The infield fly rule is scored in the situation where there are less than two outs, and there is a force at third base (runners on 2nd and 3rd) or home (bases are loaded) and there is a pop fly to the infield, in fair territory. The batter is declared out and runners can not advance during the sequence. The letters “IF” followed by the player who catches the ball are entered into the batter’s cell.
A Base Path violation occurs when a batter or runner attempts to avoid a “tag” by running outside the base path. The letters “BV” are to be entered into the cell of the runner or batter violating the rule. Don’t forget to enter the out number appropriately.
After each player has batted once in an inning, an arrow -> is drawn at the bottom of the score sheet for that inning. The arrow signifies that the all the batters have batted once and the recording of their next at-bat, in the same inning, will continue in the next column provided.
Make sure to cross out the printed inning number on the column and replace it with extended inning number. Don’t forget to continue this for the rest of the innings.
Catcher Interference occurs when the catcher physically interferes with the batter’s swing. An example of this is when the catcher is too close to the plate and the batter touches the catcher’s glove with the bat.
The play is ruled dead, all runners go back to their originating base. The batter is awarded first base. Then runner can advance one base if forced.
A Designated Hitter is a player who bats in place of the pitcher in a baseball game. The “DH” does not play the field and cannot be substituted for a fielder at any time during the game.
The letters “DH” are entered into the Position column in the player section of the scoresheet
When the team batting has made three outs, a slash is drawn diagonally across the bottom right hand corner of the last batter in the inning. However, be aware that if the last batter of the inning did not make the final out (for example: a base runner was caught stealing), that batter does not get credited with an at-bat and will lead off the next inning.
In this situation, the batter up last in the inning would be treated as if he never got up. And a diagonal slash is written across the bottom of the cell of the batter before him. In the cell of the runner caught stealing, the appropriate “Caught Stealing” data would be entered. And finally. the number “3” in a circle is entered in the top right hand corner (of the runner) to signify the “CS” caused the third out.
When a player is substituted for, the new player’s information (Name, Position, Uniform number) is added to the line below the player for which he is being substituted. A vertical line is drawn on the last at-bat of the original player.
If the new player is replacing the previous as a pinch hitter, the letters “PH” are entered as the position of that player.
If the new player is replacing the previous as a pinch runner, the letter “PR” are entered.
Some score books provide a space to record balls and strikes. If you want to record balls and strikes simply use a dots to represent Balls and Strikes in each cell.
Use two rows with the top row for balls and the bottom row for strikes
The dots above signifies the batters count went to the 3 Balls and 2 Strike before the ball was hit.
You can use more than 2 strikes to note the actual # of pitches (just include the number of foul balls on the third strike). You can keep track of the number of pitches by counting them up at the end of each inning and keeping a rolling total.
Obstruction is called when a fielder interferes with a base runner when not in the act of fielding or possessing the ball. There are two categories of Obstruction:
The obstructed runner is being “acted” or played upon by the fielder.
In this case the ball is dead and the runner(s) are awarded the base that the umpire feels the runner would have reached if the obstruction never occurred.
The obstructed runner is “away” or not being played upon by the fielder.
In this case play continues and the umpire keeps a mental picture of what base the obstructed runner(s) would have reached. When the play is over the runner(s) is awarded the base(s) solely on the discretion of the umpire.
If the runner is “out” during the play the out is reversed and the player is awarded the bases based on the rule above.
Obstruction is scored with the letter “OB” followed by the fielder obstructing.
There is one thing to consider in this play and that is the fielder has the “right of way” when he is fielding or has possession of the baseball.
The “determination” by the umpire is the final word whether it’s obstruction or interference. I’ve seen some very heated arguments regarding this scenario.
A Rundown is a situation when a base runner is stranded between two bases and is in a position to be tagged out. When a runner attempts to advance a base but is cut off by a fielder who then “runs” the runner back to the originating base.
While doing this, the fielder throws the ball to another fielder at the originating base forcing the runner to reverse course and head to the next base. This scenario can be repeated over and over again.
the runner gets back to the originating base safely, or
the runner successfully advances to the next base.
To score this you must include every defensive player who was involved in the play, from beginning to end.
Here is a simple example:
There is a man on second base
A ground ball is hit to the short stop
Instead of throwing to first base, the short stop throws it to the third baseman.
Seeing this, the runner on second stops before reaching third and retreats to second
The third baseman throws to the second baseman (who is covering second base)
Seeing this, the runner then reverses and heads toward third base
The second baseman throws to the third baseman who tags the runner out before reaching third.
This would be scored as a fielders choice and the rundown is recorded by the defensive position numbers of the players involved.
In the batter’s cell the entry would be “FC 6-5-4-5″; where “FC” represents a Fielders Choice, “6” represents the shortstop fielding the ball, “5” represents the third baseman catching the throw, “4” represents the second baseman catching the throw from the third baseman and “5” represents the third baseman catching the ball from second baseman and tagging out the runner.
A line would be drawn in the batter’s cell to represent he arrived at first base safely
The out number would be entered in the runner’s cell on the baseball scorecard.
