The Fort Wayne Scouts were a professional softball team that played in the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) in the 1979 season at the Tah-Cum-Wah Recreation Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana .
61-547: During the late 1970s and early 1980s, several men's professional slow-pitch softball leagues were formed in the United States to build on the growth and talent in the booming men's amateur game during this period. The American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) was the first such league, launching in an era of experimentation in professional sports leagues. The APSPL was formed in 1977 by former World Football League front-office executive Bill Byrne , who would go on to found
122-515: A Fort Wayne native. Dave France pitched again for Fort Wayne in 1980, Cardell Collins and Lou Banks provided power, and Eddie Echols and Clint Werley added depth for the Huggie Bears. The NASL disbanded at the end of the season, bringing the disastrous run of professional softball in Fort Wayne to a close. Softball Softball is a popular variation of baseball , the difference being that it
183-417: A ball, a broom handle serving as a bat. This first contest ended with a score of 41–40. The ball, being soft, was fielded barehanded. Hancock is credited as the game's inventor for his development of a 17-inch ball and an undersized bat in the next week. The Farragut Club soon set rules for the game, which spread quickly to outsiders. Envisioned as a way for baseball players to maintain their skills during
244-435: A brief stoppage at any time when the ball is not in play (called a time out), or immediately following a play once its outcome is clear. The game is played in usually seven innings . Each inning is divided into a top half , in which the away team bats and tries to score runs, while the home team occupies the field and tries to record three outs ; then a bottom half , when the teams' roles are reversed. Some leagues play with
305-482: A foul ball does result in a strikeout. In some associations and leagues, bunting is not allowed and results in an out. Also, if a player has two strikes, swinging and partially hitting the ball can result in an out if the catcher manages to catch the tipped ball. The batter attempts to swing the bat and hit the ball fair (into the field of play). After a successful hit the batter becomes a base runner (or runner) and must run to first base. The defense attempts to field
366-456: A mass between 5 and 5 + 1 ⁄ 4 ounces (142–149 g). ) The ball is covered in two pieces of leather or similar synthetic covering that are roughly the shape of a figure-8 and sewn together along a continuous seam. The core of the ball may be made of long fiber kapok , a mixture of cork and rubber , a polyurethane mixture, or another approved material. Before 1993, white balls were standard at all levels of play. In that year,
427-404: A mass between 6.25 and 7.0 oz (177 and 198 g), while children under 12 use a ball with a circumference of 11 ± 0.125 in ( 27.9 ± 0.3 cm ) with a mass between 5.875 and 6.125 oz (166.6 and 173.6 g). A 12-inch circumference ball is generally used in slow pitch. (For comparison, a baseball is 9 to 9 + 1 ⁄ 4 inches (229–235 mm) in circumference and has
488-441: A new, fluorescent optic yellow colored ball was first used in college softball. Yellow softballs have become the standard for all levels of play; white balls are also still allowed but are very uncommon today. In Chicago , where softball was invented, it remains traditional to play a variant of slow-pitch with a ball 16 inches (41 centimeters) in circumference . The fielders do not wear gloves or mitts. A 16-inch softball when new
549-447: A reduced number of innings or with a time limit, rather than the traditional seven innings. To start play, the offense sends a batter to home plate . The batting order must be fixed at the start of the game, and players may not bat out of turn. The defense's pitcher stands atop the rubber and pitches the ball towards home plate using an underhand motion. In fast pitch, the pitcher is allowed to take one step back prior to releasing
610-521: A shorter version of baseball pants. At the back of the uniform, an Arabic numeral from numbers 0 through 99 must be visible. Numbers such as 02 and 2 are considered identical. Also, on the back of the uniform's players' names are optional. Women Professional Fastpitch Women's Professional Fastpitch ( WPF ) is a professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. The new league began its promotional campaign in 2021 and launched its first official season in 2023 . The league
671-434: A smaller barrel, which reduces mass and allows higher swing speed. Although there are a variety of bats used, there are several that are banned due to performance enhancement. For example, with a thinner wall, the ball recoils faster off the bat, allowing it to travel further. Many bats may be "doctored" or "juiced" by being end loaded, shaved, or painted. End loading of a cap refers to the addition of weight manually placed at
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#1732876584111732-455: Is a contrast-colored "double base" or "safety base" intended to prevent collisions between the first baseman and the runner. The runner runs for the foul portion of the double base after hitting the ball while the fielding team tries to throw the ball to the fair portion before the runner reaches the safety base. However, not all softball diamonds have these safety bases and they are much more common in women's softball than in men's. The double base
