Scorekeeping Clinic Heather Burton & Margarita Yonezawa hadburton@gmail.com & mdiaz4@yahoo.com A scorekeeper must be impartial. Only speak up for a substitution violation or when a pitcher has reached their pitch limit. Only speak with the umpire. Be familiar with Playing Rules and basic guidelines of scoring. Pitch Limits (based on league age) 7-8 yr olds 50 pitches 9-0 yr olds 75 pitches - yr olds 85 pitches Pitch Thresholds -0 pitches in a day, no (0) days rest -5 pitches in a day, one () days rest 6-50 pitches in a day, two () days rest 5-65 pitches in a day, three () days rest 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) days rest If a player pitches 4 pitches, that player is ineligible to catch. If a player catches (even one pitch) in any 4 innings, they are ineligible to pitch (warm up pitches don t apply). If a team bats with a continuous line-up, all players still need to play 6 defensive outs. Scoring judgment should be age appropriate. ACCURACY Knowing the score is more important than distinguishing between hits and errors. Double check runs and pitch count at each half inning. Don t hesitate to consult with the umpire when necessary, the umpire decides whether a run counts. BEFORE THE GAME *Using a mechanical pencil is recommended. Get the official scorebook. Get lineups from both managers, no less than 5 minutes before start time. Make sure that jersey # s, player s names, league ages and positions are clear. All players on the Team Roster MUST be listed on the lineup. Verify with the manager if there are any ineligible pitchers. DURING THE GAME Record balls, strikes and foul balls for each batter. Double check the pitch count after each half inning with the Pitch Count sheet. The pitch counter will be marking a separate Pitch Count sheet.
Record plays made on the field (steals, walks, hits, runs, errors and outs). If in doubt verify with the umpire about an out or run before the net pitch. Record substitutions given by managers, including position changes. Projected offensive substitutions will not be accepted. (This only applies to the Major division) Record ALL pitching and catching changes & verify the eligibility of the new pitcher or catcher. BETWEEN INNING Record the pitch count for the pitcher. Notify the umpire if the pitcher is getting close to his limit within 5-0 pitches recommended. Record any player changes given to you by the managers. Projected offensive substitutions will not be accepted. (This only applies to the Major division) Add up the score through that inning. AFTER THE GAME Record the pitching record (# of pitches) for all pitchers for both teams on the pitching log or pitching affidavit of each team. Verify the final score and record in official scorebook. Have umpire and managers sign official scorebook. THINGS TO REMEMBER The official count for a batter is kept by the umpire, the scorekeepers count is not official. You may ask be asked for a count by the umpire and you can give what you have, otherwise you say nothing. If the teams change sides before three () outs, the scorekeeper shall immediately inform the umpire of the mistake. Keep in mind that there may be a runs per inning limit. If the game is protested or play suspended, the scorekeeper shall make note of the eact situation at the time of the protest or suspension, including the score, number of outs, position of any runners, ball and strike count on the batter and the pitch count. The scorekeeper shall NOT call attention to the umpire or any member of either team to the fact that a player is batting out of order. The scorekeeper shall NOT make any decision conflicting with the official playing rules or with an umpire s decision.
SCORING ABBREVIATIONS Line-Up Abbreviations Position Abbreviation Position # Pitcher P Catcher C First Baseman B Second Baseman B 4 Third Baseman B 5 Shortstop SS 6 Left Fielder LF 7 Center Fielder CF 8 Right Fielder RF 9 Left/Right Center Fielder (used only in lower division) L/R CF 0 Scorebook Abbreviations K Strikeout KS=swinging KC=called B Base Hit Single B Base Hit Double B Base Hit Triple HR Home Run BB Base on Balls Walk E# Error # of player position ET# Error on Throw # of player position F# Fly Out # of player position L# Line Out # of player position P# Pop Up # of player position U# Unassisted # of player position SB Stolen Base PB Pass Ball WP Wild Pitch BT Bunt FC Fielders Choice HBP Hit By Pitch CS Caught Stealing SAC Sacrifice DP Double Play TP Triple Play FO# Foul Out # of player position IFR Infield Fly Rule DTS or DK Dropped Third Strike RI Runner Indifference* PR# - Pinch Runner # of player jersey CI Catcher Interference DI# Defensive Interference # of player position OI Offensive Interference # of player position also known as Obstruction
Scorebook Eamples Basic Green indicates variations that can be used in scoring. Single Strike Balls Double Strike Balls Home Run Triple Strikes Foul Balls Circle or note B, B, B, etc. Depends on scorebook. Filling in or shading in the square is a good way to show runs scored. K KC L6 Walk Known as Base on Balls P Hit By Pitch F7 Strikeout How the out is made can be noted in the middle and circled, or out # and circled, which helps to show order of outs. Always need to note how the out was made. DTS DK Strikeout Called Means batter did not swing. Backwards K can also be used. IFR Line Out Line drive caught by the shortstop. FO5 Pop Up Pop up caught by the pitcher. Fly Out Caught by the left fielder. Dropped Third Strike Catcher to the first baseman. U = catcher unassisted If runner reaches st, note as DTS or DK. Infield Fly Rule Can only be called by the umpire. The ball doesn t need to be caught. Runners advance at their own peril. Fouled Out 5 is the player position rd baseman. Catcher interference called by umpire. Runner advanced to nd on a Passed Ball, a ball not secured by catcher. DP 7 5 F7 Singled with a Bunt. Flied out to left field. Runners advance on Wild Left fielder to rd base, Pitch, a pitch the runner tagged out. catcher had no chance Double Play labeled of securing. on second out. OI Pinch Runner # subs in at st base. Runner steals second. Ball put in play, ball hits runner, Runner called out, Offensive Interference. Runner at first Player #4 puts pall in play. Shortstop to nd for force out. Player reaches st on Fielders Choice. Ball hit to shortstop. Runner reaches st base due to Error. Shortstop over throws to st, runner advances to rd on Error Thrown. st baseman over throws to rd, runner scores. U Unassisted Unassisted ground ball made by the st baseman, by either force out or tag. CS 4 Single to center field. TP CS 4 Single towards left field. Runner #5 advances to nd base. L Line out to pitcher. Runners caught off the bases, Triple Play.
