Baseball - How its played

Nine innings are played in each baseball contest, but extra innings are played in the game is tied.

A player in baseball scores a run by successfully rounding all four bases in the game. That player must hit the ball thrown to them by the pitcher, and attempt to get on base. There are other ways to get on base, including if a batter is hit by a pitch or if the pitcher throws four balls outside of the strike zone, the batter advances to first base. A ball is a pitch that is outside the strike zone that the batter does not swing at.

Players must run the bases counterclockwise. The goal is to score the most runs in the contest and the team with the most runs at the end of nine innings, wins the game.

Unlike most sports--like basketball where every court is the same size--baseball fields can vary. Baseball is played on a field with four bases and an extensive fielding area. There are different areas of the field, with the one holding the bases being called the infield and the area past the bases is called the outfield. A pitcher's mound is also in the infield area, in the middle of the bases and facing towards home plate--where players take position to bat.

The fields that professional players use is set up by foul lines. The foul lines help define much of the territory as they extend from both sides of home plate at a 45 degree angle. The foul lines show what is considered fair territory to hit the ball in and the area outside them is considered foul. Foul balls do not allow a player to advance to first base.

When players do reach base off a successfully hit ball, there are several classifications on how the hit is defined. Any player who is able to reach base after batting (provided that they hit the ball and an error by the defense did not occur) records a hit. Reaching first base is a single. Reaching second base is a double and reaching third base is a triple. If a player is able to hit a ball outside of the fence, past the outfield, it is a home run. When a player hits a home run all players on the bases come in and score a run. However, a hit is not awarded when a batter reaches a base off a fielder's mistake (called an error).

Positions

* Pitcher: Throws the baseball (also known as pitching) to the batter standing at home plate.

* Catcher: The catcher squats behind home plate and faces the pitcher. The catcher handles pitches that are strikes or balls and makes calls for certain pitches from the pitcher.

* First, Second and Third Basemen: These three players stand close to their base, and make sure that their bases are covered in another player needs to throw the ball to them to tag a player out.

* Center, Left and Right Fielder: These players work their sections of the outfield, based on their title.

* Shortstop: The shortstop is positioned to the left of second base.