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Scorekeeping Guide

for ULL Scorekeepers in Single A - Juniors divisions

ULL Scorekeeping Guide, rev 2015 Union LL-specific Scorekeeping Info

• Scorebooks are Field-specific – Each FIELD will have it’s own Glovers binder with scoresheets, regardless of which division plays on that field (e.g. AAA game on Majors field, AA game on AAA field) – Make sure you go to the correct section in the binder for the division playing – Do not remove scorebooks from their respective field – T-ball division does not keep score • Pitching logs are Division-specific – Majors pitching log remains in Majors field shed – AAA pitching log remains in AAA field shed – Each team will have it’s own tab in the pitching log – If AAA game is being played on Majors field, take 2 blank sheets from Majors pitching log binder. When game is over, place the completed log sheets in the AAA pitching log in the AAA shed in the correct tabs.

• Any questions/issues, please contact ULL Head of Scorekeeping.

Why keep scorebooks?

• Little League International requires that official game records be maintained • Scorebooks are useful references in case there are inquiries during or after a game • At the league’s option, game records can be used to generate box scores, hitting and pitching stats Roles

• Keeping a fair, accurate, and neat scorebook is your top priority • For divisions that pitch, a precise pitch count needs to be kept – it usually works best to identify another person to keep pitch count in the booth with you • Best not to run the scoreboard – find a volunteer for this job • Umpires’ decisions are the final word • If no , the on the mound makes calls

Before game start

• Arrive at the field at least 20 minutes prior to game time • Ask both managers for a “line-up” (a listing of players in the order they will come up to bat) • Locate the scorebook for your division and field location • (AAA-Juniors) Locate the Pitching Log binder • Locate a couple of sharp pencils or mechanical pencil

Setting up the book Game records for the two opposing teams are entered as follows: For spiral-bound scorebooks: Enter records on opposing pages of the scorebook Team A Team B game game For loose-leaf score sheets: record record Enter records on opposite sides of the same sheet Setting up the book Enter the game day information at the top of each team’s page Setting up the book Enter the players’ names according to the ’s line-up – preferred format: Last name, First name It is not necessary to enter playing positions. Majors: Enter the 9 starters, leave a space, and enter the subs’ names – they will be inserted into the appropriate spots when they are substituted during the game (more later on this) Pitch Log (AAA-Jrs)

• Fill out the top portion (team, opponent, date of game) • For each , enter (Last Name, First Initial), Uniform # & League Age (if known) • Cross out the number as that pitch is thrown • Circle the number (or blacken the box) for the last pitch thrown in each half-inning – Doing so helps “back track” pitches thrown by inning Pitcher Eligibility Form (AAA-Jrs)

• Fill out the top portion (division, team, sheet #) • For each pitcher, enter Date, (Last Name, First Initial), & League Age • Record the # of pitches thrown for each pitcher • If the manager allows his pitcher to “finish the batter” while exceeding a Days Rest Threshold, record the previous threshold value & corresponding days rest required. Otherwise, record the next threshold value. • Initial each line Scoring the Game Scorebook basics When a team comes up to bat, turn to that team’s page. 1st inning performance is recorded in column 1, 2nd in column 2, etc. Total runs, hits, errors and left on base (LOB) in an inning are recorded in bottom of that column Pitching totals are recorded in the bottom section, and on the pitching log

Scoring Basics: Positions

1 – Pitcher 2 – 3 – 1st base 4 – 2nd base 5 – 3rd base 6 – Short stop 7 – Left field 8 – Center field 9 – Right field

Scoring Balls and Strikes (Majors, AAA & late-season AA) Balls and strikes are recorded in the section of the scoring box 1 ball, with a configuration of 5 1 strike squares in two rows: 3 spaces for balls, 2 for strikes 0 balls, 1 strike Tally a ball or strike with a diagonal slash in the appropriate square When a batter exceeds two strikes by hitting foul balls, add a tick mark near the strike squares for each add’l foul Two fouls after 2nd strike Scoring Balls and Strikes (Single A & early-season AA)

