What a scorebook is
A scorebook is a shorthand record of everything that happens in a game. Each row is a player in the batting order; each column is a half-inning. Inside each cell, symbols and numbers describe the plate appearance, the pitches, and how runners moved on the bases. Done right, you can rebuild the entire game — pitch by pitch — from the page.
The nine defensive positions
Every fielder has a number. Memorize these — they're the vocabulary of the book:
- 1 — Pitcher (P)
- 2 — Catcher (C)
- 3 — First Base (1B)
- 4 — Second Base (2B)
- 5 — Third Base (3B)
- 6 — Shortstop (SS)
- 7 — Left Field (LF)
- 8 — Center Field (CF)
- 9 — Right Field (RF)
A 6-3 groundout means the shortstop fielded the ball and threw to first. A 4-6-3 double play means second baseman to shortstop to first.
Common scoring symbols
- K — strikeout swinging. Backwards ꓘ — strikeout looking.
- BB — base on balls (walk). HBP — hit by pitch.
- 1B, 2B, 3B, HR — single, double, triple, home run.
- F7 — flyout to left. L4 — lineout to second. P3 — popout to first.
- FC — fielder's choice. E6 — error charged to the shortstop.
- SAC / SF — sacrifice bunt / sacrifice fly.
- SB / CS — stolen base / caught stealing.
- WP / PB — wild pitch / passed ball.
Scoring an at-bat
- Track the count. Ball = dot, strike = slash, foul = slash (unless already at two strikes).
- When the plate appearance ends, write the result in the cell — K, BB, 1B, 6-3, and so on.
- Draw the diamond in the corner of the cell. Fill the line to first, second, third, and home as the runner advances.
- Mark RBIs with a small dot next to the batter who drove the run in, and circle the run for the runner who scored.
- Note pitcher changes and defensive substitutions in the margin with the inning and out count.
Tracking pitch counts
For each plate appearance, tally balls and strikes. At the end of every half-inning, sum the pitcher's totals in the pitching row: total pitches, strikes, balls, and batters faced. Coaches watch these numbers closely for pitch-count limits, especially in youth and travel ball.
Building the box score
At the end of the game, total each column: runs, hits, and errors per inning across the bottom, and per-player AB, R, H, RBI, BB, K down the side. That's the box score — the same numbers you see on ESPN, distilled from the shorthand you just wrote.
Skip the paper — score it on your phone
912 Scorebook does all of this for you: pitch-by-pitch tracking with the count and pitcher stats, an animated field that shows base runners and fielders in real time, automatic box scores, and league standings that update the moment a game goes final. Perfect for rec leagues, youth leagues, intramurals, and tournaments.