{"id":137,"date":"2016-01-30T13:27:55","date_gmt":"2016-01-30T13:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/?p=137"},"modified":"2026-03-06T16:22:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T15:22:18","slug":"10-fun-facts-about-softball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/10-fun-facts-about-softball\/","title":{"rendered":"Fastpitch Softball Facts: Things That Make This Sport Genuinely Different"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:3.84%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p><strong>Updated:<\/strong> <em>March 2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Most softball facts articles tell you the same six things. George Hancock invented it in 1887. It was once called &#8220;kitten ball.&#8221; The US won gold at the 1996 Olympics. Every ticket was sold out.<\/p>\n<p>That version isn&#8217;t wrong. It&#8217;s just incomplete.<\/p>\n<p>Underneath it is a sport with a Guinness World Record broken on a college diamond in May 2025, an Olympic return playing out at a purpose-built stadium 1,243 miles from the city whose name is on the Games, and four straight national championships \u2014 ended by a program that had never won one.<\/p>\n<p>Here are 15 facts about softball that go beyond the surface.<\/p>\n<\/div><!-- =============================================\n     BLOCK 1 \u2014 QUICK TAKEAWAYS\n     Paste: Custom HTML block, right after H1\n     ============================================= -->\n<style>\n  .sf-tk { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:0 auto 2.5rem; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .sf-tk-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:1rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .sf-tk-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .sf-tk-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .sf-tk-row { display:grid; grid-template-columns:28px 1fr; align-items:baseline; padding:.8rem 1.5rem; border-bottom:1px solid #f0f0f0; transition:background .12s; }\n  .sf-tk-row:last-child { border-bottom:none; }\n  .sf-tk-row:hover { background:#fafafa; }\n  .sf-tk-n { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; color:#bbb; letter-spacing:.04em; }\n  .sf-tk-t { font-size:.9rem; color:#333; line-height:1.6; }\n  .sf-tk-t strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"sf-tk\">\n  <div class=\"sf-tk-hd\">\n    <div class=\"sf-tk-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"sf-tk-lbl\">Quick Takeaways \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 Fun Facts About Softball<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tk-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tk-n\">01<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-tk-t\">Softball was invented on Thanksgiving Day 1887 using <strong>a boxing glove as the ball and a broomstick as the bat<\/strong> \u2014 the whole game was running within 60 minutes.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tk-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tk-n\">02<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-tk-t\">The <strong>Guinness World Record for fastest softball pitch is 79.4 mph<\/strong>, set by Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens on May 25, 2025 \u2014 breaking her own record she had set just two months earlier.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tk-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tk-n\">03<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-tk-t\">A regulation softball is <strong>not soft<\/strong> \u2014 it has a harder shell than a baseball and has had one for over 90 years.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tk-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tk-n\">04<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-tk-t\">Softball returns for the <strong>2028 Olympics in Los Angeles<\/strong> \u2014 but the games will actually be played in <strong>Oklahoma City<\/strong>, 1,243 miles away.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tk-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tk-n\">05<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-tk-t\"><strong>Oklahoma won four straight NCAA titles from 2021 to 2024<\/strong> \u2014 then Texas ended the dynasty in 2025, winning the program's first-ever national championship.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:3.84%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">The Origin Story Has Details Most People Get Wrong<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-2 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">1. The First &#8220;Ball&#8221; Was a Boxing Glove \u2014 and the Game Was Running Inside an Hour<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><p>On Thanksgiving Day, 1887, a group gathered at the Farragut Boat Club in Chicago to hear the result of the Harvard-Yale football game. A Yale fan, celebrating the win, grabbed a rolled-up boxing glove and threw it toward the Harvard supporters. One of them picked up a stick and batted it back.<\/p>\n<p>George Hancock \u2014 a reporter standing nearby \u2014 called, &#8220;Play ball.&#8221; He spent the next hour chalking a diamond on the gymnasium floor, tying the boxing glove into a rough ball, and writing a set of rules from scratch. The first game was played indoors that afternoon, on Thanksgiving, with improvised equipment and freshly invented rules.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"Trivia Quote\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Trivia-Quote.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Trivia-Quote.