2torial #0542: Learn2 Understand Baseball (Continued) Watch the runners on base Excitement builds in a baseball game when one or more batters have successfully reached a base (now known as runners). When a new batter hits the ball, the fielders have some choices to make. And the batting team has choices, too: should the runners advance? This means, should they try to run and reach the next base after a hit? Scenario One: The ball is caught before it hits the ground. In this case, any of the runners on any base can't allow themselves, while they're off the base, to be tagged by a fielder with the ball in his glove. If a fielder tags any runner, the runner is out. Scenario Two: The ball isn't caught before it hits the ground. In this case, a runner on first base must attempt to advance to second base. Only one batting team player is allowed on a base at any time. (If the runner were to remain, he'd automatically be called out, so he always tries to advance). The runner's necessity creates an opportunity for the fielders--they can throw the ball ahead to the base that the runner is trying to reach safely. If the ball reaches the baseman's glove before the runner does, the runner is out. This is known as a force play, since the runner has no option but to run. Scenario Three: A trickier scenario is when there's a runner on second or third base. Since the batter (who has just hit) is only trying to reach first base (not second or third) the runner on second or third doesn't have to advance. A runner is must try to advance only if a batter (or another runner) is trying to advance to the base where they're standing. Otherwise, runners try to advance only when they think they can safely reach the next base. For example, let's say a runner tries to advance without a batter forcing him to try. To record the out, a fielder must tag the runner with the ball before the runner reaches the base safely. Some spectacular plays are made in this situation, where the runner sprints, dives, and slides toward the base. The fielder covering the base must catch the ball from his teammate and swing his glove down to tag the body of the runner. The result is sometimes the amusing picture of a very dirty and very happy runner. In summary, every time a runner completes the circuit and advances to home plate with less than three outs for that inning, a run is scored for the batting team. For example, if there are runners on all three bases and the batter hits a home run, four runs score. The runs are made by the three runners on base, as well as the batter (by the way, this example is called a grand slam). Step 6