Strike Meaning in Softball

A strike is a pitch that falls within the legal hitting area or a swing. The umpire calls a strike if the ball passes through the designated strike zone. A swing and miss also results in a strike regardless of the ball’s location. A batter receives an out after the defense records three strikes during the turn. The pitcher throws a fast ball directly over the middle of the home plate. The umpire signals a strike and the count moves to one and one. Foul balls also count as strikes until the batter already has two strikes recorded. Pitchers aim to throw strikes to force the batter to hit or strike out. Mastering the ability to throw strikes consistently is the goal of every pitcher.