Scoring Questions

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Aug 10, 2016
686
63
Georgia
I use GameChanger to score games and usually do the books at games but while DD was in 8U and 10U, I pretty much glossed over errors because of their level.

It's not done super often but was curious who gets the errors..

Grounder is hit and ball thrown to first - it's a tad over the 1st basemen's head and runner gets to 2nd
(Normally I score it a double to not have to deal with the error)
Is that error on fielder or 1st basemen? My thought is that if it's catchable-ish, 1st basemen gets the error.

Are there other common errors you see where the error would go to one or the other..

Not an error but if anyone else uses GC, how do you score the look back rule. It happens enough in our league that I have to account for it - right now I've been pulling the girl off the base and making her Out but having to write in the look back rule.

Thanks!
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
I'd call it a throwing error on whoever threw it to first. If it were a good throw and 1B dropped it or missed it, it would be a fielding error on 1B. That's how I do it anyway, I've been score keeping about a year so I'm still learning. I use iScore though so I can't answer GC specifics. I've used that a little but I don't know it very well.

Mine is 10U also but I do keep track of errors. The stats are only as reliable as the score keeper so I try to do it right.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
Grounder is hit and ball thrown to first - it's a tad over the 1st basemen's head and runner gets to 2nd

Is that error on fielder or 1st basemen? My thought is that if it's catchable-ish, 1st basemen gets the error.

If it's literally a tad over the first baseman's head, then I'm envisioning a ball that almost hit her on the top of the head. If that's the case, then you have an argument for an error on 1B. That doesn't seem that hard to catch, but I'd want to see the video. :) Why did she fail to catch it if it's just right on top of her noggin?

But the criterion for an error is not ''catchable-ish,'' but the lessor standard of ''ordinary effort.'' Lots of balls are catchable-ish that don't go as errors on the one trying to catch it. Throws in the dirt or requiring the first baseman to jump or come off the bag are errors on the thrower.
 
Last edited:
Aug 10, 2016
686
63
Georgia
One other scenario - ball is hit behind the pitcher - 2nd and SS both go for it - neither call it :mad: and they collide - can you score an error on both? Or would you just rule it a single and be done with it?
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
One other scenario - ball is hit behind the pitcher - 2nd and SS both go for it - neither call it :mad: and they collide - can you score an error on both? Or would you just rule it a single and be done with it?

Single and be done with it.

And that would be the correct ruling, not a cop out by the scorekeeper. Mental mistakes by fielders are not scored as errors. One might say that the hitter's placement of the ball forced a difficult situation. That's the case with all hits.

One exception to your scenario above would be if the shortstop was in perfect position and about to field the ball, only to have the second baseman run into her and force her to miss it. That would be E-4. But the way you described it, they ran into each other and prevented one or the other from getting into position to field it.

And finally, you would never charge 2 errors on a single fielding attempt. Just 1 or 0.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
CB is right on with all of his input. "Ordinary effort" is the thing that trips up a lot of people. We expect a reasonably-skilled 1B to dig balls out of the dirt. However, if they miss the dig, it's and E on the thrower, not an E3. Same is true with catchers. A reasonably-skilled catcher is expected to block pitches in the dirt. If they miss the block and the ball gets by them, it's a WP, not a PB.
 
Jun 20, 2012
438
18
SoCal
Same is true with catchers. A reasonably-skilled catcher is expected to block pitches in the dirt. If they miss the block and the ball gets by them, it's a WP, not a PB.

Any ball that gets by a catcher is a PB.
-----Signed, A Pitcher's Dad

;)
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Grounder is hit and ball thrown to first - it's a tad over the 1st basemen's head and runner gets to 2nd
(Normally I score it a double to not have to deal with the error)
Is that error on fielder or 1st basemen? My thought is that if it's catchable-ish, 1st basemen gets the error.

(sarcasm font on) I bet your pitchers parents LOVE your scoring...(sarcasm font off)
 

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