Scorebook Eamples Advanced # 4 # 4 #9 6 # Green indicates variations that can be used in scoring. Single Strike Balls # is batter jersey # 4 is total pitches for batter Double Strike Balls This shows order of pitches. Triple Strikes Foul Balls Circle or note B, B, B, etc. Depends on scorebook. Home Run Filling in or shading in the square is a good way to show runs scored. #8 6 # 5 #5 K 5 #7 KC # L6 Walk Known as Base on Balls 4 Hit By Pitch Strikeout How the out is made can be noted in the middle and circled, or out # and circled, which helps to show order of outs. Always need to note how the out was made. Strikeout Called Means batter did not swing Backwards K can also be used Line Out Line drive caught by the shortstop. X marks the location of the out. # P Pop Up Pop up caught by the pitcher. # F7 Fly Out Caught by the left fielder. #6 DTS DK Dropped Third Strike Catcher to the first baseman. U = catcher unassisted If runner reaches st, note as DTS or DK. 5 #4 IFR 5 6 #0 Infield Fly Rule Can only be called by the umpire. The ball doesn t need to be caught. Runners advance at their own peril. FO5 4 Fouled Out 5 is the player position rd baseman # 4 #8 5 # Catcher interference called by umpire. Runner advanced to nd on a Passed Ball, a ball not secured by catcher. DP CS7 5 F7 Singled with a Bunt. Flied out to left field. Line shows ball in play. Left fielder to rd Runners advance on Wild base, runner Pitch, a pitch the tagged out. Double catcher had no chance Play labeled on of securing. second out. #6 5 OI Pinch Runner # sub in at st base. Runner steals second. Ball put in play, ball hits runner, Runner called out, Offensive Interference. #4 6 Runner at first Player #4 puts pall in play. Shortstop to nd for force out. Player reaches st on Fielders Choice. # Ball hit to shortstop. Runner reaches st base due to Error. Shortstop over throws to st, runner advances to rd on Error Thrown. st baseman over throws to rd, runner scores. #9 U Unassisted Unassisted ground ball made by the st baseman, by either force out or tag. Single to center field. Single towards left field. Runner #5 advances to nd base. L #5 #7 #0 5 4 TP CS CS 4 4 Line out to pitcher. Runners caught off the bases, Triple Play.
Continuous Lineup Eample Batting Order # Players Names League Age Pos. # Allen A. 0 0 Bob B. 6 Chris C. 4 5 David D. 9 5 Edgar E. 6 Frank F. 7 9 Greg G. 8 Hank H. 0 9 8 Isaac I. 0 0 Jim J. 7 Kevin K. - Injured 9 4 Lucy L. - Absent Sick Ma M. - Absent School Program Jersey # s are MANDATORY. Players names are MANDATORY. League age is MANDATORY. Pitcher and Catcher positions are MANDATORY. *All players need to be listed, even if they aren t available to play. Absence needs to be noted.
Substitute Lineup Eample Batting Order # Players Names League Age Pos. # Allen A. 0 6 0 Bob B. 6 Chris C. 4 4 5 David D. 9 8 5 Edgar E. 5 6 Frank F. 9 7 9 Greg G. 8 Hank H. 0 7 9 8 Isaac I. 0 Sub Jim J. Sub 7 Kevin K. 9 Sub 4 Lucy L. Jersey # s are MANDATORY. Players names are MANDATORY. League age is MANDATORY. Pitcher and Catcher positions are MANDATORY. *All players need to be listed, even if they aren t available to play. Absence needs to be noted.