Editing Softball (section)

=== Batting and pitching ===
[[File:Strike zone en.JPG|thumb|The strike zone hovers above home plate, varying in dimensions based on the batter's height.]]
To start play, the offense sends a [[Batter (baseball)|batter]] to [[home plate]]. The [[batting order (baseball)|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 [[Pitch (baseball)|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 the ball during the forward movement. The batter attempts to hit the pitched ball with a [[Baseball bat|bat]], a long, round, smooth stick made of [[wood]], [[metal]] or [[composite material|composite]]. The pitcher will use all types of pitches when on the mound to try and strike out the batter. A list of different pitches one might throw consists of a fastball, changeup, riseball, dropball, curveball and skrewball. If the pitcher throws three [[Strike (baseball)|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 ball|foul]] (out of play). A strike is also recorded any time the batter does not swing at a [[Pitch (baseball)|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, 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 (baseball statistics)|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, [[Bunt (baseball)|bunting]] 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.