>>53174623A BATTER WALKS UP TO THE PLATE
THE PITCHER THROWS THE BALL
THE BATTER GETS THREE FAILED CHANCES AT HITTING THE BALL (CALLED STRIKES)
IF THE BATTER SWINGS AND MISSES, IT'S A STRIKE
IF THE BATTER HITS THE BALL OUT OF BOUNDS, IT'S ALSO A STRIKE
IF THE BATTER DOESN'T SWING BUT THE BALL WAS IN A "REASONABLE" SPOT (CALLED THE STRIKE ZONE), IT'S ALSO A STRIKE
IF THE BATTER DOESN'T SWING AND THE BALL WAS OUTSIDE THE STRIKE ZONE, THE PITCHER FUCKED UP AND IT COUNTS AGAINST HIM, NOT THE BATTER. THIS IS CALLED A BALL. IF THE PITCHER RACKS UP 4 OF THESE, THE BATTER GETS TO GO ON BASE FOR FREE.
IF THE BATTER ACTUALLY HITS THE BALL, HE GETS TO RUN TO THE BASES. IF THE FIELDERS CATCH THE BALL AND THROW IT TO THE BASE HE'S RUNNING TO BEFORE HE GETS THERE, HE'S OUT. THEY MUST PHYSICALLY TOUCH HIM FOR IT TO COUNT.
ONCE HE'S ON BASE, THE BATTER (NOW CALLED A RUNNER) DOESN'T NEED TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER BALL TO BE HIT TO RUN TO THE NEXT BASE. HE CAN DO IT AT ANY TIME. THIS IS CALLED STEALING A BASE. IT'S JUST HARD BECAUSE THE FIELDERS ARE ALWAYS WATCHING FOR IT TO HAPPEN.
THE RUNNER MUST RUN IF A NEW BALL IS HIT, TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE GUY AFTER HIM.
THERE ARE 4 BASES, COUNTING THE ONE YOU HIT THE BALL AT. ONCE A RUNNER MAKES A CIRCUIT AND COMES HOME, IT COUNTS AS A POINT (CALLED A RUN).
IF THE BATTER HITS THE BALL OUT OF THE FIELD, IT AUTOMATICALLY COUNTS AS A FULL CIRCUIT (CALLED A HOME RUN). HE, AND ALL RUNNERS CURRENTLY ON THE FIELD, COME HOME AT ONCE AND EACH COUNTS AS A SEPARATE RUN.
ONCE THE FIELDERS GET 3 PEOPLE OUT, EITHER WHILE BATTING (STRIKING OUT) OR RUNNING (RUNNING OUT), THE TEAMS CHANGE PLACES. ONCE BOTH TEAMS HIT, THE "INNING" IS OVER.
THERE ARE 9 INNINGS. IF THE GAME IS TIED AFTER 9, THEY KEEP PLAYING (CALLED "EXTRA INNINGS") UNTIL ONE TEAM PULLS AHEAD.
