Girls Fastpitch Softball Drills & Tips: Softball Quiz

What's the rule? You make the call!

Consider the situations described below and determine the correct ruling or course of action for each. For questions that have radio buttons (round in shape), there is only one correct answer. Click within the circle to select your answer, then click on the "Submit" button. If you are correct, you will get a message indicating you are correct. If you are wrong, you will be provided the correct answer and an explanation of why it is the correct answer. Situations that have checkboxes (square in shape) may have multiple correct answers. Click in the squares of all the answers you believe are correct, and then click on the "Submit" button.

Situation 1

A runner is at first base with one out. She takes off for second with the pitch (she's stealing). On the pitch, the batter strikes out, but the catcher is unable to hold the ball. Realizing she has struck out and that the catcher has dropped the ball, the batter starts running to first. Both runners reach their bases safely.

The result of this play should be:

Both runners are safe.
The ball is dead, the batter is out, and the runner who reached 2nd must return to 1st.
The batter is out while the other runner remains at second.
Situation 2

It is the bottom of the last inning. The game is tied and you are in the field. There is one out and a fast runner on third base. A fly ball is hit deep down the left field line in foul territory. The left fielder is running hard to try to get to the ball. What do you hope happens?

She gets to the ball running full speed and makes an unbelievable catch in foul territory.

The ball is not caught and is a foul ball.

Situation 3

Your team is in the field. There is one out and runners are on base as described in the situations below. The batter hits a high pop fly in the middle of the infield. In which situation(s) below does the infield fly rule apply?

Runner at first base only
Runners at first and third
Runners at second and third
Runners at first and second
None of the above
Situation 4

It is the bottom of the last inning. Your team is in the field and has a two run lead. There is a runner on third base (no other baserunners) with one out. A ball is hit back to the pitcher. The runner from third breaks toward home. The correct response by the pitcher is to....

Run at the runner trying to score or throw home in order to get the runner in a rundown so she can be kept from scoring.

Ignore the runner completely and throw the batter out at first.

Situation 5

The field on which you are playing is using a double first base (fair side white, foul side orange). When is it legal for the batter to run to the white base on her initial touch of first base? Check the correct answer(s). (This involves a 2000 rule change.)

When there is no play at first base
Anytime
When the ball is thrown from the foul side of first base
When a bad throw pulls the defensive player into foul ground
All of the above

Situation 6

The batter already has two strikes when she swings at the next pitch. The ball hits her on her fingers with which she is holding the bat. The ball hits in fair territory, but then rolls foul.

The correct ruling should be:

The batter is awarded first base because she was hit by the pitch.
The ball is ruled a foul ball, and the batter remains at bat.
The ball is dead, a strike is called and since it is strike three, the batter is out.
Situation 7

Runner R3 is at third base. Runner R2 is at second base. A ball is hit in the infield and both runners break for the next base. R3 decides she cannot score and heads back to third base. R2 does not see her running back. They both end up standing on third base. Which runner has the right to third base in this situation?

Runner R3 (the runner who started out at third).
Runner R2 (the runner who started out at second).

Situation 8

Runner R1 is on first base and is stealing when batter B1 hits a ground ball to the shortstop. The shortstop bobbles the ball then throws wildly with the ball going over the fence behind first base. Runner R1 had already touched and rounded second base by the time the shortstop gets control of the ball, but starts back toward second as the shortstop looks her back before throwing wildly to first. What are the correct base awards due to the overthrow?

B1 is awarded second base and R1 is awarded home because she had passed second before the throw.
B1 is awarded second base and R1 is awarded third base because she was heading back to second when the overthrow occurred.
B1 is awarded second base and R1 is awarded third base because she was at first base when the play began.

Situation 9

Check all the statements below that are true concerning the term "interference" as defined in the sport of softball.

A defensive player slows down a base runner by blocking their basepath when there is no play involved.
An offensive player makes contact with a defensive player fielding or throwing a ball.
A runner, not on a base or in foul territory, is hit by a fair untouched batted ball which has not passed an infielder other than the pitcher.
A runner, not on a base or in foul territory, is hit by a fair untouched batted ball which has passed all infielders who have a chance to make a play on the ball.
A runner verbally distracts a defensive player who is making a play on the ball.
A runner legally standing on a base intentionally bumps a fielder moving towards a fly ball to try to catch it.
Situation 10

There is one out with runner R2 on second and runner R3 on third. A fly ball is hit to left field which is caught by the left fielder for the second out. R3 on third tags after the catch and scores. The left fielder seeing she has no chance to get R3 at home, throws to third to try to keep R2 from reaching third. R2 slides into third safely. An appeal is then made that R2 left second base too soon, before the catch. The appeal is upheld and R2 is called out for the third out of the inning. Does the run scored by R3 count?

No, it does not count.
Yes, it does count.

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