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9082\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Trivia-Quote-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Trivia-Quote-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Trivia-Quote-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Trivia-Quote-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Trivia-Quote.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\"><p>What most versions leave out is the speed of it. Hancock didn&#8217;t just suggest the game \u2014 he had a structured, scoreable version running within 60 minutes of the idea forming. Within a year, it had moved outside and gained a formal ruleset.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-2 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"The 60-Minute Invention\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-60-Minute-Invention.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-60-Minute-Invention.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9078\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-60-Minute-Invention-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-60-Minute-Invention-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-60-Minute-Invention-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-60-Minute-Invention-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-60-Minute-Invention.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-3 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-3 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-3 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">2. The Sport Went By Six Different Names Before Anyone Agreed on &#8220;Softball.&#8221;<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-4\"><p>Before the name stuck, the game was called: indoor baseball, kitten ball, mush ball, playground ball, diamond ball, and pumpkin ball. &#8220;Kitten ball&#8221; came from a Minneapolis fire department team called The Kittens, who popularized the outdoor variant around 1895. In parts of Chicago, the 16-inch no-gloves version is still called mushball today.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-3 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"The 40-Year Identity Crisis\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-40-Year-Identity-Crisis.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-40-Year-Identity-Crisis.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9077\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-40-Year-Identity-Crisis-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-40-Year-Identity-Crisis-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-40-Year-Identity-Crisis-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-40-Year-Identity-Crisis-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-40-Year-Identity-Crisis.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-5\"><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/history-of-softball\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">name softball<\/a> wasn&#8217;t formally adopted until 1926 \u2014 nearly 40 years after the game was invented \u2014 when Walter Hakanson proposed unifying all variants under one name at the Amateur Softball Association. Before that, you could be playing the same sport in two different cities under two completely different names, with rules that didn&#8217;t match.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-4 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-4 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-4 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">The Records That Reframe What Fastpitch Is<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-5 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">3. The Guinness World Record for Fastest Pitch Was Broken Twice by the Same Pitcher \u2014 in the Same Season<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-6\"><p>On March 24, 2025, Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens threw a 78.2 mph pitch against Arkansas \u2014 breaking the all-time record of 77 mph that had stood since 2012, set by former Lady Vol Monica Abbott in a National Pro Fastpitch game. Then, two months later, Pickens broke her own record.<\/p>\n<p>On May 25, 2025, in the Knoxville Super Regional against Nebraska, Pickens delivered a 79.4 mph pitch to Jordy Bahl in the first inning. Guinness World Records officially certified it as the fastest softball pitch (female) ever thrown. Tennessee won that game 1\u20130. Pickens also led the SEC in ERA (0.99) and strikeouts (259) that season \u2014 the velocity record is one piece of a larger picture.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-4 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"Two Speed Records\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Two-Speed-Records.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Two-Speed-Records.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9083\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Two-Speed-Records-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Two-Speed-Records-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Two-Speed-Records-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Two-Speed-Records-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Two-Speed-Records.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-7\"><p>For context: the pitching rubber in fastpitch sits 43 feet from home plate. At 79.4 mph, the ball reaches the plate in roughly 0.32 seconds \u2014 comparable in reaction time to facing a 100 mph fastball in Major League Baseball. The margin for error, in timing and in equipment fit, is essentially zero.