Scorekeeping Instructions

SCOREKEEPING INSTRUCTIONS

WHY DO WE KEEP SCORE?

The scorebook is important because it is the official game record and is used to record every pitch, at bat, and defensive play. The book is also referred to after the game to track the progression of the game, track pitch counts, build statistics, and help determine all-star eligibility at the end of the season.

Your manager is required to have a record of every game played whether you are the home team or visiting team. However, to take the pressure off, the home team is responsible for the official book which will be recorded from the score booth, and the visiting team is responsible for the official pitch count which can be recorded from the stands. This means that an umpire will refer to the home team scorekeeper for questions regarding scores and plays, and refer to the visiting team scorekeeper for questions regarding pitch count.

The scoreboard is a courtesy for the fans. It is not always accurate and is not an official record of the game. Generally the home team will run the scoreboard from the score booth along with the official scorebook. It is recommended that one person runs the board while another records the book. Operating the scoreboard is easy and directions are kept in the score booths.

HOW DO WE KEEP SCORE?

There are many different ways to keep score and various types of scorebooks. We are going to show you the way we keep score for the purposes of Little League play. There are many sections of the scorebook that we do not use and we will identify those for you. However, there are still a lot of abbreviations and spaces to record every action that occurs on the field during the game. It can seem overwhelming at first, but we will break this down together and you will see that it is actually easy to understand. Don’t panic. You can do this!

2 PRIOR TO GAME START

Team Names, Time, and Date

These are examples of both sides of the scorebook. There is a black X placed in the sections that you can ignore because we do not use them for Little League scorekeeping. It doesn’t look as overwhelming now, does it?

Now, notice how the pages are different colors? The red side is used for recording the visiting team and the blue side is used to record the home team. It is labeled for you at the top left of each page. This is where you will record the team names. It is circled for you in black.

Also, on the top right of each page are places to record the date and the time. Fill out the date before the game starts, but wait to record the time until the game actually starts. We record the official start time, not the time the game is supposed to start. The umpire may need to refer to the official start time if there is a question regarding starting a new inning or ending a game.

3 The Lineup:

Here is an example of a lineup.

Before each game begins you should receive a lineup from each manager.

A lineup should include the team name, coach’s name, date, player names, jersey numbers, and position numbers. If any of these items are missing you will need to ask the manager to provide it for you.

You will refer to the lineup cards to fill in information in the score book prior to the start of the game. Once you are done with them, set them aside. You will need to staple them to the corresponding team’s page after the game.

4 Batting Order:

The lineup is used for filling in the PLAYERS section of the scorebook. This is also called the batting order. We have outlined the location in black and also enlarged it so you can see it better. The example only has 11 batting positions but your scorebook will have 16.

Copy the batting order from the lineup to the corresponding row on the scorebook. Notice there are columns for recording the jersey number (No.) player name (Players) and position number (POS). You will use the white rows under the corresponding columns to enter the information. Again, make sure you are placing the home team on the blue side and the visiting 3 B. Player 5 team on the red side. 9 J. Smith 1 Note: 1 Most of the divisions in Little League use a 13 A. Star 3 continuous batting order. This means all the players will bat even if they are not playing a 4 H. Aaron 2 position. If there are 11 players on a team all 11 1 will be in the batting order. 5 T. Dove1 6

There will be additional information for the 1 D. Ring 4 baseball Intermediate and Junior’s divisions on the next page. If you are planning on 6 K. Swiss 7 scorekeeping for either of these divisions you will need to read this information as well. If not, 2 A. Wind 8 skip the next page and continue on starting with “Pitcher Number.” 8 S. Curve 9

7 0. Theen _

10 W. Bench _

5 Baseball Intermediate and Junior’s Divisions:

These divisions do not play with a continous batting order and will have substitutions. This means only 9 players will be entered into the batting order and the manager will substitute in players.

For example, O. Theen and W. Bench are not in the initial batting order according to the lineup card you received from the manager. During the third inning, the manager takes T. Dove out of the game and substitutes in O. Theen. You will write O. Theen in the space under T. Dove in the batting order. You will write the inning number 3 in the column marked with an S located next to the position number. Again, in the fifth inning the manager makes another substitution. He pulls S. Curve from the game and replaces him with W. Bench.

7 O. Theen 3

10 W. Bench 5

6 Pitcher Number:

The last thing you need to record before the game begins is the pitcher information. It is important to record the jersey number of the pitcher each inning so pitch counts can be tracked. We have enlarged the section of the scorebook where this is recorded for you to see easier.

There is a small diagram of a baseball diamond above the batting order. This shows the position number of all the players on the field. The pitcher is position number 1. Refer to your batting order and find the batter who is position 1. In this case it is J. Smith. Now we can see his jersey number is 9.