When pitching machines are used for pitching or the coaches pitch, each batter is allowed six (6) pitches to get on base. There is no need to keep track of balls and strikes, though you can use the ball/strike squares to keep count of pitches per batter, if you like. Getting on Base Hits When a batter gets on base by making a hit, darken the baseline(s) on the scoring box according to the number of bases gained from the hit as shown:

Single (“1B”) Triple (“3B”)

Double (“2B”) Home run (“HR”) Getting on Base Walk, Hit by Pitch, Catcher’s Interference

When a batter attains first base after 4 “balls” are called, it is scored as a “Base on Balls” (BB) When a batter attains first base after being hit by a pitch, it is scored as “HP” When a batter attains first base because of catcher’s interference (rare), it is scored as “CI” Getting on Base rd Dropped 3 Strike Majors (effective 2012) & Juniors Divisions Only When 1st base is open and the batter strikes out (either swinging or looking), but the catcher drops (or cannot handle) the pitched ball, the batter can run to 1st. It then becomes a force play at 1st base. Same rule applies to a 2-out, runner at 1st situation. • If the batter is OUT at 1st, record the play as “K K 2-3 (out) ” where (out) is how the out was achieved, i.e. 2-3, U2, etc. The pitcher gets an official strikeout. • If the batter is SAFE at 1st, record the play as “K WP” or “K PB”, depending how you determine the dropped 3rd strike occurred. The pitcher gets an official strikeout, but an out is NOT recorded for that at-bat in the inning. K PB Getting on Base Fielder’s Choice When the batter reaches first base because a fielder gets another runner out instead of making the play at first base, it is ruled a “fielder’s choice,” or FC. Example: A runner is on second base when the batter comes up. The batter hits a ground ball to the short stop. The runner at 2nd starts advancing to third. The short stop fields the ball. Instead of throwing the ball to first to get the batter out, he throws it to third and gets the runner from 2nd. Hit vs. Error vs. FC???: If any runner gets put out other than the batter, it is ruled an FC. If the fielders attempt but fail to make the out, it is either ruled an error or hit – see next slide for information about Errors. Getting on Base Fielding Errors Errors primarily recorded for Majors (other divisions do not record errors) When a batter gets on base or runner advances as the result of an clear

error on the part of a fielder, it is 4 ruled an Error, or “E.” Example: The batter hits a grounder to the 2nd baseman, who then makes a bad throw to 1st. The 1st baseman is unable to make the play at first, so the batter makes it on base. This is scored as “E4.” Errors: Little League rules of thumb Ordinary effort – if a fielder makes ordinary effort to make a play, but the batter still gets on base, record it as a Hit, not an Error.

Consistency – Score ALL batters equally, regardless of their/your team or other affiliation.

Most important rule of thumb: The benefit of the doubt always goes to the batter/runner. If there is any doubt about whether an error was made, the batter scores a Hit. Advancing runners around the bases Normal advance: When a runner advances one or more bases as the result of a Runner on 2nd base batter making a hit or walking, indicate advances to third the advance by simply darkening the appropriate baselines in THAT RUNNER’s scorebox. E6 Runner on 1st advances to 3rd on Advance on error: (Majors only) When a an error by the short stop runner advances due to a fielding error, indicate the error along the baseline he/she advanced. Runner on 3rd When a runner advances home darken the advances home entire square to indicate a run was scored.

Stolen bases, passed balls & wild pitches A runner can steal a base in one of three ways: Passed ball: If a “catchable” pitch Runner steals home gets by the catcher, and the runner on a passed ball steals a base as a result, score it as PB “PB Wild pitch: If an “uncatchable” pitch WP Runner steals 3rd on gets by the catcher, and the runner a wild pitch steals a base as a result, score it as “WP” SB : If the runner makes a Runner steals 2nd not as the result of “clean steal,” score it as an “SB” PB or WP Golden rule: Benefit of the doubt goes to the runner. If there’s any doubt whether a PB or WP occurred, score it as “SB.” Scoring RBIs When a hit or walk by a batter results in one or more runs coming in (including his/her own in the case of a home run) the batter gets credit for “Runs Batted In” or RBIs. To score RBI(s) for a batter, put the number of RBIs in the triangle under 2B