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-6 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">4. A Regulation Softball Is Harder Than a Baseball \u2014 and Has Been for Most of the Sport&#8217;s History<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-8\"><p>The name has been misleading since 1926. A regulation 12-inch fastpitch softball has a harder exterior shell than a baseball and a tightly wound polyurethane core that doesn&#8217;t meaningfully compress on contact.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-5 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"The Hard Truth About &#8216;Soft&#8217; Balls\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Hard-Truth-About-Soft-Balls.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Hard-Truth-About-Soft-Balls.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9079\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Hard-Truth-About-Soft-Balls-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Hard-Truth-About-Soft-Balls-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Hard-Truth-About-Soft-Balls-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Hard-Truth-About-Soft-Balls-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Hard-Truth-About-Soft-Balls.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-9\"><p>The &#8220;soft&#8221; in softball referred specifically to the original oversized indoor ball from 1887 \u2014 bigger, squishier, and designed to be safe inside a gymnasium. That ball was retired before the sport&#8217;s foundational rules were fully written. The modern ball is optic yellow with red seams, a deliberate change made to help batters track spin and pitch movement earlier in flight. The original was white with white seams.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-7 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">5. At Elite Pitching Speeds, Batter Reaction Time Is Measured in Hundredths of a Second<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-10\"><p>A pitch at 70 mph from 43 feet reaches the plate in approximately 0.35 seconds. A batter needs roughly 0.25 seconds to identify the pitch type, make a decision, and initiate the swing. That leaves around 0.10 seconds of genuine adjustment time before contact.<\/p>\n<p>At Karlyn Pickens&#8217; record 79.4 mph, those windows compress further. Bat fit \u2014 specifically, drop weight and barrel length \u2014 directly affects how a player can use that window. A bat that&#8217;s too long delays the barrel&#8217;s arrival to inside pitches. A drop too heavy for a player&#8217;s current strength slows the swing through the zone. Both problems show up at the plate as timing failures, not equipment issues \u2014 which is exactly why they&#8217;re so often misdiagnosed.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-6 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"The Margin Of Error\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Margin-Of-Error.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Margin-Of-Error.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9081\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Margin-Of-Error-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Margin-Of-Error-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Margin-Of-Error-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Margin-Of-Error-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-Margin-Of-Error.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><!-- =============================================\n     BLOCK 2 \u2014 RECORDS & KEY NUMBERS TABLE\n     Paste: Custom HTML block, after Fact #3\n     (the Karlyn Pickens \/ speed record section)\n     ============================================= -->\n<style>\n  .sf-tbl-wrap { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:0 auto 2.5rem; }\n  .sf-tbl-title { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; margin:0 0 1rem; font-weight:400; }\n  .sf-tbl { width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; }\n  .sf-tbl thead th { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.65rem; letter-spacing:.12em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#aaa; font-weight:400; text-align:left; padding:0 1rem .75rem 0; border-bottom:1px solid #e8e8e8; }\n  .sf-tbl thead th:last-child { padding-right:0; }\n  .sf-tbl tbody tr { border-bottom:1px solid #f0f0f0; transition:background .12s; }\n  .sf-tbl tbody tr:last-child { border-bottom:none; }\n  .sf-tbl tbody tr:hover { background:#fafafa; }\n  .sf-tbl tbody td { padding:.85rem 1rem .85rem 0; font-size:.88rem; color:#333; vertical-align:middle; line-height:1.4; }\n  .sf-tbl tbody td:last-child { padding-right:0; }\n  .sf-badge { display:inline-block; font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.82rem; font-weight:700; color:#1a1a1a; background:#f4f4f4; padding:.18rem .55rem; border-radius:3px; white-space:nowrap; }\n  .sf-badge.hi { background:#1a1a1a; color:#fff; }\n  .sf-tbl-note { margin-top:1rem; font-size:.75rem; color:#aaa; font-style:italic; border-left:2px solid #e8e8e8; padding-left:.75rem; line-height:1.6; }\n  @media(max-width:540px){\n    .sf-tbl thead th:nth-child(2),.sf-tbl tbody td:nth-child(2){ display:none; }\n    .sf-tbl tbody td { font-size:.82rem; padding:.7rem .5rem .7rem 0; }\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"sf-tbl-wrap\">\n  <h3 class=\"sf-tbl-title\">Fastpitch Softball \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 Records & Key Numbers<\/h3>\n  <table