Baseball Scorekeepers: Recording the Inning

Students learn basic baseball and softball scorekeeping, where every defensive position has a number, and use it to record a real game. Watching and recording helps them understand the game better.

How to play

1. Scoring key: pitcher 1, catcher 2, first 3, second 4, third 5, shortstop 6, left field 7, center 8 and right 9; examples like "6-3," a grounder to short thrown to first, or "F8," a fly ball caught by the center fielder (5 min).
2. Walk-through: the teacher acts out five plays with a few students and pairs score them; check together (5 min).
3. Tee-ball softball on two diamonds; two pairs score each game from the sideline and swap with players every inning (16 min).
4. Compare sheets: do both pairs from the same game agree? Which plays were hard to score? (4 min).

Rules

• Scorekeepers stay behind the cone line, off the field.
• Questions wait until the play is over.
• The bat goes in the hoop after hitting.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with visual impairments: call out the scoring while a partner writes, or use a large-print sheet.
• Students with limited mobility: score for longer and play close-in positions.
• Students who struggle with writing: use colored stickers or chips instead of numbers.

Learning goals

• Learn basic baseball scorekeeping.
• Observe and analyze plays.
• Compare records and reach agreement.

Equipment for a class of 25

• scoresheets: 8
• pencils: 8
• bases: 8
• plastic bats: 2
• batting tees: 2
• softballs (soft): 4

Teacher tip

Print a simple sheet with nine batter rows and a box per inning. The position numbers are the official ones and work the same in baseball and softball.

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