l "flies" batted over the heads of the infielders (_i.e._ high batted
balls that have not touched the ground), stopping and returning ground
balls that pass the infield, and backing up the baseman. The accompanying
diagram indicates the territory roughly allotted to the different fielders.
"Backing up" is a very prominent feature in fielding. Even the pitcher, for
example, should run behind the first-baseman when the ball is thrown to the
latter by another, in order to stop a widely thrown or missed ball, which,
if allowed to pass, would enable the runner to gain one or more additional
bases. Bases vacated by their basemen while fielding balls must often,
also, be promptly covered by another player. The general rule of defence
strategy is similar to that in cricket, namely, to have as many men as
possible at the probable point of attack. There is usually an infield and
an outfield captain for the special purpose of calling the name of the
player who is to take a certain fly ball, to prevent collisions.

The batsman stands three-quarters facing the pitcher within a parallelogram
("box") 6 ft. long and 4 ft. wide, the lines of which he may not overstep,
on penalty of being declared out. His object is to get to first-base
without being put out. This he may do in several ways. (1) He may make a
"safe-hit," _i.e._ one that is "fair" but cannot be caught, or fielded in
time to put him out. (2) He is entitled to first-base if the pitcher
pitches four bad balls, at none of which he (the batsman) has struck. (3)
He may be unavoidably struck by a pitched ball, in which case he is given
his base. (4) He may, except in certain specified cases, after a third
strike, if the catcher has failed to catch the third one, earn his base if
he can reach it before the catcher can throw the ball to the first-baseman,
and the first-baseman, with the ball in his possession, touch first-base.
(5) He may reach his base by an error of some fielder, which may be either
a muffed fly, a failure to stop and field a ground ball, a muffed thrown
ball or a bad throw. Only balls batted within the foul-lines (see diagram)
are fair. All others are "fouls," and the batsman cannot run on them. All
foul-struck balls are called strikes until two strikes have been called by
the umpire, after which fouls are not counted.

Batting, as in cricket, is a science by itself, although comparatively more
stress is laid on fielding than in cricket. A good batsman can place t