class=\"sf-tbl\">\n    <thead>\n      <tr>\n        <th>Record \/ Stat<\/th>\n        <th>Context<\/th>\n        <th>Figure<\/th>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/thead>\n    <tbody>\n      <tr>\n        <td>Fastest pitch \u2014 women's (Guinness)<\/td>\n        <td>Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee \u2014 May 25, 2025<\/td>\n        <td><span class=\"sf-badge hi\">79.4 mph<\/span><\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>Previous record (same pitcher)<\/td>\n        <td>Karlyn Pickens vs Arkansas \u2014 Mar 24, 2025<\/td>\n        <td><span class=\"sf-badge\">78.2 mph<\/span><\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>Record before 2025<\/td>\n        <td>Monica Abbott, NPF game \u2014 2012<\/td>\n        <td><span class=\"sf-badge\">77 mph<\/span><\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>Pitching distance<\/td>\n        <td>High school, college, Olympic<\/td>\n        <td><span class=\"sf-badge\">43 ft<\/span><\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>Base path distance<\/td>\n        <td>All competitive levels<\/td>\n        <td><span class=\"sf-badge\">60 ft<\/span><\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>NCAA no-hit record<\/td>\n        <td>Monica Abbott, Tennessee<\/td>\n        <td><span class=\"sf-badge\">23 no-hitters<\/span><\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>2025 NCAA champion<\/td>\n        <td>First title in program history<\/td>\n        <td><span class=\"sf-badge\">Texas<\/span><\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>Oklahoma consecutive titles<\/td>\n        <td>2021 \u2013 2024 WCWS<\/td>\n        <td><span class=\"sf-badge\">4 straight<\/span><\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>Most NCAA titles, all-time<\/td>\n        <td>Inaugural champion \u2014 1982<\/td>\n        <td><span class=\"sf-badge\">UCLA \u2014 12<\/span><\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>US participation (annual)<\/td>\n        <td>All softball variants, summer<\/td>\n        <td><span class=\"sf-badge\">40M+ players<\/span><\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>USA Olympic gold streak<\/td>\n        <td>Atlanta 1996 through Athens 2004<\/td>\n        <td><span class=\"sf-badge\">3 consecutive<\/span><\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>Next Olympic appearance<\/td>\n        <td>Softball Park, Oklahoma City<\/td>\n        <td><span class=\"sf-badge hi\">LA 2028<\/span><\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/tbody>\n  <\/table>\n  <p class=\"sf-tbl-note\">Sources: Guinness World Records, NCAA.com, WBSC, LA28.org. Speed records and championship data as of March 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-11\"><p>If you&#8217;re evaluating bat specs for a competitive player, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/best-fastpitch-softball-bats-overview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">guide to the best fastpitch softball bats<\/a> covers the top-performing options across every drop weight, length, and hitting style.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-5 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-5 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-8 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">The Olympic Arc \u2014 More Complicated Than Most People Know<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-9 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">6. Softball Was Dropped From the Olympics \u2014 the First Sport Cut in 69 Years<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-12\"><p>The IOC voted to remove softball from the Olympic program in July 2005, making it the first sport dropped from the Games since polo was cut in 1936. The 2008 Beijing Olympics were the last to feature softball as a medal event \u2014 and Japan broke the US three-gold-medal streak there, winning 3\u20131 in the final.<\/p>\n<p>Every ticket to every softball game at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics had sold out. The sport had consistently grown its TV audience and global participation. The removal was controversial enough to trigger a decade-long reinstatement campaign, and it ultimately worked.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-10 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">7. The US Won Three Straight Olympic Gold Medals \u2014 Then Lost the Gold Medal Game Twice in a Row<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-13\"><p>The USA Women&#8217;s National Team won gold at every Olympics where softball was contested from 1996 through 2004. Three consecutive titles across Atlanta, Sydney, and Athens. Japan ended that streak in Beijing 2008, then repeated as gold medalists at Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021 due to COVID), with the US taking silver both times.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-7 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"The 30-Year Global Power Struggle\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-30-Year-Global-Power-Struggle.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-30-Year-Global-Power-Struggle.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9076\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-30-Year-Global-Power-Struggle-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-30-Year-Global-Power-Struggle-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-30-Year-Global-Power-Struggle-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-30-Year-Global-Power-Struggle-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-30-Year-Global-Power-Struggle.