Scorekeeper Clinic
Lake Forest Little League
February 8, 2013
Agenda
• Role of the scorekeeper and pitch counter
• Keeping score
• Keeping the pitch count
Role of the scorekeeper
• Keep score.
• Help umpires when they lose count.
• Help the pitch counter keep an accurate
count.
• Help managers recognize achievement and
areas for development.
• Keep track of the umpires who officiated the
game.
• A good score sheet enables you to recreate a
game.
Role of the pitch counter
• Keep pitching records.
• Make sure teams comply with Little League
pitching rules.
Official scorekeeper and pitch counter
• The home team provides the official
scorekeeper.
• The visiting team provides the official pitch
counter.
• Visiting team operates the scoreboard.
• Pick up the Score sheet and Official Pitch
Count Sheet in the bins by each field.
Rules for scorekeepers
• Only the official scorekeeper, pitch counter,
announcer, and scoreboard operator are allowed on
the scoring platform.
• Scorekeepers and pitch counters must be impartial.
(No cheering from the press box.)
• No statistics are kept for players (batting average,
ERA, RBIs, etc.)
• Pay attention and stay accurate.
Keeping score
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Fill out the score sheet.
Count balls and strikes.
Write down the result of the play.
Count runs.
Mark end of innings.
Note pitching and lineup changes.
Complete the score sheet at the end of the
game.
Fill out the score sheet
• Be at the field at least 15 minutes before the
game.
• One sheet per team.
• The umpire will give you a copy of the lineup
cards from both teams before the game.
• Write the start time when the umpire first
calls “Play Ball”.
Fill out the score sheet
List the players, numbers, and positions on the
score sheet. Since players change positions each
inning, you can list their positions below their
name.
Image from The Baseball Scorecard (www.baseballscorecard.com)
Position numbers
(With 4 Outfielders)
1 = Pitcher
3 = First base
5 = Third base
7 = Left fielder
9 = Right fielder
2 = Catcher
4 = Second base
6 = Shortstop
8 = Left center fielder
10 = Right center fielder
Position numbers
1 = Pitcher
3 = First base
5 = Third base
7 = Left fielder
9 = Right fielder
2 = Catcher
4 = Second base
6 = Shortstop
8 = Center fielder
Count balls and strikes
• Use the cluster of five boxes to mark off balls
and strikes.
• Write down what the umpire calls. (Even if
you don’t agree with the call, you must score
it as it was called.)
• Use the count to keep track of the number
of pitches (and help the pitch counter). Mark
the total pitches at the bottom of the box.
Safe!
•
•
•
Draw a line around the diamond to indicate player’s
progress
Write or circle how the player got on base.
Optionally, draw a line to the outfield to indicate where the
ball was hit.
Image from The Baseball Scorecard (www.baseballscorecard.com)
Safe!
Common play codes
1B, 2B, 3B, HR = Single, double, triple, home run
BB = Walk (base on balls)
HBP = Hit by pitch
FC = Fielder’s choice
E(fielder number) = Error by fielder (E3 = error
by first base)
Errors
• When a fielder fails to make an out while
giving ordinary effort.
• The official scorer determines errors and
charges them to fielders.
• Errors are not announced at games. This is
more of a diagnostic tool for managers.
• Wild pitches and passed balls are not
counted as errors.
Going around the bases
•
•
•
Draw a line around the diamond to indicate when a runner
advances.
Put the number of the player who advanced the runner.
Play codes:
SB = Stolen base
WP = Wild pitch
Image from The Baseball Scorecard (www.baseballscorecard.com)
Out!
•
•
Write the code for the out in the box.
Write the number of the out in the circle.
Image from The Baseball Scorecard (www.baseballscorecard.com)
Out!
Common play codes
K = Strike out (swinging)
(Backwards K) or Kc = Strike out (called)
(fielder number)-(fielder number) = Put out by fielders (6-3 =
Shortstop throws ball to first base for put out.)
