Help with Scorekeeping Errors

[BigFan]

Hoping someone can answer a question about scorekeeping. I have been told that a fielder never gets an error counted against her if she does not touch the ball. Even if a reasonable player would have made the catch, if the fielder did not touch the ball it is not an error. Hoping for some clarification here. Does the ball have to be touched for it to be an error?

[Clean_up]

http://www.olympiansoftball.com/softbal ... eping.html go here to download scorekeeping rules for NCAA -- will give you a good idea of what is considered a hit or an error.

One thing I found interesting is that a fly ball that gets lost in the sun or lights, even if an outfielder touches the ball, is considered a HIT and not an error -- I find this interesting because what if the fielder didn't use her glove or hand to shield the sun properly? Not really fair to a pitcher or the team to charge a run if they score IMO IF the fielder made that type of mistake.

If a fielder is running a good distance to a ball, makes the catch and then drops the ball on the run or a fielder runs up to a ball more than 5 or 6 steps and on the scoop the ball falls out of the glove, it is a HIT, not an error..

As a scorekeeper, you have to use your judgement as to what is "normal fielding ability/routine" when you determine what is a hit or an error. IMO, if the play would have been made and you would have said "wow, great play or awesome catch, etc and the fielder was not able to come up with the ball, then it is a "hit".. A ball between the legs is about the only time you can call an error on a fielder who has not touched the ball. Mis-judged balls in the outfield even when you know they should have gotten to the ball, are hits. Mental mistakes (ie threw the ball to the wrong base, etc) are not considered errors. Balls that take an unusual hop or it is a "shot" and the fielder olays, it is a hit - again, depends on how hard the ball is hit or if the ball took a weird hop and the fielder didn't charge the ball, etc..

Also note that foul fly balls that are dropped are considered errors on the fielder and if that batter gets on base and scores the run is not counted against the pitcher or if they hit rbis (unless the other runners on base would score on the next batter who hits - you have to reconstruct the entire inning when there are errors to determine earned and unearned runs). This part is a little confusing to me still as the hits will still count on the Batting avg for the batter, but the runs are charged to the error because it prolonged the at-bat -- it is not considered ROE.

Also I found that you can't credit a HIT to a batter if the infielder checks a runner and then throws the ball to first too late or just holds the ball. According to these rules, IF in the scorekeepers opinion, the batter would have been out IF the fielder would have thrown the ball to first without checking the runner or holding the ball, EVEN IF NO PLAY WAS MADE ON AN ADVANCING RUNNER, it is not a hit. See the Batting Section. I assume this would be considered a Fielder's Choice.

http://www.olympiansoftball.com/assets/ ... rebook.pdf

Hope the links work, if not just copy/paste, etc. Good luck.. When in doubt of a play, I usually credit a hit with a note in my scorebook and then get another opinion or two before I enter in the team stats..

[You don't say]

another part of scoring is a pitcher has to throw 4 innings in a full game or 3 innings in a 5 inning mercy game to get credit for a win

[scorkep]

Totally agree Clean up, couldnt have said it better! LOL

[heretostay]

4 innings in a regular game and 3 out of 5 in a mercy, interesting. I know someone in high school that posts wins on max preps for her DD even when her DD only pitches two innings you know who you are

[softball**mom]

Ok, so what do you do with an outfielder who simply refuses to, or is too afraid to, run and try to catch the ball? We have a girl that for some reason the coach insists on playing in the outfield who does not run fast enough to try to catch the ball. It seems like she is afraid to try to catch it for fear she drop it or miss, and would rather run up on the ball after it's landed. However by that time the batter is already on first or second, or the ball has rolled so far past the outfielder that the batter is already home!

[softball**mom]

Ok, so what do you do with an outfielder who simply refuses to, or is too afraid to, run and try to catch the ball? We have a girl that for some reason the coach insists on playing in the outfield who does not run fast enough to try to catch the ball. It seems like she is afraid to try to catch it for fear she drop it or miss, and would rather run up on the ball after it's landed. However by that time the batter is already on first or second, or the ball has rolled so far past the outfielder that the batter is already home!

You don't do anything, They are recorded as hits in the book and the game rolls on.
I guess you could always try and have the pitcher roll ground balls or get Ks. That way you don't have to worry about the OF

I know, that's what we've been doing. Sigh. Unfortunately when you try to argue that there are better players on the bench the stats don't support it.

[MrIncredible]

4 innings in a regular game and 3 out of 5 in a mercy, interesting. I know someone in high school that posts wins on max preps for her DD even when her DD only pitches two innings you know who you are

Question~ We had a pitcher give up 12 runs in the first three innings, second pitcher gives up 1 run in the last 4 innings...We lost 13-2. So who gets the loss of the game, first or second pitcher?

[Midwest]

Pitcher #1 would take the loss. Only if your team came back and tired or took the lead and pitcher #2 then gave up the go a head run would pitcher #2 take the loss.

[Imperial SB Dad]

another part of scoring is a pitcher has to throw 4 innings in a full game or 3 innings in a 5 inning mercy game to get credit for a win

No true.

If a pitcher enters a game that is tied or her team is behind and the team subsequently takes a lead while she is pitching and the team goes on to win. She gets the win. Could be as little as 1/3 of an inning in some situations.