Scoring a softball game gives a coach or a manager a clear idea of how his team performed. Every time a batter comes up in a softball game, the official scorekeeper keeps tracks of how players performed each time at bat. The softball scorebook will let the manager know whether the player got a hit, struck out, walked or reached on an error and also show whether the runner scored or was thrown out on the base path. In short it will tell the shorthand version of what happened in each game.
Scoring System
The scoring system used is a standard one that has been used in the sport for decades. All players in the field are given a number that is used to describe all fielding plays. Those numbers are: 1 -- pitcher; 2 -- catcher; 3 -- 1st base; 4 -- 2nd base; 5 -- 3rd base; 6 -- shortstop; 7 -- left field; 8 -- center field; 9 -- right field; 10 -- extra outfielder. If the first batter comes up and hits a ground ball to shortstop and is thrown out at first, the play in the score book would read 6-3. A hit would consist of 1-to-4 horizontal lines, depending on whether the hit was a singe, double, triple or home run. A colored in diamond would indicate that the player eventually scored a run.
Scoring Decisions
The official scorer decides whether a ball hit by the batter or any play in the field is a hit or an error. In many cases, it is a fairly straightforward decision. A player hits a ground ball to 3rd base, the ball hits the 3rd baseman's glove and bounces away and the batter is safe at 1st base. That's an error on the 3rd baseman. If the batter hits a ball between the shortstop and 3rd baseman and the shortstop picks the ball up and the batter beats the throw to 1st base, that's a hit. However, some plays can be more difficult. An outfielder may run a long distance, dive for the ball and hit her glove as she lays out but not catch it. The official scorer must decide whether that play is a hit or an error. This is almost always ruled a hit, but an official scorer has the discretion to call it an error if that's how she perceives it.
Changing Decisions
If the official scorer rules a specific play as a hit or an error and the team impacted by the decision has a strong disagreement, the party impacted may appeal the decision and ask that the play be reconsidered. The official scorer will have 24 hours to reconsider and make changes in the scoring or keep the call the same. The official scorer must inform all parties if the official call is changed following such an appeal.
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