793-499: Is a direct descendant of Hancock's original game. Defensive players are not allowed to wear fielding gloves. Sixteen-inch softball is played extensively in Chicago, where devotees such as newspaper columnist Mike Royko consider it the "real" game, and New Orleans. In New Orleans, sixteen-inch softball is called "Cabbage Ball" or "batter ball" and is a popular team sport in area elementary and high schools. The first cork-centered softball
854-403: Is also recorded any time the batter does not swing at a pitch that crosses home plate within an area known as the strike zone . In fast pitch, to be within the strike zone, the pitch must cross over home plate, and as it crosses it must be above the knees and slightly below the shoulders (roughly the armpit or the shirt logo). The strike zone therefore varies from batter to batter. In slow pitch,
915-420: Is also used for wheelchair softball. The bat used by the batter can be made of wood, aluminum, or composite materials such as carbon fiber. Sizes may vary but they may be no more than 34 inches (86 cm) long, 2.4 inches (6 cm) in diameter, or 38 ounces (1.1 kg) in mass. The standard barrel diameter for both slow pitch and fast pitch softball bats is 2 + 1 ⁄ 4 inches. Many players prefer
976-446: Is commonly played recreationally, while women's fastpitch softball was a Summer Olympic sport and can be played professionally . Softball was not included in the 2024 Summer Olympics but will return for the 2028 Summer Olympics . Depending on the variety being played and the age and gender of the players, the particulars of the field and equipment will also vary. While distances between bases of 60 feet are standard across varieties,
1037-399: Is more complex, as particular situations (number of outs and positions of base-runners) and particular batters call for different positioning of fielders and different tactical decisions. The defense may decide to allow a run if it can achieve one or multiple outs. The playing field is divided into fair territory and foul territory . Fair territory is further divided into the infield , and
1098-491: Is played with a larger ball, on a smaller field, and with only underhand pitches (where the ball is released while the hand is primarily below the ball) permitted. Softball is played competitively at club levels, the college level, and the professional level . The game was first created in 1887 in Chicago by George Hancock . There are two rule sets for softball generally: slow-pitch softball and fastpitch . Slow-pitch softball
1159-454: Is required in the U-18 Women's Softball World Cup . The infield consists of the diamond and the adjacent space in which the infielders (see below) normally play. The outfield is the remaining space between the baselines and between the outfield fence and the infield. The infield is usually "skinned" (dirt), while the outfield has grass in regulation competitions. Near the center of the diamond
1220-417: Is rough and hard, with hand and finger injuries to fielders frequent if they do not "give" when receiving a ball, but the ball "breaks in" slightly during a game and continues to soften over time with continued play. A well-broken-in ball is called a mush ball and is favored for informal "pick-up" games and when playing in limited space, such as a city street (because the ball does not go as far). A 16-inch ball
1281-486: Is smaller than the catcher's, typically 12 inches to 13 inches for fast pitch softball or 12 to 15 inches for slow pitch. An infielder's glove is the smallest, typically from 11.5 inches to 13 inches. A pitcher's glove is typically 11.5 to 12.5 inches for fast pitch or 11.5 to 13 inches for slow pitch. No part of the glove is allowed to be the same color as that of the ball, including that of its seams. Pitchers are also not allowed to have any white on their gloves including
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#17328765841111342-405: Is the pitching plate, or colloquially "rubber". In fastpitch, a circle 16 feet (4.9 meters) in diameter known as the pitching circle is marked around the pitching plate. A field is officially required to have a warning track between 15 and 12 feet (4.6 and 3.7 meters) from the outfield fence. However, if the game is being played on a field larger than required, no warning track is required before
1403-760: Is unrelated to the defunct league that used the names National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL) along with Women's Professional Fastpitch. Not to be confused with a new competing league, the Association of Fastpitch Professionals . Following the 2023 season , the Oklahoma City Spark announced their departure from the WPF in December 2023. In April 2024, the Smash It Sports Vipers and USSSA Pride both announced they would not participate in
1464-416: Is usually composed of a dirt or brick dust infield that contains the shape and running areas of a diamond and a grass outfield . However, the field can consist of other solid and dry surfaces such as artificial turf or asphalt. There are four bases on the infield: First base , second base , third base , and home plate . The bases are arranged in a square and are typically 60 feet (18 m) apart. Near
