2016 Scorekeeping Clinic Focus on Farm Minor B

2016 Scorekeeping Clinic Focus on Farm & Minor B Divisions Niles-Centerville Little League P. O. Box 2604, Fremont, CA 94536 www. ncll. us

We Appreciate You – Game officials (not umpires!) • Your scorecard is the official record of the game – Record the progress of the game • Balls & strikes, runs, outs, etc. – Keep our players happy & safe (pitch count, mandatory play) – Also make judgment calls – hit vs. error, fielders choice, etc • Try to be consistent Thank you for volunteering to keep score – our kids need scorekeepers to play Little League games! 2

• Course will cover – – – Overview Home Team Scorekeeper’s Tasks Responsibilities & etiquette Playing rules General baseball rules Pre-game information for scorers • Game information • Player information – In-game Scoring • • Scoreblocks Common symbols Judgement Calls End of inning • Substitutions/Position changes • End of game – Practice Scenarios 3

Home Team Scorer Tasks • Setup • Close down – Before first game of day, get from Snack Shack • scoreboard controller & adapter – verify operation as soon as possible • cooler of water bottles – Collect signatures – After last division game of day, return • scoresheet binder and supplies pouch – After last game of day – Before first division game of day, get • scoresheet binder and supplies pouch • balls appropriate for division (if necessary) ~15 minutes • return scoreboard controller & adapter • return cooler • roll down window at end of last game of day • turn off power ~5 minutes 4

Etiquette in the Scorebooth • During the game, remain objective – No cheering or coaching • Keep distractions to a minimum – No young children, cell phones in vibrate/silent mode • Let the umpire know – If you need more time to record the action – Need to verify balls/strikes count, outs or substitutions NCLL bylaws on scorekeeping duties: “For all levels of play (except T-ball), both the Home and Visiting teams are to provide one scorekeeper during each game. The Home Team’s scorekeeper will be designated the Official Scorekeeper for the game. Both scorekeepers will sit in the Scorekeeper’s Shack immediately behind Home Plate for the duration of the game and shall not communicate with any individuals other than umpires and participants of the game as allowed by the Little League Rule Book. ” 5

Scoreboard and Scoresheet • Scorekeepers alternate responsibilities Top of inning (visitors bat) Bottom of inning (home bats) Visiting team scorekeeper Home team scorekeeper Operates scoreboard Fills in scoresheet Operates scoreboard • Scoreboard controller 6

Playing Rules Farm Minor B (MP) Umpires Offensive team’s coaches umpire Length of game No new inning starts after 90 minutes (6 inning max. ) No new inning starts after 105 minutes (6 inning max. ) On the field 10 players 4 outfielders 9 players 3 outfielders At bat 3 swinging strikes = out 6 pitches max (but cannot foul out) No walks, HBP, bunts Base running No stealing, lead offs Play is considered dead as soon as any infielder, standing in the infield, has control of the ball… If ball is hit to the outfield, base runners advance until ball is thrown in the direction of infield (continue to base. ) End Of Inning The inning ends when: • 3 outs have been made • 5 runs have been scored • Everyone in the lineup has batted that inning 7

Baseball Rules for Scorekeepers • Minimum play (IV. i) – Every player present at a game plays at least 2 consecutive innings on defense. – No player may play more than 2 consecutive innings in the infield (pitcher, catcher, shortstop, 1 st, 2 nd, or 3 rd base) – No player may play more than 3 (Farm) or 4 (Minor B) total innings in the infield in one game • Unannounced substitutions (3. 08) – Managers should tell the umpire (and the umpire tells the scorekeepers) of any substitutions. However, unannounced substitutions are legal. • A run is not scored during third out play (4. 09) – A run is not scored if the runner advances to home base during a play in which the third out is made (1) by the batter-runner before touching first base, or (2) by any runner being forced out (3) by any runner being tagged out before the runner advancing to home touches home plate 8

