Center.

(6)Jennie Finch

Jennie Finch

Born: September 3, 1980 (age 34), La Mirada, CA

Height: 6 ft 

Weight: 170 lbs

Spouse: Casey Daigle

Children: Diesel Dean Daigle, Paisley Faye Daigle, and Ace Shane Daigle

Education: La Mirada High School, University of Arizona

Jennie Lynn Finch (born September 3, 1980), is an American, former collegiate All-American, right-handed hitting softball pitcher and first-baseman originally from La Mirada, CA. She pitched for the Arizona Wildcats, the USA National Softball Team and the Chicago Bandits. Finch won the 2001 Women's College World Series and helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Time magazine described her as the most famous softball player in history. In 2010, Finch retired from softball to focus on her family. In August 2011 she started work as a color analyst for ESPN doing National Pro Fast-Pitch and college softball games.

Credits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennie_Finch

(5) Lisa Fernandez

Lisa Fernandez

 

Born: February 22, 1971 (age 43), New York City, New York

Height:5'6"

Spouse: Michael Lujan 

Education: St. Joseph High School, University of California, Los Angeles


Lisa Fernandez is a right handed pitcher who established an Olympic Really record in softball with 25 strikeouts in a game as a member of the United States women's team.

In 1990, Fernandez won a gold medal at the ISF (International Softball Federation) World Championship. Among her great accomplishments are:

• 1991, gold medal at the Pan American Games
• 1994, gold medals at ISF World Championships and Pan Am Qualifier
• 1991 and 1992, Sportswoman of the Year Award
• Led UCLA to two NCAA Women's College World Series Titles
• Four-time NFCA First Team All-American
• NCAA Top VI Award presented to the top six senior student athletes in all divisions
• 1993, Honda-Broderick Cup winner, country's most outstanding collegiate female athlete
• 1991-93, Three-time Honda Award winner for softball presented to the nation's best softball player
• 1996, Olympic gold medal in the 1996 Olympics celebrated in Columbus, Georgia
• 1998, gold medal at Pan American Games;
• 2000, Olympic gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics celebrated in Australia where she established a 25 strikeout record in women's softball
• 2002, gold medal at the ISF World Championships
• 2003, gold medal at the Pan American Games
• 2004, Olympic gold medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics celebrated in Greece.

Credits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Fernandez