Softball scoring: the rules and a free scorer
Softball is played by schools, universities and clubs across South Africa, mostly as fastpitch under the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) rules that Softball South Africa follows. Our free softball scorer keeps the count, the outs, the runners and the line score, and it applies the run-ahead and tie-breaker rules for you. It handles slowpitch too.
Watch: how to play softball
The basics
- A game has 7 innings. Junior and social games are often shorter, for example 5 innings or a time limit.
- Each inning has a top half, when the visitors bat, and a bottom half, when the home team bats. A half-inning ends after 3 outs.
- A runner scores a run by touching first, second, third and home in order. The team with more runs after 7 innings wins.
- The home team does not bat in the bottom of the last inning if it is already ahead. If it takes the lead in the bottom of the last inning, the game ends at once (a "walk-off").
Balls, strikes and outs
- Four balls is a walk: the batter goes to first base, and any runners who are forced move up one base.
- Three strikes is a strikeout. A foul ball counts as a strike until the batter has two strikes. After that, a foul does not count, except a foul bunt, which is a strikeout.
- In fastpitch, if the catcher drops the third strike with first base empty (or with two outs), the batter may run to first. Use Dropped 3rd in the app.
- A batter hit by a pitch goes to first base.
The line score: runs, hits and errors
The scoreboard shows each team's runs inning by inning, then the totals for R (runs), H (hits) and E (errors made in the field). An "x" in the home team's last box means they did not need to bat. The app builds the line score as you go, along with each batter's at-bats, runs, hits, runs batted in, walks and strikeouts, and each pitcher's innings, pitches, hits, runs, walks and strikeouts.
The run-ahead (mercy) rule
Under the WBSC fastpitch rules that apply from 2026, a game ends early if one team leads by:
| After | Lead needed |
|---|---|
| 3 innings | 15 runs |
| 4 innings | 10 runs |
| 5 innings or more | 7 runs |
If the home team reaches the margin while batting, the game ends straight away. Some leagues still use the older margins of 20, 15 and 7 runs, so the app lets you choose, or switch the rule off.
The tie-breaker
If the score is level after 7 innings, extra innings are played. From the 8th inning, each half-inning starts with a runner on second base: the player who is listed in the batting order just before that inning's first batter. The app places that runner for you.
Slowpitch
Slowpitch is popular for social and corporate leagues. The ball is pitched in a high arc, teams usually field 10 players, and many leagues add their own rules. The app lets you start every batter on a 1-1 count, make a foul with two strikes an out, and cap the runs a team can score in a half-inning.
A worked example: reading a line score
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitors | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Home | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | x | 4 | 6 | 1 |
The visitors scored 2 runs in the 2nd inning and 1 in the 5th, from 7 hits, and made 2 fielding errors. The home team scored 1 in the 1st and 3 in the 4th. The "x" in the 7th means the home team didn't need to bat: they were already ahead after the visitors' last turn at bat. Home win 4–3.
Positions and scoring notation
Scorers number the fielding positions so that a play can be written in a few characters:
| No. | Position | No. | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pitcher | 6 | Shortstop |
| 2 | Catcher | 7 | Left field |
| 3 | First base | 8 | Centre field |
| 4 | Second base | 9 | Right field |
| 5 | Third base | 10 | Short fielder (slowpitch) |
So "6-3" is a ground ball fielded by the shortstop and thrown to first base for the out; "F8" is a fly ball caught by the centre fielder; "K" is a strikeout and "BB" a walk (base on balls). A double play from shortstop to second to first is "6-4-3". The app records plays in words, but knowing the shorthand helps when you compare with a paper scorebook.
Softball in South Africa
Softball in South Africa is organised by Softball South Africa and played at schools, clubs and provincial level, mostly fastpitch, with slowpitch popular in social and corporate leagues. School festivals often play shortened games with a time limit, which you can set in the app. For a festival with pools and play-offs across several diamonds, use our free tournament manager.
Scorer's checklist
- Before the game: both batting orders, the starting pitchers, the number of innings, the run-ahead rule and any time limit.
- Confirm every out with the umpire's signal before entering it.
- At the end of each half-inning, check the outs (three), the runs and the runners left on base.
- Record substitutions in the batting order straight away; batting out of order is a common appeal.
- At the end, read the line score to both coaches and the umpire before saving.
Glossary
- Inning: both teams' turns at bat; each half ends after three outs.
- RBI: run batted in, credited to the batter whose hit or play brings a runner home.
- Force out: a runner put out because the batter's hit forced them to run to the next base.
- Fielder's choice: the fielders put out another runner instead of the batter.
- Walk-off: the home team taking the lead in the last inning, ending the game at once.
How to use the softball scorer
- Enter the team names. The visitors bat first. Add the batting orders if you have them, or name batters as they come up.
- Choose fastpitch or slowpitch, the number of innings and the run-ahead rule. Set a time limit if your league uses one.
- Tap Ball, Strike or Foul for each pitch. The count, walks and strikeouts are handled for you, and the pitcher's pitch count goes up.
- When the ball is put in play, tap the result: a hit, an out, a sacrifice, a fielder's choice, a double play or an error. Runners move up automatically.
- Tap a base to move a runner yourself: for a steal, a wild pitch, an extra base, a run scored or a runner thrown out.
- Tap the pitcher's name to bring in a new pitcher. The result, line score and box score are saved under My results, and the Scoreboard link shows the line score on a second screen.
These notes summarise the WBSC fastpitch rules for club and school play. Junior age groups and local leagues may use different innings, time limits and pitching rules. Check with your league.