1525-476: The 2020 Summer Olympics held in 2021. Other sanctioning bodies of softball are AAU, NSA, PONY, Babe Ruth League , ASA , ISC, USSSA and Triple Crown. Fastpitch softball is played between two teams on a large field, with nine players (in 10u and above; 8u and below is usually played with ten players on a field at once) from one team on the field at a time. Slow-pitch softball is played with ten fielders but can be played with nine if needed. The softball field
1586-566: The Chicago Storm , and Cardell Collins, made the mid-season all-star game, played in Louisville, Kentucky . Former Chicago player Mike Krolicki also suited up for Fort Wayne and Lou Banks (16 HRs) of the Scouts contributed on the year. Dave Evilsizer and Dave France helped to lead the over-matched Scouts, trading off catching and pitching duties. The North American Softball League (NASL) split from
1647-527: The Women's Professional Basketball League . Former New York Yankees star Whitey Ford was the first APSPL commissioner. The Scouts were named for the International Scout SUV, which was manufactured in Fort Wayne by their sponsor International Harvester . The team was partially owned and managed by former Major League Baseball player Jim Rivera . Fort Wayne would put forward one of the worst records in
1708-424: The outfield . The field is defined by foul lines that meet at a right angle at home plate . The minimum length of the baselines varies classification of play (see below for official measurements). A fence running between the baselines defines the limits of the field; distance from home plate to the fence varies by field. The widest part of the field is the distance between the foul poles , which are erected where
1769-661: The 16-inch (41 cm) ball used by the Farragut club, and eventually the Minneapolis ball prevailed, although the dimensions of the Minneapolis diamond were passed over in favor of the dimensions of the Chicago one. Rober may not have been familiar with the Farragut Club rules. Fire Station No. 19 in Minneapolis, Rober's post from 1896 to 1906, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in part for its association with
1830-630: The 6-year run of professional softball, finishing the 1979 season with a 8-56 (.172) record, 32.5 games behind the Milwaukee Schlitz . Milwaukee would take the APSPL title in 1979 over the Kentucky Bourbons , with Schlitz player Rick Weiterman winning both the series and league MVP awards. This series was the first sporting event to air on the new sports network ESPN . No Scouts made the all-APSPL squad although Tommy Spahn, who had previously played for
1891-619: The APSPL after the 1979 season, as three teams came to the NASL from the APSPL – Fort Wayne, the Cleveland Stepien's Competitors , owned by Ted Stepien , who served as NASL President, along with the APSPL champion Milwaukee Schlitz . Six of the eight NASL teams (all except Fort Wayne and Milwaukee) were owned by Stepien. Former MLB player Mudcat Grant served as a PR official for the league. The NASL would last just one season. The Fort Wayne Huggie Bears were formed by Rivera and also played at
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1952-539: The Farragut Boat Club at a gathering to hear the outcome of the Yale University and Harvard University football game. When the score was announced and bets were settled, a Yale alumnus threw a boxing glove at a Harvard supporter. The Harvard fan grabbed a stick and swung at the rolled-up glove. George Hancock , a reporter there, called out "Play ball!" and the game began, with the boxing glove tightened into
2013-667: The Tah-Cum-Wah Complex in Fort Wayne. The team was named after a lollipop manufactured by a local candy company. The Huggie Bears fared only slightly better than the Scouts, finishing the year 11-49 (.183), 36 games behind Milwaukee in the NASL Eastern Division. No Huggie Bears made the all-pro team but Lou Banks and Cardell Collins represented Fort Wayne at the mid-season All-Star game played in Willoughby, Ohio . The team did feature former San Francisco Giant Bruce Miller ,
2074-563: The United States by 1930. By the 1930s, similar sports with different rules and names were being played all over the United States and Canada . A tournament held in 1933 at the Chicago World's Fair spurred interest in the game. By 1936, the Joint Rules Committee on Softball had standardized the rules and naming throughout the United States. Sixteen-inch softball , also sometimes referred to as "mush ball" or "super-slow pitch" and
2135-406: The ball and may throw the ball freely between players, so one player can field the ball while another moves to a position to put out the runner. The defense can tag the runner, by touching the runner with the ball while the runner is not on a base. The defense can also touch first base while in possession of the ball; in this case it is sufficient to beat the batter to first base and an actual tag of
2196-420: The ball during the forward movement. The batter attempts to hit the pitched ball with a bat , a long, round, smooth stick made of wood , metal or composite . If the pitcher throws three strikes against a batter, then the batter is out and the next batter in the order comes up to bat. A strike is recorded any time a batter swings at and misses a pitch or when a batter hits a ball foul (out of play). A strike