Baseball Rules for Scorekeepers • 5 -run rule (5. 07) – The half-inning is over if 5 runs have scored, even if three outs have not been made. • Batting out of turn (6. 07) – A skipped batter can be called out under certain conditions (umpire handles). The scorekeepers say nothing and record the action. Base runners leaving early (7. 13) – Base runners must stay in contact with their bases until the pitched ball has reached the batter. (Majors and below) • 9

Filling out the Game Information • What we know – On May 8, 2015, there’s a Minor A game scheduled to start at 5 PM on the NCLL Minor field – Yankees is the visiting team, Pat Foxx scorekeeping – A’s are the home team, Kim Myers scorekeeping Date and visitor – First pitch thrown at 5: 05 PM Time front (visitors) Yankees 5/8/15 5: 05 A’s Minor Field scorekeeper P. Foxx 5 Wang, D 3 Foxx, K home scorekeeper back (home) Yankees 10 Armaz, O A’s 5/8/15 5: 05 Minor Field K. Myers 8 Nand, R 1 Thomas, F visitors vs home (same on both sides) 9 Myers, E 10

Filling In Player Names Visitors on front of scoresheet Home on back • List every player • Last name first • Use position numbers • – Use “-” for bench • List absent players near the bottom – Add late players to the END of the lineup (Rule 4. 04) • Players have up to three numbers assigned to him/her – batting order number – jersey number – position number Lineup (manager fills) OFFICIAL BATTING ORDER TEAM: Giants COACH: _______ NO STARTER NAME POS SUBSTITUTE 11 Alex Allen CF 9 Brandon Brown 2 B 6 Chris Clark 1 B 7 Dante Diaz LF 2 Emily Evans RF 5 Felix Flores C 12 Greg Garcia 3 B 1 Hannah Hall SS 10 Izzy Ing P 3 Jacob Jones - 4 Kevin Kim - 8 Louis Lee abs Scorebook (scorekeeper fills) PLAYERS No Last, First Pos 1 11 Allen, Alex 8 2 9 Brown, Brandon 4 3 6 Clark, Chris 3 4 7 Diaz, Dante 7 5 2 Evans, Emily 9 6 5 Flores, Felix 2 7 12 Garcia, Greg 5 8 1 Hall, Hannah 6 9 10 Ing, Izzy 1 10 3 Jones, Jacob - 11 4 Kim, Kevin - 12 ABSENT 8 Lee, Louis 11

Game Progression Using Scoreblocks • Scoreblocks – Track balls and strikes in order – Record the plays – If batter gets on base, track progress around the base and record how batter advances • Draw line connecting dots of the diamond • Fill in diamond when run is scored – Credit batter with RBI by putting jersey number in RBI section – Record outs in red pencil Base Hits Balls (no swings) Strikes (swings) On Base (not hit) Outs RBI Examples 12 3 4 2 1 3 6 -3 1 B 1 Strike, ball, strike, then base hit Two balls, two strikes, then ball hit to shortstop, who threw to first baseman, who made the out 12

Common Symbols: On Base • Getting on base Fielder’s Choice 1 B 2 B 3 B HR Batter reaches safely because fielder throws to another base in attempt to put out preceding runner nn Single BB Walk Double HP Hit by pitch Triple Homerun E-# • • Error • Runner on base Batter hits ball to SS, who chooses to throw to 2 B for the out. Batter reaches 1 B safely. 6 -4 1 B 1 FC FC Not a hit Fielder’s choice 13

Common Symbols: Advancing • Advancing Let’s practice E 6 6 5 1 B 2 Evans, Emily 9 1 2 3 HR • BB Advanced by jersey #6 • BB HP SAC Error 6 5 Flores, Felix • • 2 1 2 3 HR • • WP PB SB BB 1 B BB Wild pitch Passed ball FC 1 B Fielder’s choice Stolen base BB HP SAC • • Example 1. Evans (#2) hits a line drive single past SS. 2. Flores (#5) hits a double to deep center field. Evans scores. 14

