Like almost everyone, I wear many hats: teacher, sister, daughter, aunt, leader, counselor, disciplinarian, friend, writer and probably more that I can’t think of right now.  One of my newest titles is coach.

This past spring, I finished my second season as a high school softball coach.  And I have learned a lot.

Softball field that I coached at this past spring.

For one thing, the starting pitcher almost always finishes the game.  Very, very rarely do relief pitchers enter the game.  The game is pretty much in the hands of the starting pitcher.  About the only time that a relief pitcher is used is if the game goes into extra innings.

With that in mind, my dad said to me a while back that he is curious about what would the Phillies record be if the game ended after the 5th inning and before the Phillies bullpen became involved.  I took that idea and expanded it with my knowledge of softball.

The parameters that I am working with are:

1) The game ends in the 7th inning.

2) If the score is different, I will explain how that happens.

3) If the score is tied after 7, I will be using the Softball International Tiebreaker Ruler.  (Mainly because I think it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.)

The International Tiebreaker Rule

Starting with the eighth inning, the offensive team begins the inning with the ninth hitter in the batting order placed on second base.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/428245-rules-on-international-tiebreakers-in-womens-fastpitch-softball/#ixzz1unsbzURj

4) I will assume that the 8th inning plays out exactly as it did in real life.  The only difference is that there will be a runner on second.  I also assume that runner on second will be able to score on a single, unless it’s an infield single.  In that case, he moves to third.

That’s it.  Those are the entire requirements.

» Continue reading “If The Phillies Played By Softball Rules…”