F(fielder number) = Fly out (F7 = Fly out caught by left fielder)
U(fielder number) = Unassisted play (U3 = unassisted put out by
first base)
IFR = Infield fly rule
Write the number of the fielder who actually made the play, not
where the play was made.
Out!
•
•
When a runner is put out at a base, show the play and mark
the runner on the diamond as shown.
Remember to put the number of the out in the circle.
Image from The Baseball Scorecard (www.baseballscorecard.com)
Mark end of innings
•
•
•
•
Use a diagonal to indicate the last batter.
Draw a squiggly line down the unused batters.
If they bat around, use the column for the next inning, but mark it on
top.
If a batter resumes an at bat next inning, use the box in next inning’s
column.
Image from The Baseball Scorecard (www.baseballscorecard.com)
Count runs
•
•
•
Fill in the diamond to mark players who scored.
Five-run rule [AAA and below]. No limit in the
number of runs in the last inning. [See local Rules]
Write runs at bottom of score sheet at the end of
the inning.
Image from The Baseball Scorecard (www.baseballscorecard.com)
Note pitching and lineup changes
• Indicate changes in pitchers.
• Mark when a player leaves the game.
• Add late players to the end of the batting
order.
Complete the score sheet
•
•
•
Total the score. Make sure numbers match and add up.
Indicate when a game has been suspended, resumed, or
protested.
Make sure that the official score sheet (white copy) goes
back into the bin (tray on the door). Give a copy to each
manager.
Keeping the pitch count
• Game Pitch Count: Used to keep track of
pitches in a game.
• Make sure that the official pitch count sheet
(white copy) goes back into the bin (tray on
the door). Give a copy to each manager.
Pitch counting rules
•
•
•
•
The count recorded by the official pitch counter is official.
Work with the official scorekeeper to verify the count.
Warm-up pitches don’t count.
Managers announce pitching changes to the plate umpire,
official pitch counter, and official scorekeeper.
• The official pitch counter gives the count when requested by
either manager or the plate umpire.
• The official pitch counter should notify the plate umpire when
a pitcher has gone over the limit, but this doesn’t relieve a
manager of the responsibility for not going over the pitching
limit.
Pitching Limits
Based on the player’s league age on the
application, not the actual age.
• 7-8 = 50 pitches/day
• 9–10 = 75 pitches
• 11–12 = 85 pitches
• 13–16 = 95 pitches
• 17–18 = 105 pitches
Regular season days of rest
Pitchers 14 and under :
• > 66 pitches/day = 4 calendar days rest
• 51-65 = 3 calendar days rest
• 36–50 = 2 calendar days rest
• 21–35 = 1 calendar days rest
• 1-20 = no days of rest
Pitchers 15–18 (see Green Book) add 10
Pitch Count Example
Pitcher's Name
Uniform
Number
League
Age
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Second batter hits a ground out on the 4th pitch
1 2
1
1 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Third batter has a three pitch strikeout
1
3
4
5
6
8
78 8
9
10
Jack O'Alltrade
17
1
9
1
To indicate the first pitch to a batter
1
To indicate that a legal pitch was made
To indicate the last pitch of the inning
1
First batter hits a first pitch fly ball
2
1 1
2
To Calculate Days Of Rest
• If a pitcher reaches a day(s) of rest threshold
while facing a batter, the pitcher can continue
to pitch until the batter 1) reaches base, 2) is
retired or 3) the third out is made during the
at bat.
• If the above is met, then the count of the first
pitch to the batter will be used to determine
the days rest. If not, the last pitch is used.
Days of Rest Example
Example for 14 and younger
• Example 1 – the first pitch to the batter results
in a pitch count of 35. Five pitches are thrown
before the batter is put out. One day of rest
must be observed.
• Example 2 – The first pitch to the batter is
pitch number 36. Five pitches are thrown
before the batter is put out. Two days of rest
must be observed.
Reporting Results
• The home team manager reports the score, pitch
count by pitcher to the commissioner and the
opposing manager.
• In addition, for AA only, the number of innings
pitched by player should be reported to the AA
Commissioner and the opposing manager.
• The Commissioner will track pitcher eligibility based
on the above results.