ITEMS NEEDED:
Colored pens or markers (not required)
BEFORE YOU START:
COAST & MAJORS collect the scoreboard control for your score booth. Controls are available in the Majors score booth. Each number on the case corresponds to the field number.
Get completed line-up sheet from both team managers. If they have not included uniform numbers, return it to the manager for completion.
Plug in the score board control panel, check that all functions work and reset the score to 0-0 and the inning to 1. If any function is not working, notify the head umpire or complex manager.
FILL OUT THE SCORE SHEET BEFORE THE GAME STARTS
1. Name of visiting team (Top of inning)
2. Name of home team (Bottom of inning)
3. Complete the line-up (Number, Name and Position)
#1 Pitcher
#2 Catcher
#3 First Base
#4 Second Base
#5 Third Base
#6 Shortstop
#7 Left Field
COAST & MAJORS AAA
#8 Center Field #8 Left Center Field
#9 Right Field #9 Right Center Field
#10 Right Field
4. List ineligible players by number and reason (all players must be accounted for)
5. Mark level you are scoring
6. List date of game, scheduled start time and field #
7. Record EXACT start time that Ump says “Play Ball” (this is the official start of the game).
8. List starting pitchers on line-up sheet
9. Record the names of game officials
10. Record your name and phone number in the margin (this is important in case of a game protest)
When you are done with the front, turn it over and start on the back.
SCOREKEEPING DURING THE GAME:
Pitchers:
To make keeping track of pitchers easiest, we have found that using different colored pens for each pitcher works best. Put a small dot of color besides the pitchers name at the bottom of your score sheet in the “opposing pitchers” section when he/she begins pitching and in the “score box” of the first batter he/she faces. When he/she is removed from the game, use the same color pen to draw a line down the outside column for all batters he/she faced. This will tell you at a glance exactly how many innings each pitcher pitched. One pitch constitutes an inning pitched.
Trips to the mound:
Record the number of trips to the mound by the defensive manager to confer with his/her pitcher. On the 3rd “trip” to the mound in one inning, notify the umpire. The pitcher must at that time be removed. Injuries are not considered as official “trips”. One easy way to record this is to write “ttm” at the top of the score sheet above the appropriate inning each time a defensive manager takes one.
As each batter comes to bat, be sure the proper player is there by checking his/her uniform number. Mark his/her uniform number on the scoring square. If it is not the right batter, ask the umpire to stop the game so you can make sure the proper batter is up to bat.
Mark each pitch as called by the umpire on your score sheet in the proper space provided.
AAA use slash marks
COAST/MAJORS use pitch number
You are responsible for keeping count of balls and strikes. Occasionally, the umpire may check with you for “the count”. You respond with balls first and then strikes (Example: 3 & 2 means 3 balls and 2 strikes).
When a player gets on base, show how he/she got there by circling the appropriate choice and follow his/her progress around the bases with a pencil in the scoring square. If he/she scores a run, either black in the square to indicate a run scored or mark the number of the run scored in the scoring square.
There are several ways to mark an out:
1. If the batter strikes out (3 strikes), mark a large K in the center of the score box and the number of the out in the “Out” circle. Mark with a backward K to indicate a called third strike as opposed to a swinging strike.
2. If the batter hits a fly ball to the field, it is marked by writing “F” and the position number of the player who caught the ball. (Example: If the shortstop catches the ball, you would record “F6”.
3. When an out is made by a player who fields the ball, record how the out was made. Examples:
If the batter hits a ground ball to the second baseman (position 4) who throws it to the first baseman (position 3), you would record “4-3” in the score box. Remember to record the out in the “out” box.
If a ground ball is hit to the first baseman (position 3) and the first baseman makes the out at first base without throwing the ball, this is considered an unassisted out. You would record this as “3U”.
HOW A TEAM SCORES
One run shall be scored each time a runner legally advances to touch first, second, third and home base before three players are put out to end the inning.
Exceptions – A run is not scored if a runner advances to home plate during a play in which the third out is made:
1. by the batter-runner before touching first base
2. by any runner being forced out
3. by a proceeding runner who is declared out because that runner failed to touch on of the bases (appeal play).
RUN LIMITS
AAA – 4 runs per inning
Coast – 5 runs per inning (6th and extra innings unlimited)
Majors – unlimited all innings
FIELDER’S CHOICE AND SACRIFICE FLIES
FC – Fielder’s choice is introduced in COAST and does not apply to AAA. If a runner is on first or second base and the batter hits the ball to a fielder who throws to second base or third to get the lead runner out while allowing the batter reach base safely, this is called a “fielder’s choice” (the fielder chose which out to take). In COAST and MAJORS, circle “FC” on the score box. This is not a hit for the batter except in AAA where you would give the batter a single (1B).
