The days of summer bring us not only the guys of summer, but the girls of summer as well. Softball originally gained prominence during World War II as a substitute for regular baseball, as women temporary replaced men on baseball diamonds, in answer to the need to continue the baseball tradition. This was done so while men fought in Germany and Japan, fast pitch softball has become just as much a part of the local summer sports.
It is only someone unfamiliar with the sport who disparages it as for the “weaker sex”. The women train as hard as the men before the game, play as hard they do on the diamond, and drink as hard as the men do. The game is definitely not for those that think that softball is any easier due to the bigger ball. Although there are some definite rule changes, as the diamonds are slightly smaller, the game is generally unchanged from its hardball roots.
The equipment is basically the same, although the glove and ball are definitely different. A softball itself is almost twice the size of a standard hardball, and is only soft in comparison to the hardball. Although some other softball variants use a so-called “mush ball” that is extremely soft (so soft that mitts and gloves are not used), the standard softball is definitely not; its construction is still based on that hardball, except that an additional layer of filler material is used. Softball gloves and mitts are also slightly larger than their hardball counterparts are, but otherwise construction is the same.
The other area of debatable change is the softball shirts. Although the shirts used on the field are the same, the shirts worn off the field are generally decorated differently. Whereas a man’s shirt tends towards limited decoration, a woman’s shirt is limited only to her imagination. The means of decoration are limited only by her imagination and ability to procure materials for the shirt; glued-on gems, glitter, and even lace have been known to show up the shirts. Otherwise, like other shirts, there are no limits as to what the shirts say; although there is a definite bias towards game-related witticisms, there are shirts that proclaim status and feminism. Mainly because women are not as limited as men are when it comes to fashion, softball apparel for women has a wider range and can be more expressive than men’s can.
Protective equipment is also a little different; it tends towards more protection than normal hardball, and some areas tend to be more protective than others are. Most notably is the need for masks, which although not universal, do show up a lot, especially when younger players are involved. For that matter, a number of safety precautions are increased as the age of the players get younger, allowing for the potential hazards of the game, However, spiked shoes are usually off the table regardless of age, mainly to protect the catcher as a runner slides into home. Otherwise, there are no other major differences between the two types of baseball.
However, once you are past the equipment differences, fast pitch softball is played virtually the same as hardball. The attitude of any baseball player is not one to be questioned, and either gender is as likely as the other to defend their teams against even the smallest slight. The athletic quotes that mention “Work hard, play harder” are definitely part of the game, and confusing work and play on the baseball diamond is easy to do as adrenalin takes over and powers the player. A good game will always bring cheers, and a great game will be remembered even years afterward, regardless of who played it.