Summer is over so softball moves indoors

The summer is coming to an end and the days are getting shorter. The Windsor and Maidenhead District Mixed Softball League season is over so you might think that is it for softball until the spring of 2014, not so! Wycombe Sports Centre is hosting a series of community indoor softball events over the autumn so existing players can continue developing their skills during the cold, dark months and new players can be found.

So what makes indoor softball different from outdoor? It's played indoors for a start. The biggest difference is that innings are defined by periods of times rather than the number of outs. The innings for each team will last five minutes and the game will last for three innings, or a total of half an hour. As with outdoor softball, players bat in a pre arranged order alternating between men and women. Batters continue to bat in that order for their five minutes regardless of how many players are out.

The other main difference is that each batter receives only one pitch from the pitcher. If the pitch is a strike and the batter does not swing or hits the ball into foul territory then they are out. If the batter doesn't swing and the ball is not a strike then the batter can advance to first base. If the batter hits the ball into fair territory then, as normal, they should advance round as many bases as possible.

The system of scoring also varies from outdoor softball with points being awarded rather than runs scored. If a batter reaches first base from at bat then they are awarded one point, two points for second base, three points for third base and if they make it all the way round from one hit they get five points. Additional points can be awarded for base runners returning to the home plate and points will be deducted for outs.

The nature of indoor softball, being a timed game and being within an enclosed area, means it is a very fast game and excellent for practicing base running (although not sliding in on base as this is not allowed).

The sessions will take place on a Sunday from 4pm to 5.30pm starting on the 6th October and it is expected that they will run until December. They are also free to attend. If you would like further information then get in touch by emailing marlowsoftball@gmail.com.