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-14\"><p>The US\u2013Japan rivalry has defined international fastpitch for three decades. Both programs enter the 2028 cycle as the two most decorated nations in the sport&#8217;s Olympic history \u2014 a rivalry that will play out in front of an American crowd for the first time since 1996.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-11 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">8. The 2028 Olympic Softball Tournament Won&#8217;t Actually Be Played in Los Angeles<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-15\"><p>Softball is officially back for the LA 2028 Olympics \u2014 confirmed by the IOC, ratified by the LA City Council, and fully venue-planned. But the tournament won&#8217;t be in Los Angeles. The games will be held at Softball Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma \u2014 1,243 miles from the LA venue cluster.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-8 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"The LA 2028 Geographic Anomaly\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-LA-2028-Geographic-Anomaly.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-LA-2028-Geographic-Anomaly.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-LA-2028-Geographic-Anomaly-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-LA-2028-Geographic-Anomaly-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-LA-2028-Geographic-Anomaly-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-LA-2028-Geographic-Anomaly-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/The-LA-2028-Geographic-Anomaly.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-16\"><p>The stadium recently completed a $27.5 million renovation, adding an upper deck and raising capacity to 13,000 seats. It&#8217;s the same venue that hosts the Women&#8217;s College World Series every summer. In 2028, the US will become the first nation to host an Olympic softball competition twice, with the first being Atlanta 1996.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-6 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-6 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-12 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">The College Game Has Changed Fast<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-13 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">9. Oklahoma Won Four Straight NCAA Titles \u2014 Then the Dynasty Ended in 2025<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-17\"><p>The Oklahoma Sooners won the Women&#8217;s College World Series in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 \u2014 four consecutive national championships, a record that had never been achieved in the tournament&#8217;s history. In 2023 alone, they finished 61\u20131, setting the NCAA record for most wins in a single season.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-9 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"Softball Dynasties\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Softball-Dynasties.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Softball-Dynasties.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9075\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Softball-Dynasties-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Softball-Dynasties-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Softball-Dynasties-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Softball-Dynasties-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Softball-Dynasties.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-18\"><p>The 2025 season ended the run. Texas Tech knocked out the defending champions in the WCWS semifinal, and Texas defeated Texas Tech in the championship series, winning the program&#8217;s first national title in its history. It was the first time since 2020 that a team other than Oklahoma held the trophy.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-14 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">10. UCLA Has More NCAA Softball Titles Than Any Other Program \u2014 But the Number Has an Asterisk<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-19\"><p>UCLA has 12 recognized NCAA Division I softball national championships \u2014 more than any other program. The Bruins won the inaugural title in 1982, defeating Fresno State in Omaha, and have captured consecutive titles on three separate occasions. The caveat: their 1995 championship was vacated by the NCAA due to scholarship violations. Officially, the record stands at 12.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-15 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">11. The Women&#8217;s College World Series Has Been in Oklahoma City Since 1990<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-20\"><p>With one exception \u2014 1996, when it moved briefly to the Olympic softball venue in Columbus, Georgia \u2014 the WCWS has been in Oklahoma City every year since 1990. The first six tournaments were held in Omaha (1982\u20131987), followed by two in Sunnyvale, California, before Oklahoma City became the permanent home.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-10 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"OKC &#8211; The Center Of Softball World\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/OKC-The-Center-Of-Softball-World.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/OKC-The-Center-Of-Softball-World.