Scorekeeping Symbols: Advancing • Advancing Let’s practice E 6 6 5 1 B 2 Evans, Emily 9 1 2 3 HR 5 BB Advanced by jersey #6 • BB HP SAC Error 6 5 Flores, Felix 5 • PB SB BB 1 B BB Wild pitch Passed ball FC 1 B Fielder’s choice Stolen base 1 B • 5 2 1 2 3 HR • • WP 5 • BB HP SAC 2 B • • Example 1. Evans (#2) hits a line drive single past SS. 2. Flores (#5) hits a double to deep center field. Evans scores. 15

Common Symbols: Outs • Batter is Out K 1 Fly out (to RF) F 3 5 -3 K F 9 2 3 U 3 Strike out, swinging called SAC 2 1 Force out or tag out L 3 6 -4 -3 DP 1 1 Infield fly Sacrifice Line Out fly or bunt (to 1 B) BB 1 Caught stealing 1 B 1 6 -4 -3 DP • Runner is Out CS Unassisted play or ground out 2 Double play 5 -4 2 -4 -3 -4 1 B 1 B 2 Force out or tag out 3 Run down Batter hit grounder to SS, who threw to 2 B, who threw to 1 B. 16

Judgment Calls: Errors • Error – Use position number of the fielder responsible for the error (e. g. right fielder drops ball – E 9) – How does the scorekeeper decide if a play is an error? – The test: should the fielder have made the play with ordinary effort? If yes, then score as an error. – Score as a hit if • • • E 9 1 B two players collide fielder steps in gopher hole sun gets in fielder’s eyes ball takes a funny hop fielder has to make a diving catch fielder runs into the fence 17

End of Half-Inning • • • PLAYERS Draw arrow pointing to next batter Draw line through unused scoreblocks for the inning No Last, First 1 11 Allen, Alex 2 9 Brown, Brandon 3 6 Clark, Chris 4 7 Diaz, Dante Tally runs and hits 5 2 Evans, Emily – At the bottom of the inning, fill in runs and hits in spaces provided – Keep running totals in shaded columns 6 5 Flores, Felix 7 12 Garcia, Greg Two runs scored in fourth inning 8 1 Hall, Hannah 9 10 Ing, Izzy Two runs total for the game 1 3 Jones, Jacob 0 Pos 5 2 4 8 6 2 - 1 3 3 9 6 4 7 7 5 3 - 9 9 9 - 4 8 5 2 2 8 5 7 - INNING TOTALS = Unshaded Areas RUNNING TOTALS = Shaded Areas RUNS HITS ERRORS L. O. B. E. R. 0 1 0 2 2 0 3 0 3 2 3 4 2 6 5 6 9 6 - 4 9 1 7 1 1 7 - 2 6 - 5 3 1 4 Kim, Kevin 1 2 - 7 3 9 1 B 6 2 B K 1 6 2 B 6 -3 2 F 8 K 3 1 6 -3 4 -3 1 2 6 -4 F 9 1 B 2 3 1 B K 3 F 5 1 1 -3 8 6 8 2 3 4 1 B 5 3 6 1 1 1 8 4 - 1 2 U 1 3 4 1 2 8 1 3 ABSENT Lee, Louis 18

Substitutions – Continuous Rotation • Field position changes inning 1 2 3 4 5 6 – Can use 6 triangular spaces to note positions for 6 innings – Fill in changes one inning at a time – when manager announces subs – Check that all players and positions are accounted for every inning PLAYERS No Last, First 1 11 Allen, Alex Pos 8 4 1 - 1 2 9 Brown, Brandon 4 8 6 2 3 6 Clark, Chris 3 4 7 Diaz, Dante 7 7 5 3 5 2 Evans, Emily 9 9 - 4 2 3 4 5 1 -3 1 B Blank spaces = ? ? We won’t know. Could lead to mandatory play issues. 2 K 3 U 1 3 7 6 -3 2 6 2 B 2 2 F 8 1 B 3 4 -3 1 1 B 19

