Softball Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. Which defensive player normally sets up behind home plate and receives pitches?
Catcher
Shortstop
First baseman
Center fielder
2. A runner on third leaves the base after an outfielder catches a fly ball, then reaches home safely. Which action made the advance legal?
The runner crossed home before the ball returned to the infield
The runner tagged up at third after the catch
The runner waited until the pitcher entered the circle
The runner began moving as soon as the ball was hit
3. With one out and runners on first and second, the batter hits a high fair pop-up that an infielder could catch with ordinary effort. Which rule may be called?
The look-back rule
The dropped third-strike rule
The designated-player rule
The infield fly rule
4. The batter has a full count of three balls and two strikes. The next pitch is called a ball. What happens?
The count resets to zero
The batter remains at the plate for one more pitch
The batter is awarded first base on a walk
The batter is out for exceeding the count
5. How many defensive players are normally on the field for one team in standard fastpitch softball?
Nine
Eight
Ten
Eleven
6. What is the main tactical purpose of a well-disguised changeup?
To make the ball rise after it crosses home plate
To produce an automatic strike regardless of location
To disrupt the batter’s timing with a slower pitch that resembles a faster one
To prevent runners from leaving their bases for the entire play
7. There are two outs and a runner on first. The catcher fails to catch a third strike before it touches the ground. Under the standard dropped third-strike rule, what may the batter do?
Return to bat because the pitch does not count
Attempt to reach first base before being put out
Remain at home while every runner advances automatically
Take first base without the defense being able to make a play
8. A standard regulation fastpitch softball game is generally scheduled for how many innings?
Five
Seven
Nine
Six
9. A runner leaves second base before a line drive is caught. What must the runner generally do before legally trying to advance?
Touch third base and then return to second
Wait in foul territory for the next pitch
Ask the umpire for permission to continue
Return to or retouch second base after the catch
10. How many strikes normally result in a strikeout?
Three
Two
Four
Five
11. A pitch that the scorer believes the catcher should have controlled with ordinary effort gets away, allowing a runner to advance. How is it commonly recorded?
A wild pitch
A stolen base in every case
A passed ball
A fielding error on the pitcher
12. A fielder who is not holding the ball and is not fielding a batted ball blocks a runner’s path. What is this generally called?
A force play
Runner interference
Obstruction
An illegal substitution
13. A runner is on first base when the batter hits a ground ball to shortstop. The second baseman catches the throw while touching second before the runner arrives. Why is the runner out?
The runner crossed the pitcher’s circle
The defense completed a force play at second
The batter-runner had not yet reached first
Every ground ball creates an automatic out at second
14. A batted ball rolls untouched and comes to rest in foul territory before reaching third base. What is the call?
A fair ball because it passed the batter’s box
A ground-rule double
A dead ball only if the catcher retrieves it
A foul ball
15. A team uses a sacrifice bunt with a runner on first and no outs. What is the usual strategic goal?
Advance the runner while accepting a likely out on the batter
Guarantee that the batter reaches second base
Prevent the defense from recording any out
Force the pitcher to issue a walk
16. What is a common purpose of a slap hit in fastpitch softball?
To allow a right-handed batter to start outside the batter’s box
To intentionally send every pitch into foul territory
To replace the need to run after contact
To put the ball in play while the batter gains momentum toward first base