the scoring diamond in that batter’s 2

scorebox. Batter hits a that brings in two runs Scoring Outs Strike Out

Strikeout swinging: When the batter swings and misses on his/her third strike, it is scored as “strike out swinging” (Ks). Called strikeout (strikeout looking): When the does not swing his/her third strike and is called out by the umpire, it is scored with a backwards “K.” Scoring Outs Balls Caught by Fielders Fly Out: When the batter hits a fly ball that is caught by a fielder, score it with an “F” followed by the position number of the fielder that caught the ball. Fly out to Line out: When the batter hits a line drive (low, straight hit) that is caught before bouncing, score it with an “L” followed by the position number of the fielder that caught the ball. Line out to 3rd baseman Foul Out: When the batter pops up a foul ball that is caught, score it like a fly out, but with the letters “FO” instead of “F”. Foul out to Scoring Outs Infield Fly The infield fly is an out that is called by the umpire when 1) Runners are on 1st and 2nd base (force running situation), and 2) A fly ball is popped up to an infielder that could easily make a force out with one of the runners, then throw to 1st to get the batter When infield fly is called, it is an automatic out for the batter, but other runners are not impacted. Infield fly rule can be confusing, but just rely on the umpire to make this call – don’t score an infield fly rule unless it is clearly called by the umpire. Scoring Outs Unassisted outs Unassisted out: When a fielder fields a ball, then either 1) tags a runner, or Unassisted out by 2) tags a base to get a force out. the 1st baseman This “unassisted” out is scored as a “U” followed by the fielder’s position number. Scoring Outs Assisted outs Assisted out: When a fielder fields a ball, then throws it to another fielder, who then gets the batter/runner out. This out is scored with the number of the Batter thrown out at 1st base by the 3rd fielder that fielded and threw the ball, baseman followed by “-,” followed by the number of the fielder that made the out.

Example: The batter hits a ground ball toward 3rd base. The 3rd baseman gets the ball, then throws it to 1st for the force out. This is scored as a “5-3.” Scoring Outs Force out or Tag Force out or tag: When a runner is advancing from one base to another and gets either tagged out or forced out. Score these outs by: Runner advancing from 1st to 2nd is either forced or 1) Darkening only half of the line between tagged out by the 2nd baseman on a the two bases, ending with a cross-hatch throw from the (as shown), and short stop 2) Scoring the out as described previously. Scoring Outs Caught stealing When a runner attempts to steal a base, but is tagged out, it is scored as follows:

1) Darken only half of the line Runner caught stealing from 2nd to between the two bases, ending with 3rd by the 3rd baseman on a throw a cross-hatch, and from the pitcher 2) Score the out as “CS” and indicate the fielding positions involved in the play as described before. Keeping track of outs

When an out occurs, indicate whether it is the first, second or third out in the inning by placing a 1, 2, or 3 in the appropriate spot in the scoring box. At the end of an inning

After the third out, 1) Draw a short diagonal line at the lower right corner of the last batter’s scorebox to help you know where in the to start the next inning 2) Total runs, hits and errors at the bottom of the column Substitutions (Majors only)

When a player is substituted into the line-up, 1) Put the player’s name and jersey number under the name of the person he/she is coming in for in the batting order 2) Draw a vertical line between the last scorebox of the previous batter and first scorebox of the new batter Pitcher change (AA, AAA and Majors only) When a new pitcher is coming to the mound: 1) Enter the pitcher’s name and jersey number on the list of at the bottom of the score sheet 2) Draw a horizontal line between the last scorebox of the previous pitcher and first scorebox of the new pitcher. (If changing mid- batter, draw a zigzag line between these scoreboxes.) After the game

• Tally the final score, and write it clearly on both teams’ pages • Fill out the Pitcher Eligibility Form • Have the base umpire (if applicable) sign both teams’ pages – or at least record the umpire’s last name on the pages • Have each manager sign his/her team’s page Resources/Tools

• Scorekeeping info: lots of resources are online – most of the info here is drawn from www.baseballscorecard.com • Scorekeeper’s time out: you can call time out at any time during a game if you need to consult with the ump or get caught up during a busy inning • “Whats the Score? Official scoring rules for Little League baseball” – located on Little League website: www.littleleague.org