2257-444: The ball must land on a carpet or marked area behind the plate, therefore standardizing the strike zone. A pitch outside the strike zone is a ball . If the batter reaches four balls, the batter is awarded the first base in what is known as a "walk". The umpire behind home plate is the sole arbiter of balls and strikes. A foul ball may or may not result in a strikeout dependent upon what association and local league rules. However, bunting
2318-439: The batter is unnecessary. A runner is said to be "thrown out" when the play involves two or more defensive players. Runners generally cannot be put out when touching a base, but only one runner may occupy a base at any time and runners may not pass each other. When a ball is batted into play, runners generally must attempt to advance if there are no open bases behind them; for example, a runner on first base must run to second base if
2379-430: The batter puts the ball in play. In such a situation, the defense can throw to the base that the lead runner is attempting to take (a force out ), and the defense can then also throw to the previous base. This can result in a multiple-out play: a double play is two outs, while a triple play , a very rare occurrence, is three outs. Runners with an open base behind them are not forced to advance and do so at their own risk;
2440-422: The center of this square is the pitcher's circle , and within the circle is the "rubber", a small flat rectangular plate a foot and a half in length. The rubber distance from the plate in fastpitch can be as short as 35 feet for 10u players up to 43 feet for ages 14 and older. In slow pitch softball, the rubber distance can be 43, 46 or 50 feet depending on age level and the league one is playing in. The object of
2501-441: The defense from recording multiple force outs by deliberately dropping an easy catch. Offensive strategy is mostly just to hit the ball skillfully to let the batter reach base and advance other runners around the bases to score runs. The count of balls and strikes indicates how aggressive the batter should be. The offense may try to sacrifice , with the batter deliberately making an out in order to advance runners. Defensive strategy
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2562-403: The defense must tag such runners directly to put them out rather than tagging the base. A ball hit in the air and caught before hitting the ground, in fair or foul territory, puts the batter out. A fly ball is a ball hit high and deep, a pop fly is a ball hit high but short, and a line drive is a ball hit close to the horizontal. After the catch, runners must return to their original bases; if
2623-400: The defense throws the ball to that base before the runner returns, the runner is out as well, resulting in a double play. A runner who remains on the base until the ball is touched, or returns to the base ( tags up ) after the catch, may try to advance to the next base, at the risk of being tagged out between bases. As in baseball, the infield fly rule applies in some game situations to prevent
2684-446: The defensive catcher. Also cleats, sliding shorts, face masks and knee sliders may be worn for softball. Despite the sport's name, the ball is not actually soft, though it does have a lower density and greater coefficient of restitution than a baseball. The size of the ball varies according to the variety played and age of the participants. The circumference for fastpitch for adults is 12 ± 0.125 in ( 30.5 ± 0.3 cm ), with
2745-432: The early days of softball, players often played bare-handed or with rudimentary gloves. It wasn't until the sport evolved that manufacturer started creating gloves tailored for softball's larger ball size. Softball Pitching Styles were originally overhand: While modern softball emphasizes underhand pitching, early games allowed overhand throws. The First Softball Uniforms included dresses: In women's softball leagues during
2806-433: The end of the barrel to distribute more weight at the tip. Shaving bats require machine use in order to remove the inner walls of the bat to improve elasticity. Lastly, illegal bats may be painted to resemble legal ones. All defensive players wear fielding gloves, made of leather or similar material. Gloves have webbing between the thumb and forefinger, known as the "pocket". Gloves used in softball are typically larger than
2867-406: The field being smaller and the bases and the fielders being closer to home plate. Softball is pitched underhand from flat ground, whereas baseball is pitched overhand on what they call a 'mound'. A baseball mound is typically a pile of dirt with a rectangular pitching rubber on top, where the pitcher will then throw overhand and downward to the batter. The Original Softball Gloves were Bare Hands: In
2928-580: The foul lines meet the fence and are about 310 to 420 feet (94 to 128 m) apart depending on the length of the foul lines. Home plate is one corner of a diamond with bases at each corner. The bases are cushions 15 inches (38 cm) square, of canvas or a similar material, and not more than 5 inches (13 cm) thick. The bases are usually securely fastened to the ground. The bases are numbered counterclockwise as first base, second base, and third base. Often, but not always, outside first base (that is, in foul territory) and adjacent and connected to it, there
2989-456: The game is to score more runs (points) than the other team by batting (hitting) a ball into play and running around the bases, touching each one in succession. The ball is a sphere of light material, covered with leather or synthetic material. It is 11 to 12 inches (28–30 cm) (or, rarely, 16 in or 41 cm ) in circumference. The game is officiated by one or more neutral umpires . Players and umpires are generally free to ask for