Remember J. Smith is a pitcher for the home team so he will be pitching to the visiting team. Flip the book over to the red visitor’s side and record the number 9 above the first inning column. Notice there is blue text asking for the uniform number of the pitcher on the mound? The color coding makes it easy. Now look for the player in position 1 in the visitors batting order 9 9/4 4 and record it on the home side. 2 L. Nink 3 Verify the jersey number of the pitcher each inning and enter it above the corresponding 14 B.Jackson 7 column. If a manager changes pitchers in the 3 middle of an inning make a dark outline around 8 T. Brady 2 the box of the first batter he pitches to. Now add his jersey number next to the first pitcher’s jersey number. I have placed an example in inning 2.

7 Recap

So far we have learned all the things that need to be done prior to the start of the game.

• What parts of the scorebook can be ignored. • Where to record the team names, time, and date. • Where to get the lineup and what to do with it. • Where to put player’s names, jersey numbers, and position numbers in the batting order. • Where and how to record the pitcher’s jersey number each inning.

All of the scorebooths at our fields have laminated quick reference charts that help remind you what needs to be done each step of the game. You don’t have to memorize everything!

8 SEQUENCE AND INNINGS

Sequence:

The game sequence flows down the inning column.

Every time a new batter begins a new at bat you use a new box. We’ll break down the box later.

For now, just know the box captures what the batter did and when he did it. The box you use is determined by who is batting and what inning it is.

The first batter in the first inning gets the first box. (outlined with a black square) Each subsequent batter gets a new square as you work down the 1st inning column.

Since players bat in order, you just move to the next box in the order when the next batter is up to bat. Verify the jersey number of the batter and make sure that it matches the jersey number in the batting order located in the row to the left of the box you are in.

At times a batter will bat out of order and you will notice it by verifying the jersey number. If this happens make sure to record the batter in his correct box. It is the managers responsibility to catch the error. Do not stop the game or notify the ump. Your job is to record the game. Even the errors.

9 End of a Half-Inning:

Let’s say that D. Ring made the 3rd out. You will make a diagonal mark in the lower right hand corner of his box to indicate that he made the last out.

Next you will place a straight line through the rest of the batters boxes of the inning.

When a player makes the third out the other team comes to bat.

Remember you created a page for the other team too. At this point you turn to the other team’s page and continue scoring the other team’s at bats according to their lineup.

New Inning:

When the opposing team makes their 3rd out Batter you will flip the book over again and start the #6 new inning. Batter Remember that D. Ring made the 3rd out in the #7 first inning. You will be able to see that based Batter on the diagonal mark you made. This means #8 that K. Swiss will bat first (lead off) in the second inning.

Continue scoring in order until you reach the end of the lineup. Then, making sure to stay in the same inning column, start over at the top of the lineup. Lead Off Let’s say that A. Star made the 3rd out in the second inning. Indicate the end of the inning Batter #2 with the diagonal mark and block out the rest of Batter the batters with a straight line. #3 Batter All of the subsequent innings will start and end #4 in the same way. Batter Quiz: #5

Who will lead off in the third inning?

So Far We’ve Learned:

• Where to begin scoring and how the scoring sequence flows. • How the end of a half inning is indicated. • How to begin a new inning in the correct place.

Answer: H. Aaron H. Answer: 11

THE SCORING BOX

The Box:

The box is where all the game detail is captured. It’s a tiny section of the scorebook that is used to record a large amount of information. Let’s start by looking at the box more closely.

Box Anatomy:

What is it?

These abbreviations are used to indicate how a batter got on base. BB is the abbreviation for base on balls, otherwise known as a walk. 1B, 2B, 3B, and HR are abbreviations for the type of hit; single, double, triple, or homerun.

What do you do?

Step 1: Circle the one that corresponds to the type of hit the batter got.

Step 2: Trace the bases that the batter touched on this hit.

Example:

B. Player hit a double. Circle the 2B and draw a line connecting home to 1st to 2nd.

What is it?

This tiny open circle is used to indicate if a batter makes an out.

What do you do?

Write a number 1, 2, or 3 in this circle to indicate if the batter was the first, second, or third out of the inning. The circle is very small so you can make a larger number on top of the circle if need be.

Example: J. Smith is at bat with no outs. He hits a ground 1 ball to the second baseman. The second baseman caught the ball and threw it to the first baseman to force Smith out at first base. 1 out.

Write a number 1 on the small open dot. (You will also record the way the player got out but we will get to that in a minute.)

What is it?

These five boxes are used to record the pitches that are thrown to the batter. The top three boxes are for balls and the bottom two boxes for strikes.

What do you do?

