The History Of Softball

Softball involves less running than sports like soccer and football and there isn’t as much conditioning involved in softball as there could be. Laura Berg, a center fielder for the U.S team, states that “softball deserves to be in the Olympics because it combines both pace and power. The games are fast and feature athletic women who can be stars on both offense and defense” (qtd. in Hendricks). Softball may now involve as much running, or conditioning as many other sports, but it involves just as much dedication and talent to succeed, and that’s why it deserves to be in the Olympics.

No one knows exactly how or where baseball originated. Some say that a man named Abner Doubleday invented it in Cooperstown, New York. Others say that it started as a game before the American Civil War as a game called “rounders” that was played in sandlots. No matter how it started and the changes that baseball has gone through. I believe that baseball has affected not only people but America ,but also in a way, it symbolizes it.

Jennie Finch was an amazing softball player. From starting at the very young age of five, all the way to winning a gold medal in the Olympics; her softball career was quite successful start to finish. Finch has also created programs for young girls post Olympics and still continues to today.

Friday Night Lights not only refers to the stadium that football players play in, but it also refers to every Friday night in September through November. That simple phrase brings back several memories, that carry emotional weight. Memories that are exciting, awe-inspiring, and even painful, and frustrating. The poem “Friday Night Lights” by Gerald Locklin summarizes some of the emotions that come with playing a sport, and brings about a deeper thought process. Being a part of a sport becomes your life, it teaches life lessons, helps build your personality, and shows you passions you never would have dreamed of.

Every since I was a little girl, I have liked playing softball. I started at the age of 9, now I'm 12 and love the sport. I hope to be playing it for a long time. When I'm older, I hope to be like Jennie, and love softball just as much as I do now. Jennie has taught me to follow my dreams, and accomplish what I believe I can do. I found softball and want to play it for as long as I can. "I don’t want to be just a face. I want to go out there and prove something on the field." ~Jennie

No other sport rivals the difficulty of America’s Pastime. The game of baseball spurred in the eighteenth century but didn't come to life until the mid nineteenth century. Ever since eighteen forty-five, the year of the first baseball game in history, baseball has grown into an enormous sport expanding its reach around the world bringing millions of people closer together. Over the past one hundred and seventy-three years baseball has proven itself as the hardest sport across the globe due to hitting a baseball, fielding the ball, playing the game inside the game, and succeeding in baseball.

Throughout history itself the game of softball has evolved in several aspects. Just like society today the game changed to meet the new needs of its participants and spectators. Due to the changes that were being made new rules, dimensions, and regulations were constantly being added or revised. The main problem that the league faced was its dimensions and way of playing. For starters, in 1943 the mound was only 40 feet away. (Gregorich 89). For the duration of the eleven years span, the distance from home plate the the pitching mound changed several times. However, in 1954, the leagues last year, the mound distance jumped to 60 feet away (Gregorich 89), which happens to be the same length as a Major League Baseball mound. The distance change was caused by the pitching delivery, which started out as underhand thethen progressed to overhand. The final major change in dimensions was the distance between basepaths. As the bases moved farther apart this gave the catcher at most 0.9 seconds to catch and get a perfect throw down to second. (ESPN Sports Science). With the game of softball always changing it always kept players on their toes and ready at all

     The first reason softball is harder than baseball is because of hitting. Most college softball pitchers pitch the ball up to 70 mph from 37 feet away, from that distance it takes the ball 0.35 seconds to cross the plate. Most MLB pitchers reach speeds of 100 mph from 60 feet away, from there it takes the baseball 0.38 seconds to cross the plate. The decision time for the batter in softball is only .025 seconds which is 55% less time than an MLB player. In baseball

I started playing softball when I was in eighth grade in an outside league team in Arvin made, I always found baseball interesting and wanted to play, but my parents would not let me because it was a boys sport, and I would cry a river every time they said no because I really wanted to play .When I heard there were going to have softball conditioning and tryouts and a new team named Arvin which was, where I lived. I was so happy and wanted to join right away I told my parents and they agreed to let me try out it was like a dream come and the best day of my life and I told my parents I was going to try so hard to make the team. Softball means everything to me I love everything about it, it’s my stress reliever and my anger management. When I feel

For the last eight years, softball has shaped my life and taught me many things about leadership, sportsmanship, and how to work as a team. Softball has always made me happy, it’s not just the sport that makes me happy, but it’s the place that I get to go and the people that I get to play it with. Every time I’m on the field or in the cages I feel the most content. The softball field and cages are my sanctuary.

Baseball is considered by many to be America’s favorite pastime. Softball in many aspects is similar to baseball but in reality it is harder to play. This can be shown in all aspects of the game from hitting to pitching to fielding to catching.

Hearing your name being called and lining up alongside the first base line with your teammates before the game makes you feel worthy and excited to play such an amazing sport. As we gather in a tight circle just before we rush to our positions,

Softball is a sport played by women unless it is coed then it can also be played with men. There is two teams of 9, one on the field and one hitting. All of the positions are the pitcher, catcher, 1st basemen, 2nd basemen, 3rd basemen, shortstop, right field, left field , and center field. For hitting and fielding there is a DP and a DH. DP means designated player. DH means designated hitter When you are hitting you can get a single which means you hit the ball and you got to first base, you can get a double, triple, or a home run, which means you hit the ball out of the park, unless

“Softball has been noticed since 1887”. Ever since I was in t-ball, i’ve played ever since then because passionate about playing. I like softball because I get the time to play and bond with my teammates. My strong suits in softball are throwing and hitting because i can throw hard, and hit strong and it’s my passion to play major league softball. “softball is important in my life because i played ever since i was in Rag ball and t-ball “.

National or local parks are great places to play. You can do just about anything at the park including softball. Playing softball is an amazing way to get in shape and have fun all at the same time. Softball is a great sport to keep you active, and healthy. It can be complicated sometimes, but that’s a great way to get your head in the game. Softball takes skills that you wouldn’t