How to keep score in softball
Good news: softball scorekeeping uses the same notation as baseball. This guide covers that shared shorthand quickly, then focuses on what's actually different when you're scoring fastpitch or slowpitch.
The notation is the same as baseball
Position numbers 1–9, hit symbols like 1B and HR, outs like 6-3 and F8, and the diamond-per-cell layout all carry over from baseball scorekeeping directly. If you already know how to keep a baseball scorecard, you already know how to keep a softball one. New to it entirely? Read the full how to keep score in baseball guide first, or see the complete scorecard symbols reference.
What's different in softball
A handful of rules and roster quirks are specific to softball, and worth knowing before you sit down to score:
| Softball detail | What it means for your scorecard |
|---|---|
| 7 innings | Regulation softball games are scheduled for 7 innings, not 9. |
| International tiebreaker | Extra innings often start with a runner already placed on second base to speed up scoring — mark that runner's starting base before the first pitch of the inning. |
| DP/FLEX | A Designated Player can hit for the Flex fielder, who plays defense without batting — track this like a DH pairing. |
| Courtesy runner | Some leagues allow a courtesy runner for the pitcher or catcher without it counting as a formal substitution. |
| Run limit & run rule | Many leagues cap runs per inning and end games early once one team leads by a set margin — the same shorthand marks it. |
How Chadwick's Revenge helps
Choose Softball as the game type and these details are configured for you — 7 scheduled innings, the international tiebreaker, courtesy runners, and DP/FLEX support are all built in. You just tap what happened on the play.
Softball scorekeeping questions
Is softball notation different from baseball?
No — the symbols, position numbers, and diamond layout are the same. Only a handful of rules (game length, tiebreaker, DP/FLEX) differ.
How do I mark the international tiebreaker runner?
Record that runner as starting the inning on second base, the same way you'd note any other runner already in place.
Does Chadwick's Revenge support softball rules?
Yes. Choose Softball as the game type and the scheduled innings, tiebreaker, and DP/FLEX support are configured automatically. See the softball scorekeeper page.
Learn by doing
The fastest way to learn softball scorekeeping is to score a game. Open Chadwick's Revenge and let it place the symbols while you follow along — free and in your browser.
Open the Scorekeeper