SAC – Sacrifice is introduced in MAJORS. With a runner on third base, the batter hits a fly ball to the outfield allowing the runner to “tag-up” and score. This is a “sacrifice” for the batter. Circle SAC. Another example would be a “sacrifice bunt” allowing the runner to score and the batter to be out. A sacrifice does not count as an “at bat” and therefore does not affect a batting average.
ERRORS, WILD PITCHES AND PASSED BALLS
E – Errors are introduced in COAST & MAJORS. This is a judgment call for the scorekeeper. Be more lenient in COAST. If a fielder obviously muffs a throw or catch, charge an error. In MAJORS, if you feel that the fielder should have routinely made the play by ordinary effort, charge an error.
WP – A Wild Pitch is introduced in MAJORS. It is charged when a pitch is so high, low or wide that a catcher is not able to stop or control the ball by ordinary effort, thereby permitting base runners to advance. This is a call against the pitcher.
PB – Passed Ball is also introduced at MAJORS. A catcher is charged with a passed ball when he/she is unable to hold onto a legally pitched ball with ordinary effort, which permitted base runners to advance.
At the End of the Inning:
Fill in the totals at the bottom of the column.
R = runs scored that inning
H = hits that inning
LOB = # of runners left on base when last out was made
SO = Strike outs
BB = base on balls (walks). Also count HP (hit by pitch).
E = errors (not recorded in AAA – all reach base by H or BB)
RUNNERS LEAVING BASES EARLY
Base runners shall not leave their bases until the ball has reached the batter (except at Juniors when it leaves the pitchers hand). If the runner leaves early and is thrown out, the out stands. If the runner leaves early in baseball but reaches the next base safely, he must return to his original base. In softball, if a runner leaves early, the runner is called out.
REGULATION GAME
A regulation game consists of 6 innings unless extended because of a tie score or shortened:
1. because the home team is ahead after completion of the top of the 6th inning or
2. because the umpire calls the game.
If the score is tied after 6 complete innings, play continues until the visiting team has scored more total runs than the home team at the end of a completed inning or the home team scores the winning run in an uncompleted inning. If a game is “called” it is considered a regulation game:
1. if 4 innings have been completed
2. or the home team has scored more runs in 3 or 3 and a fraction innings than the visiting team has scored in 4 completed innings
3. or the home team scores one or more runs in its half of the 4th inning to tie the game
If the game is “called” before it has become a regulation game the umpire will declare it “No Game”. The pitcher will be charged with the number of innings pitched for the calendar week in a “No Game”.
REGULATION GAMES TIED AFTER 4 OR MORE INNINGS
(AAA games are not played off) Tied games halted due to weather, etc will be resumed from the exact point at which they were halted in the original game. A pitcher can pitch in both games on the same day subject to the six innings per week limitation. Line-up and batting order are the same for both teams as the original order. Any player may be replaced by a player who was not in the game prior to the halting of the original game.
TIME LIMITS ON GAMES
No inning can begin after 2 hours from the official start of the game. An inning begins after the third out is made in the bottom of the proceeding inning. There is an absolute time limit on all games of 2 hours and 30 minutes with a game to follow. AAA has an absolute time limit of 2 hours and 30 minutes regardless of whether or not there is a game to follow.
AFTER THE GAME
1. At the end of the game, fill in the game totals section of the score sheet.
2. Have each manager sign the score sheet after they verify the final and “official” score of the game.
3. Turn in the score sheet immediately to the score box in the Majors score booth. If a score sheet cannot be located, both teams will receive a loss for the game as the score sheet is the only official record of the game.
4. If there is no following game, return the score board control to the Majors score booth.
5. The “home” manager is responsible for reporting the score of the game and completing the pitching report on the web site.
Scorekeepers must report any player who did not play a minimum of 4 defensive innings (AAA & Coast) or 3 defensive innings (Majors) to the head score keeper or league President.
PROTESTING A GAME
Protests shall be considered only when based on the violation or interpretation of a playing rule or the use of any ineligible player. No protest shall be considered on a decision involving an umpire’s judgment.
The role of the scorekeeper in a protest situation is to note exactly where everyone is/was at the point of the protest.
Please direct any Scorekeeping Questions to our Head Scorekeeper, Marilyn Polis.