Article Index
Scorekeeping
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Offense: Caught Stealing (Unsuccessful Attempt)
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1. Charge a runner with "caught stealing" if she is put out or would have been put out had no error occurred,
a - on an attempted steal (next base must be unoccupied),
b - when a baserunner tries to advance after being picked off the base she was on (next base must be unoccupied), and
c - after over-sliding the base she attempted to steal.
2. If a runner attempting to steal is safe because the fielder did not handle a good throw, charge a "caught stealing" to the runner, an assist to the thrower and an error on the receiver.
3. If a runner sees the ball get away from the catcher, then tries to advance and is thrown out, a "caught stealing" should be charged.

Defense: Statistics
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The following defensive statistics can be kept on each player:
a - Putouts (PO),
b - Assists (A),
c - Errors (E),
d - Participation in double plays and triple plays(DP/TP) indicate inning,
e - Thrown out stealing (TO),
f - Throw out attempts (ATT),
g - Throw out average (TO%),
h - Pickoffs (PKO), and
i - Passed ball (PB).

Defense: Errors
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Guideline: Always ask, "Does the fielder deserve an error?" When answering always give benefit of the doubt to the hitter.
An error is charged
1. For each miscue/physical mistake, including fielding, wild throws, and missed catches of good throws, which prolongs the life of a batter, the life of a runner or which permits a runner to advance, including a dropped foul fly unless it was dropped intentionally to prevent a runner from advancing.
a - Receiving a throw or fielding a ground ball and not stepping on the base or not touching the player is an error on the fielder.
b - A single error is charged even if more than one base advance is gained as a result of it.
c - A wild throw in the dirt which hits a base or pitching rubber, a runner, an umpire or a fielder is an error on the thrower if a runner(s) advances.
d - An error is charged when an unnecessary throw allows a runner to advance.
e - An error is charged on a throw to a base where more than one fielder could have received a throw and neither did; charge the error to the fielder who should have received it.
f - An error is charged to any fielder committing interference or obstruction where an additional base is gained even if it is a different runner advancing to another base away from where the obstruction occurred. (i.e., Runners on first and third; fly ball to right, right fielder concedes run and throws to second base for a sure out there, meanwhile the third base runner collides with the pitcher, who is in the baseline to home. Prior to making the tag for the sure out at second, the shortstop throws home and the catcher tags the third base runner out. Call obstruction on the pitcher, score the runner and score an error for the pitcher, since the first base runner advanced safely to second base because of her obstrucfion.
g - Merely fielding a ball too slowly is not an error.
h - A mental error is not recorded as an error.
i - Do not assume a perfect throw by the catcher in a pick-off or steal attempt. Even if the throw is wild, no error is recorded unless the baserunner advances an additional base as a result of the overthrow.
j - No error is charged on a wild throw in a rundown which allows a runner to return safely to her original base.
k - If a wild throw or dropped catch would not have been in time to cause an out, no error is charged unless an additional base is gained.
l - A wild throw, In an attempt to make a second or third out of a double or triple play is not recorded as an error unless a runner gets an additional base. A dropped ball by the receiver in this situation is credited as an error.
m - No error is charged if an out is made on that immediate play, even if it changes the option of getting a lead out to getting an out behind the lead
n - No error is charged on a misplay if the ball is lost in the sun or lights, windblown, or if the fielder slips and falls, even if contact with the ball is made.
o - No error is charged when a ball is misplayed that was hit so hard more than ordinary effort is needed to play the ball. If the ball goes in the pocket of the glove and then Is dropped, score an error if an out would have been made without the drop, except as noted in q.
p - No error is charged if a fly ball is misjudged and the fielder can't recover in time to field it in good position.
q - No error is charged if the fielder drops a ball after running a considerable distance to catch it, or if she fails in her attempt to catch it while running at a high rate of speed.
r - No error is charged on a dropped line drive if the fielder moved more than a few steps to catch it.
s - Throwtt'g to a wrong base is a mental mistake and is not charged as an error.
t - A runner reaching first base safely as a result of a dropped third strike is scored as either a wild pitch or passed ball, not an error, unless the ball is picked up in time that an accurate throw or catch would have resulted in an out.
u - No error is charged if other runners advance on a dropped third strike when the batter is out. No error is charged when the batter is not out. A passed ball or wild pitch is charged.
v - illegal pitches, wild pitches, passed balls or hit batters are not recorded as errors, even if more than one base is gained from the initial misplay.
w - Consider the distance of the mound from the plate and what the pitcher's primary duty is. If she mishandles a sharply batted ball, do not credit her with an error. You may credit her with an error on a mishandled slow roller, bunt, or wild throw.
x - If two fielders are running to field a fly ball, one catches it and the second one hits her and causes her to drop it, credit the error to the player who collided with the player who initially caught the ball.
y - Score an error on the thrower when an otherwise good throw hits a runner, umpire or bat.
z - If a baseplayer makes it to within three feet of the base on a force out, and neglects to touch the base when the throw was in time, charge an error on the baseplayer receiving the good throw.

