Having fun playing softball

We had a great time today playing softball as a class and then with the Year 6 students at lunchtime. The Tamaki Cluster Softball Tournament is next Wednesday and we are preparing two teams to enter.

Softball is an exciting sport. It requires 10 players on the field and each player has a responsibility. Here are the positions and their responsibilities. 

Pitcher	Throws the softball from the centre of the diamond (pitcher's mound) to the catcher.  The pitcher uses an underarm motion to pitch the ball toward the "strike zone".  After making a pitch, the pitcher gets ready to field balls hit up the middle.
Catcher	Plays in a semi-crouched position behind home plate and receives pitches thrown by the pitcher. Also receives throws from fielders attempting to make outs at home plate.
First Baseman	Positioned just to the left of the first base. Her main role is to make fielding plays on balls hit toward first base.
Second Baseman	Plays in the gap between the bag at second and the first baseman.  Receives throws from fielders attempting to make outs at 2nd base and fields “grounders” and “pop ups” hit to this side of the infield.
Shortstop	Fields the balls hit to the infield between second and third base.  She covers second base (along with the second baseman) and is often involved in force plays and “double plays” with the second baseman.
Third Baseman	Plays to the left of third base and covers any plays there. Receives throws from other fielders attempting to make outs at 3rd base.
Outfielders (Left, Right, and Center)	Positioned beyond the infield, they catch and field “fly balls,” line drives, and ground balls hit into the outfield.