Place a dash or an x in the corresponding box after each pitch thrown that does not put the ball in play.

Example:

T. Dove is up to bat. First pitch is a ball. Second pitch is a ball. Third pitch is a strike. Fourth pitch is a ball. Fifth pitch is a ball. Dove walks to first base. Circle BB and trace the line from home to 1st. Now move on to the next box for the new batter.

So Far We’ve Learned:

• The anatomy of the box. • How to record a hit. • How to keep track of outs.

• How to record pitches.

RECORDING A PLAY

How Parents See the Field:

As parents we tend to see the field according to the names of the players. Imagine Johnny is up to bat with no outs. He hits a ground ball to Doug. Doug catches it and throws it to Andy who touches first base and forces Johnny out. We could write Doug to Andy for 1 out. But how could we possibly fit all that in the tiny box? We can’t. There isn’t enough space. Let’s look at how scorekeepers do it.

Jason

Craig Steven

Allen Doug

Michael Brandon Andy

Anthony

How Scorekeepers See the Field:

Scorekeepers simplify the view of the field by replacing the player’s names with a unique number. The number represents the player’s position. Remember the diagram of the baseball diamond in our scorebook we used to locate the pitcher’s jersey number? If you aren’t able to memorize it right away there is a helpful reminder on each page of the scorebook for quick reference.

1. Pitcher 6. Short Stop 2. Catcher 7. Left Field 3. 1st Base 8. Center Field 4. 2nd Base 9. Right Field 5. 3rd Base

7 9

6 4

5 3 1 4

16 Summary:

Now we will summarize Johnny’s at bat using position numbers found in our diagram. (baseball will not have a 10th position)

Johnny was at bat with no outs and hit a ground ball to the second baseman (4). The second baseman (4) fielded the ball and threw it to the first baseman (3) to force Johnny out at first base. The scorekeeper will record the play as a 4-3. We will also place a number 1 in the small dot to record the out. Recap:

Basically scorekeepers document the play as it happened using the position numbers instead of player’s names. When the ball is hit make sure 4-3 to pay attention to the ball. It is natural to want to watch the runner and the fielders, but you need to watch the ball in order to be able to accurately record the play.

17 SCOREKEEPING TERMS

There are numerous ways to get on base and make an out in baseball. The following is a list of terms with their abbreviations and their definitions. This is not an exhaustive list of all possible terms, but the ones most commonly used for scorekeeping in our league.

1B - Single A Single is hit by the batter, where the batter progresses to first base.

2B - Double A Double is hit by the batter, where the batter progresses to second base.

3B - Triple A Triple is hit by the batter, where the batter progresses to third base.

HR - Home Run A Home Run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play.

BB - Base on Balls A Base on Balls is an award of first base granted to batters who, during their time at bat, received four pitches outside the strike zone.

HBP - Hit by Pitch Hit by Pitch is a batter or his equipment (other than his bat) being hit by a pitch from the pitcher. The batter becomes a base runner and is awarded first base when he is touched by a pitched ball outside the strike zone and he attempts to avoid it and did not swing at the pitch.

S - Stolen Base A Stolen Base occurs when a base runner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate.

KC - Strikeout called A Strikeout called occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat and the batter did not swing at his last strike pitch.

KS - Strikeout-Swinging A Strikeout-Swinging occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat and the batter swung at his last strike pitch.

FO - Force-Out or Tag A Tag is an action of a fielder in touching a base with the body while holding the ball securely and firmly in the hand or glove; or touching the runner with the ball or the hand or glove holding the ball.

WP - Wild Pitch A Wild Pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a base runner to advance.

PB - Passed Ball A catcher is charged with a Passed Ball when he fails to hold or control a legally pitched ball that, with ordinary effort, should have been maintained under his control. When, as a result of this loss of control, the batter or the runner(s) on base advance, the catcher is thereby charged.

18 RECORDING SEQUENTIAL PLAYS

Now you know all the basics to keeping score! Let’s walk through a half-inning to illustrate how scorekeeping works during a game. We will try to cover most circumstances that may arise.

Play Ball!

Leading off is B. Player.

First pitch is a ball.

Second pitch is hit into foul territory (marked as a strike).

Third pitch is a strike.

On the fourth pitch Player hits a single.

Step 1 – Record Player’s activity (Illustrated in big box)

19 Now batting, J. Smith.

First pitch is a strike.

Smith hits a single on the second pitch and advances Player to 2nd base.

Step 1 – Record Smith’s activity. (Illustrated in big box)

Step 2 – Add a line advancing Player from 1st base to 2nd base in Player’s box. (Anything recorded in a previous batter’s box will be illustrated in red for the remainder of this guide)

20 9 Now batting, A. Star.