3050-442: The mid-20th century, players often wore skirts or dresses as part of their uniforms. This attire was mandated to maintain a "feminine' appearance. The Sport was once called "Kitten Ball": Before settling on the name "softball," the sport went through several names, including "kitten ball", "mush ball", and "pumpkin ball". The earliest known softball game was played in Chicago , Illinois, on Thanksgiving Day, 1887. It took place at
3111-486: The ones used in baseball to account for the larger ball. No glove larger than 14 in (36 cm) can be used in ASA (American Softball Association) sanctioned play. While extremely rare in recreational play, there are sometimes different size gloves for different positions on the field. Catchers and first baseman have what is called a mitt, whose pockets are larger than other gloves. These are more padded. An outfielder's glove
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#17328765841113172-408: The pitcher's plate ranges from 35 to 43 feet away from home plate, and the home run fence can be 220 to 300 feet away from home plate. The ball itself is typically 11 or 12 inches (28 or 30 centimetres) in circumference, though this also depends on specifics of the competition. Softball rules vary in certain aspects from those of baseball. The game moves at a faster pace than traditional baseball due to
3233-444: The same uniform. Caps, visors, and headbands are optional for female players, and have to be the same color. Caps are mandatory for male players. A fielder who chooses to wear a helmet or face mask is not required to wear a cap. Many players use "sliding shorts", otherwise known as compression shorts in other sports. These can be outfitted with a pouch for fitting a protective cup for male players. These shorts also help to protect
3294-417: The seams. The umpire has discretion to determine whether any coloring on the glove interferes with or hinders the batter from seeing the ball clearly. Each team wears a distinctive uniform. The uniform may include a cap, a shirt displaying team colors and the players' number, sliding undershorts/compression shorts (optional), socks, and pants/athletic shorts. The team is required to have all of its members wear
3355-605: The sport's development. The first softball league outside the United States was organized in Toronto, Ontario , in 1897. The name "softball" dates back to 1926. The name was coined by Walter Hakanson of the YMCA at a meeting of the National Recreation Congress. (In addition to "indoor baseball", "kitten ball", and "diamond ball", names for the game included "mush ball", and "pumpkin ball". ) The name softball had spread across
3416-425: The temporary outfield fencing. Located in foul territory outside both baselines are two coach's boxes. Each box is behind a line 15 feet (4.6 meters) long located 12 feet (3.7 meters) from each baseline. Equipment required in softball includes a ball, a bat (composite, metal or wooden), gloves, uniforms and protective gear. For example, helmets for the offensive team and a helmet, shin guards, and chest protector for
3477-476: The upper thigh when sliding into a base. "Sliders" may also be worn for similar protection. These are somewhat padded shin guards that extend usually from the ankle to the knee of the wearer and wrap all the way around the leg(s). They protect the shin, calf, etc. from getting bruised or damaged while sliding into home plate and make it much more comfortable to slide into the plate. Some male players use long, baseball-style pants. However, some female players now wear
3538-417: The winter, the sport was called "Indoor Baseball". Under the name of "Indoor-Outdoor," the game moved outside in the next year, and the first rules were published in 1889. In 1895, Lewis Rober Sr. of Minneapolis organized outdoor games as exercise for firefighters ; this game was originally known as kitten ball. Rober's version of the game used a ball 12 inches (30 cm) in circumference, rather than
3599-600: Was created in Hamilton, Ontario , Canada, by Emil "Pops" Kenesky . By the 1940s, fast pitch began to dominate the game. Although slow pitch was present at the 1933 World's Fair , the main course of action taken was to lengthen the pitching distance. Slow pitch achieved formal recognition in 1953 when it was added to the program of the Amateur Softball Association , and within a decade had surpassed fast pitch in popularity. The first British women's softball league
3660-477: Was established in 1953. The National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum was opened in Oklahoma City , United States, in 1957. In 1991, women's fast pitch softball was selected to debut at the 1996 Summer Olympics . The 1996 Olympics also marked a key era in the introduction of technology in softball. The IOC funded a landmark bio-mechanical study on pitching during the games. In 2002, sixteen-inch slow pitch
3721-668: Was written out of the International Softball Federation (ISF) official rules, although it is still played extensively in the United States under The Amateur Softball Association of America , or ASA rules. The 117th meeting of the International Olympic Committee , held in Singapore in July 2005, voted to drop softball and baseball as Olympic sports for the 2012 Summer Olympics . They were reinstated for
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