Softball is a bat- and- ball sport played between two teams of 9 players. It is a baseball -related sport although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand, softball uses a softer ball compared to baseball and its a faster sport. It was invented in 1887 in Chicago , Illinois, United States as an indoor game.
The equipment used in playing of the game is : softball Bat, softball, softball gloves and bases. The objective of softball is to score more run(points) than the other team by batting (hitting) a ball into play and running around the bases, touching each one in succession (playing offense at that time). When three outs are made, the teams switch positin on defense/offense.
Softball is a world Game that was played in 1981, 1985 and invitationally 2009-2013. It was first played in 1887, USA. It’s highest governing body is : World Baseball Softball Confederation.
softball is more commonly played at a recreational level and played smaller than that of baseball. This is a growing sport in Kenya , one that you can’t miss trying out.
Pitcher holding a softball,MMU,during the internal tournament // photocredits: Opilio
“softball is life with volume turned up!” These are the first words that hit your ears once you ask a softball player, not considering the fact that it was introduced in Kenya around 2012 and its slowly gaining momentum among the university students. Brief introduction to my fellas who don’t know what softball is: it is an outdoor game that is played with a bat and a ball and,for the most part,its rules are same as those played with baseball. One would easily mistake the two because they are variants of the same game , though primarily the difference is that in softball, the ball is pitched underhand while in baseball, the ball is pitched overhand, and just like the name implies there’s a difference in the balls.
“We’re so good your moms cheers for us.” states the Multimedia University of Kenya Softball school team. They occasionally chant the slogan to inform the non softball players that they missing out on the most exciting game one would want to play. Having been introduced recently in the country, it’s surprising how it has turned out to be a hobby to a number of people trying out their hands in the pitching and bating intrigues of the game.
“Save the drama for your mama, we’re here to play,” states one of the funny softball slogans. Agree with me that when one hears this slogan, you’d be interested in what the content is all about and this would lead you to terms such as, Umpires ,who are in charge of the rules of softball and control how the game proceeds, pitcher, who delivers her pitch to the batter.
“In my 1st year in University, I was invited by a friend to the pitch to watch Softball being played. Watching the game made my mind clear and relaxed since it required full concentration and engagement. That was just how I got hooked up to the game. I’d look forward to classes ending so that I run to the pitch for some softball moments and just like that, a hobby was built,” says Ms Mwangi, a MMU alumni who has been playing softball for the past 6 years.
Just like other ball games,Softball is a game that requires one to have total concentration and be able to think ahead, hence resulting to building up of a hobby. Softball has been described to be highly addictive and once you get hooked up to it, there’s no turning back. Playing it increases strength to the upper and lower parts of the body. It also improves cardiovascular fitness and increases the speed and agility.
Generally, softball is a good way to stay fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle and just so you know, softball is not for softies!
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