Defense: Putouts
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Credited to a fielder
a - who catches a fly ball or line drive (fair or foul),
b - who tags out a runner, or
c - who tags the base and forces out the runner,
Credited to the catcher
a - when the batter is called out for an illegally batted ball,
b - when she legally catches a third strike,
c - when a batter is out on a third strike foul bunt,
d - when a batter is out for being touched by her own batted ball,
e - when the batter is called out for interfering with the catcher,
f - when the batter is called out for batting out of order,
g - when the batter is called out for not touching first base after a base on balls,
h - when the runner is called out for not completing her advance to home plate for the wlnning run,
i - when the batter-baserunner runs backwards in the first baseline to avoid a tag,
j - when the batter interfers with the catcher,
k - when the batter refuses to touch first base after receiveng a base on balls,
l - when a runner refuses to advance from third to home and she is the deciding run, or
m - when she steps on home plate with the ball in her possession after a dropped third strike with bases loaded,
Credited to the nearest fielder
a - when a batter is out on an infield fly which is not caught (fielder nearest the ball),
b - when a runner is out for being hit by a fairly batted ball,
c - when a runner is called out for being out of the baseline to avoid a tag (fielder attempting to make the tag),
d - when a runner is out for passing another runner (fielder nearest to where the runner was passed),
e - when a runner is out for running the bases in reverse order (fielder covering the base the runner left when reversing),
f - when a runner is out for interfering with a fielder attempting to make a throw (fielder who was to receive the throw/fielder gets an assist), or
g - when a batter is also out because of a preceding runner interfering with a fielder (whoever was to receive the throw at first base; if the fielder was throwing, fielder gets an assist).

Defense: Assists
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1. An assist is credited to any fielder who deflects a batted or thrown ball and whose deflection helps make a putout possible, or the putout would have occurred had no succeeding error taken place.
2. An assist is credited to any fielder who throws a ball that results in a putout or would have resulted in a putout had no succeeding error occurred. If multiple throws are made, each fielder handling the ball is credited with one, but not more than one, assist.
3. An assist is credited to any fielder who throws or deflects a ball that results in a runner being called out for interference or for running out of the baseline.
4. An assist is credited to a fielder who makes a wild throw, and after that throw, the runner who is trying to advance to the next base is out before reaching that base. If the runner reaches the next base safely and is out trying to make yet another base on the same play, credit the initial fielder with an error- Everything resulting after the error is a new play and should be scored as such.
5. An assist is credited to any fielder who makes a throw which should have resulted in an out but was dropped.
6. A pitcher is not credited with an assist because of merely pitching the ball which initiated the play.
7. The pitcher does not get an assist on a strikeout or on a throw out.

Defense: Double Play/Triple Play
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1. A double or triple play occurs when two or three players are put out between when a pitch is delivered and the next thne the ball either becomes dead or is in the possession of the pitcher in her pitching motion- Play must be continuous.
2. If an error or misplay occurs between putouts, no double or triple play occurs,
3. If an appeal results in a second or third out, even after the pitcher has the ball in her possession, but before she throw the next pitch, a double or triple play should be credited.
4. The initial fielder of a ground bail is credited with one assist; if she throws for the out; the first receiver iii a doubleplay, or first and second receiver in a triple play, is/are credited with first a putout and then an assist; the final receiver is credited with a putout. In a double or triple play, the initial fielder of a line drive or fly ball is credited with first a putout, and then an assist if a throw is made, or another putout if a tag is made. Subsequent fielders involved receive credit as described on the preceding ground ball situation.
5. Never assume the second part of a double play. If an overthrow is made, no error is recorded unless the runner gets another base on the overthrow. If, on the second out a catchabie throw is dropped, then an error is recorded for the person receiving the throw.
6. A force double play is one where both outs are force outs. A reverse force double play is one where the first out is at first and the second out is made by tagging a runner who was originally forced off, before the runner reaches the base to which she was forced,