First pitch is a ball.

Second pitch is a ball. 13 On the third pitch Star hits a double that scores Player and advances Smith to 3rd base.

Step 1 – Record Star’s activity. (Illustrated in big box)

Step 2 – Draw two lines to advance Smith to 3rd base.

Step 3 – Draw two lines advancing Player to home and fill in the diamond. This makes it easy to tally the runs at the end of the inning. Add Star’s jersey number 13 under the diamond in Player’s box. We do this because Star got the hit that scored Player. It will be credited to Star as an RBI (run batted in)

21 9 Now batting, H. Aaron.

First pitch is a strike.

Second pitch is a strike. 13 Third pitch is a ball.

Fourth pitch is a foul ball. (marked as a strike but does not count as an out) There are not any 4 more little boxes for strikes so we will indicate the pitch with a little dot next to the boxes. This helps us keep an accurate count of the pitches thrown.

On the fifth pitch Aaron hits a fly ball that is caught by the right fielder. Smith scores and Star advances to 3rd base.

Step 1 – Record Aaron’s activity. We use F9 to indicate the out was a fly ball to right field. (Illustrated in big box)

Step 2 - Update Star’s and Smith’s boxes. Don’t forget to credit Aaron with an RBI for scoring Smith.

22 9 Now batting, T. Dove.

On the first pitch Dove grounds to the short stop who throws to 1st base for the out. Star does not advance. 13

Step 1 – Score Dove’s ground out by using the numeric positions. The shortstop is position 6 and the first baseman is position 3. So the play is 4 scored 6-3. (Illustrated in big box) If you do not remember the position numbers refer to the diagram on your page. F9 6-3 1

23 9 Now batting, D. Ring.

The first pitch is a strike.

Second pitch is a strike.

Third pitch is a strike.

Ring struck out. (swinging)

Observe whether or not he was swinging the bat. If he was swinging it is noted as a KS. If he was not swinging and the umpire called the strike it is noted as a KC.

Step 1 – Score Ring’s activity. (Illustrated in big F9 box) 1 Step 2 – Since this is the final out, you will place 6-3 a diagonal line to indicate the last batter and a straight line down through the rest of the boxes. 2 (edits in red) KS

24 ADDITIONAL SCOREKEEPING EXAMPLES

Examples Not Covered in Practice Inning:

Johnny hits ground ball to 1st base. Johnny is hit by a pitch and walks The first baseman fields the to first base. ball and touches the base forcing Johnny out. This is an unassisted put out.

Johnny is on 2nd base and tries to Johnny hits a ground ball to the steal 3rd. The pitcher throws the second baseman. The second ball to the third baseman who then baseman drops the ball and Johnny tags Johnny. Johnny is caught stealing. makes it to 1st base safely. Johnny reached base due to an error by the second baseman.

END OF EACH HALF INNING

Tally the Score:

Remember the very top of the page?

4/1/2017 LC Eagles 1 BGLL Storm 2 11:00

At the end of each half inning you will count the diamonds that are filled in to indicate runs. Then you will record the total at the top of that inning. The LC Eagles had batted at the top of the inning and scored 1 point. (This is assumed for purposes of this guide) In the bottom of the first inning BGLL Storm scored 2 runs. (This is counted based on the inning we just practiced)

Flip the Book:

Now flip over the book and get ready to score the top of the 2nd inning. Remember when you flip to record the score on the other side as well. (Example: You entered the score of 1 for the LC Eagles in the top of the first inning on the red side. You flip the book to the blue side at the half inning and record the score of 1 for the LC Eagles on the blue side as well. At the end of the inning you record the score of 2 for BGLL Storm on the blue side. You flip the book and record the score of 2 for BGLL Storm on the red side as well. The scores are recorded for individual innings. At the end of the game you will add the scores across and enter the totals in the Final Score box.

Enter the Pitcher’s Jersey Number:

Remember to enter the jersey number of the pitcher each time you flip the book.

Begin Scoring the next half inning:

Now it is time to score the next half inning. Make sure to start with the correct batter based on the diagonal line you made at the end of the previous inning.

26 CONGRATULATIONS!

You made it all the way through! By now you should have a pretty good sense of how this scorekeeping thing works. We are hopeful that this tutorial has given you enough information that you feel confident enough to score a game! Here are a few tips before you go.

• Mistakes are ok. This is not the world series. • Try your best and practice, practice, practice. Practice by scoring baseball games on tv or by watching a game at our fields when you aren’t needed to keep score. It’s a lot easier to learn when there isn’t as much pressure. • There are visual aids located in the scorekeeper’s booths to help you if you get stuck.

If you ever have any questions feel free to email the Official Scorekeeper at [email protected]. We are here to help!