End of Game • Check minimum playing time – Verify that every player present at game played at least 6 consecutive defensive outs. – Note issues on scoresheet, and notify manager • Obtain signatures from – Both scorekeepers in scorebook • Record final score on scoresheet – If the game ends before 6 innings are played, note reason (darkness, 10 -run rule, etc. ) FINAL SCORE Winning team 8 -5 s t Gian 20

Practice – Lineups & Game Info OFFICIAL BATTING ORDER TEAM: Yankees COACH: _______ TEAM: Giants COACH: _______ NO POS STARTER NAME SUBSTITUTE STARTER NAME 11 Alex Allen 8 11 9 Brandon Brown 4 48 Jimmy Johnson 5 6 Chris Clark 3 18 Kyle Busch 6 7 Dante Diaz 7 10 Danica Patrick 3 2 Emily Evans 9 7 Jackie Stewart 8 5 Felix Flores 2 5 Mario Andretti 1 12 Greg Garcia 5 24 Jeff Gordon 4 6 43 Richard Petty 7 10 Izzy Ing 1 17 Darrell Waltrip 2 3 Jacob Jones - 28 Cale Yarborough 9 8 Kevin Kim 1 Hannah Hall abs 3 AJ Foyt Dale Earnhardt - SUBSTITUTE Home team: Giants Visiting Team: Yankees Game on 3/7/15. First pitch at 11: 05 am Minor A game on NCLL Minor Field You and practice partners are scorekeepers (please decide who is home and who is away). abs 21

Practice Scenarios Top of 1 st Inning: Andretti pitching #11 Allen 1 -watches pitch 2 - swings & misses 3 -hits foul ball into bushes 4 -hits single past 2 B #9 Brown 1 -3 watches pitches 4 -hits foul ball behind C 5 -hits ball to 3 B, who makes error #6 Clark 1 -hits double deep into CF Allen scores, Brown goes to 3 B #7 Diaz 1 -hits ground ball to 1 B, who makes the out at 1 B Brown scores, Clark to 3 B #2 Evans 1 - watches pitch 2 -swings & misses 3, 4 -watches pitches 5, 6 -hits foul 7 -watches pitch Bottom of 1 st Inning: Ing pitching #14 Foyt 1 -watches pitch 2, 3 - swings & misses 4 -hits single to left field #48 Johnson 1 -3 watches pitches 4, 5, 6 -hits foul ball behind C 7 -hits single, Foyt to 2 B #5 Flores 1 -watches pitch 2 -hits slow grounder to 3 B, who decides not to throw #18 Busch anywhere 1 - called strike Clark stays on 3 B 2 -hits grounder to 3 B, who steps on third base to force #12 Garcia out Foyt 1 -hits fly to LF, and fielder catches ball End of Half Inning #10 Patrick 1 -3 swings & misses 22

Practice Scenarios (cont’d) Top of 2 nd Inning: Foyt replaces Petty (LF) #7 Stewart #1 Hall 1 - watches pitch 1 -4 watches pitches 2 -swings & misses 3 -hits single to pitcher: Johnson 5 -single to left field to third, Busch to second #10 Ing #5 Andretti 1 -watches pitch 2 -hits double to right field: Johnson and Busch score, Stewart goes to third #24 Gordon 1 -hits fly to RF, and fielder catches ball End of Half Inning 1 -3 watches pitches 4 -6 hits foul balls 7 -hits single to center field, Hall to 3 rd base Bottom of 2 nd Inning: Jones enters game at 1 st base, Clark moves to pitcher, Ing to bench #42 Petty 1 - hits double to left field #17 Waltrip 1 -3 watches pitches 4 - grounds out to first base Petty advances to third base #3 Jones 1 -hits pop up to pitcher, who #28 Yarborough catches the ball 1 -hits grounder to second #11 Allen base, who throws to first base in time for the out 1 -hits ground ball to SS, who throws the ball to the Petty scores second baseman, who then #14 Foyt throws to first in time to 1 -3 swings& misses get the double play End of Half Inning 23