What Does Hitting the Pole Mean in Softball?
Softball is a fast-paced, exciting sport that has been around for decades. It’s no surprise, then, that there are plenty of unique terms and phrases used by players and fans alike to describe different situations in the game. One such phrase is ‘hitting the pole’, which can cause confusion for newcomers to the sport. So what does it actually mean when someone is said to have ‘hit the pole’?
To understand this phrase, one must first know about rules specific to softball games involving base running. In most cases, if a player on offense hits a ball over an outfield fence or wall, they will be given credit for an automatic home run and allowed to round all four bases without worrying about being tagged out by defenders. However, if they hit a ball off of any structure within fair territory (for example: foul poles or other posts inside the playing field) before it goes over any walls or fences surrounding the field, they are only allowed two bases instead of four – even if those structures would not have hindered them from further advancing had they not touched them at all. This situation is known as hitting ‘the pole’ and can result in some close calls for runners who thought their hit might be good enough for a home run!
Conclusion
In summary, ‘hitting the pole’ in softball refers to when an offensive player hits a ball off of any structure within fair territory, like foul poles or other posts inside the playing field, before it goes over any walls or fences surrounding the field – resulting in only two bases instead of four being awarded even though those structures wouldn’t have hindered them from advancing further had they not touched them at all. Knowing this term can help you better understand various scenarios while watching your favorite teams battle it out on their way toward victory!