The Game of Baseball

All About the Game of Baseball

A baseball team is composed of nine players. Baseball is played between two teams, with one team "in the field" and the other team up to bat. Major League baseball is monitored by four umpires, but there may be anywhere from one to six umpires in other forms of baseball such as youth sports (Little League) and softball leagues.

The baseball field is referred to as a diamond because there are four bases (situated counter-clockwise). They include the first, second, third and home plate, which constitute a diamond shape. These bases are also referred to as bags or cushions. The diameter of the bases is 15 in (38 cm) square shaped and are slightly raised above the ground. Home base is a pentagon shaped rubber wedge. It is 90 feet (27.4 m) from home to first base, as well as from home to third base.

There are two sections of the baseball field: the infield and the outfield.

The infield is the portion containing the bases and is bordered by the foul line and the grass line. The outfield is the grassy area past the infield and between the foul lines, bordered by a wall or fence. The area between the foul lines and on the foul lines is considered fair territory, so if a ball is hit in this area, it is a "hit" and the region outside the foul lines is foul territory and if a ball is hit there, it is not a hit.

A baseball game is played for nine innings. Each team gets a turn at bat per inning, while the other team defends the field. The winner is the team with the most runs after nine innings. If the score is tied, additional innings are played until one team comes out ahead. At the start of the game, the visiting team is up to bat first, while the home team "takes the field."

 

Home- batting cages

One of the things that sets baseball apart from other sports is that the defense always has the ball. Each team tries to hit the ball and score a run when at bat. Each team has at least three players at bat per inning because each team gets three outs per inning. If a player gets a hit, it, of course, is not an out.

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