softball

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Bat-and-ball game, a form of baseball played with similar equipment. The two main differences are the distances between the bases (18.3 m/60 ft) and that the ball is pitched underhand in softball. There are two forms of the game, fast pitch and slow pitch; in the latter the ball must be delivered to home plate in an arc that must not be less than 2.4 m/8 ft at its height. The fast-pitch world championship was instituted in 1965 for women and 1966 for men; it is now contested every four years.

A regulation softball game is seven innings (for baseball it is nine), but actual play (rules, actions, and objectives) is so alike in both games that the technical differences cannot disguise the fact that softball is the legitimate offspring of baseball.

The flag was selected following a design competition. The waves represent the Pacific Ocean. Effective date: 12 July 1979. >>