The first version of softball was invented in Chicago, Illinois, 1887 by George Hancock as a winter version of baseball. It was intended to be a way for baseball players to keep in practice during the winter. At the time, the sport was called "Indoor Baseball". Efforts to organize softball on a national basis didn't materialize until 1933 when Leo Fischer and Michael J. Pauley, a Chicago Sporting Goods salesman, conceived the idea of organizing thousands of teams in America into cohesive state and metro organizations and state/metro organizations into a national organization.
To bring the teams together, Fisher and Pauled invited them to participate in a tournament in conjunction with the '33 World's Fair in Chicago. With the backing of the Chicago American newspaper, Pauley and Fisher invited 55 teams to participate in the tournament. Teams were divided into three classes--fastballers, slow pitch and women.
Sixteen-inch softball, also sometimes referred to as "mush ball" or "super-slow pitch", is a direct descendant of Hancock's original game. Defensive players are not allowed to wear fielding gloves; however, a 16-inch softball is actually soft, and can be fielded safely with bare hands. Sixteen-inch softball is played extensively in Chicago and New Orleans. In New Orleans, sixteen-inch softball is called "Cabbage Ball" and is a popular team sport in area elementary and high schools. Different teams and leagues began to grow all over the northeast.
Chicago while credited with the development saw teams popping up in Minnesota, New York and Massachusetts. Then the great gold rush took easterners west to gain riches and along with them they brought there sports, which helped develop the west coasts teams.
Even though softball started as an indoor version of baseball, these two games have evolved into two completely separate sports with different sets of rules and playing conditions. Both of them involve four main activities or skills: throwing, including pitching and fielding; catching; batting; and base running.
The main difference in how these games are played is the technique by which the ball is pitched to the batter. Some of the rules in baseball and softball are similar too. For example, slap bunting rules are the same for both but used more often in softball. Substitution rules are basically the same, but differences are present here too.
Fast pitch softball is played with a twelve-inch ball, and metal bats. The distance between the each base is 60 feet long each base. From the pitchers mound to home plate it measures 43 feet in length. The pitching circle is 12 feet in diameter. From all these characteristics, you can say that baseball and softball are not sports based on player strength, but of explosion and intelligence.
There is no technical difference between Fast Pitch and Slow Pitch softball bats. They are all softball bats legal in either game you play.
Fast pitch bats are marketed more for young girls and some have bottle barrels for inside pitches. Ninety nine percent of slow pitch bats are 34" and between 26 and 30 ounces. Fast pitch bats are made shorter and lighter. As long as the bat is certified for your league and does not exceed 1.20 BPF, you can use it for slow or fast pitch, men or women.
Most college women and almost all adult male fastpitch players use slow pitch bats. Slow pitch achieved formal recognition in 1953 when it was added to the program of the Amateur Softball Association, and within a decade had surpassed fast pitch in popularity
You should have the 2, 4 and 6 holes left. As a confidence booster, you may want to put one of the non-designated guys in the 4 spot, just make it clear that they are not there to smack HRs, as clean-up hitters of the past were assigned to do. The boost in confidence may take their game to that next level and get them a base hit they may not have otherwise gotten.
Miken is another of the top manufacturers of softball equipment. The slowpitch softball bat that is getting the most attention is their "FREAK" model. Retailing for around $299, the FREAK offers a 13.5" barrel, plus it is designed to hit the ball LONG and over the fence! All top-of-the-line Miken bats include the E-Flex ESD (Extended Sweet Spot) technology. They are also end-loaded, which gives maximum distance. Plus, the FREAK also includes a thinner bat handle for even more control. The knob is coated with their X-Tack coating for additional control. You'll do your team well by selecting one of the Miken model bats.