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9074\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/OKC-The-Center-Of-Softball-World-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/OKC-The-Center-Of-Softball-World-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/OKC-The-Center-Of-Softball-World-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/OKC-The-Center-Of-Softball-World-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/OKC-The-Center-Of-Softball-World.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-21\"><p>The venue draws more than 190,000 out-of-state visitors during the tournament each year. In 2028, it will host the Olympic softball competition \u2014 making Oklahoma City, arguably, the most important address in the sport&#8217;s competitive history.<\/p>\n<\/div><!-- =============================================\n     BLOCK 4 \u2014 KEY FACTS Q&A (AI SUMMARY BOX)\n     Paste: Custom HTML block, above newsletter CTA\n     ============================================= -->\n<style>\n  .sf-ai { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:0 auto 2.5rem; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .sf-ai-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:1rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .sf-ai-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .sf-ai-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .sf-ai-row { display:grid; grid-template-columns:210px 1fr; border-bottom:1px solid #f0f0f0; transition:background .12s; }\n  .sf-ai-row:last-child { border-bottom:none; }\n  .sf-ai-row:hover { background:#fafafa; }\n  .sf-ai-q { padding:.9rem 1rem .9rem 1.5rem; border-right:1px solid #f0f0f0; font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.7rem; letter-spacing:.04em; color:#aaa; line-height:1.5; }\n  .sf-ai-a { padding:.9rem 1.5rem .9rem 1.25rem; font-size:.88rem; color:#333; line-height:1.6; }\n  .sf-ai-a strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n  .sf-ai-ft { background:#fafafa; border-top:1px solid #e8e8e8; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; font-size:.72rem; color:#bbb; letter-spacing:.04em; font-family:'Courier New',monospace; }\n  @media(max-width:540px){\n    .sf-ai-row { grid-template-columns:1fr; }\n    .sf-ai-q { border-right:none; border-bottom:1px solid #f4f4f4; padding:.75rem 1.25rem .4rem; }\n    .sf-ai-a { padding:.4rem 1.25rem .85rem; }\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"sf-ai\">\n  <div class=\"sf-ai-hd\">\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"sf-ai-lbl\">Quick Reference \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 Softball Facts Answered<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-ai-row\">\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-q\">When was softball invented?<\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-a\"><strong>1887<\/strong>, on Thanksgiving Day at the Farragut Boat Club in Chicago. George Hancock improvised the first game after a Yale fan threw a boxing glove at Harvard fans. First official rules were published in 1889.<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-ai-row\">\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-q\">What is the fastest softball pitch ever recorded?<\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-a\"><strong>79.4 mph<\/strong>, thrown by Karlyn Pickens (Tennessee) on May 25, 2025 \u2014 certified by Guinness World Records. She broke her own previous record of 78.2 mph, which she had set on March 24, 2025. Both records broke Monica Abbott's 77 mph mark from 2012.<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-ai-row\">\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-q\">Is a softball actually soft?<\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-a\"><strong>No.<\/strong> A regulation 12-inch fastpitch softball has a harder shell than a baseball. The name refers to the original oversized indoor ball from 1887 \u2014 a description that has been inaccurate for over 90 years.<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-ai-row\">\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-q\">Will softball be in the 2028 Olympics?<\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-a\"><strong>Yes.<\/strong> Softball returns for the LA 2028 Games. The tournament will be played at <strong>Softball Park in Oklahoma City<\/strong> \u2014 not in Los Angeles. The venue holds 13,000 spectators and also hosts the NCAA Women's College World Series.<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-ai-row\">\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-q\">Who won the 2025 NCAA softball championship?<\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-a\"><strong>Texas<\/strong> won its first NCAA Division I national championship in 2025, defeating Texas Tech at the Women's College World Series. It ended Oklahoma's unprecedented four-consecutive-title run (2021\u20132024).<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-ai-row\">\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-q\">Which team has the most NCAA softball titles?<\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-a\"><strong>UCLA<\/strong>, with 12 recognized national championships. The Bruins won the inaugural NCAA title in 1982 and have won consecutive titles on three separate occasions.<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-ai-row\">\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-q\">How many people play softball in the US?<\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-a\">Over <strong>40 million Americans<\/strong> play some form of softball every summer, making it one of the most participated-in team sports in the country across all age groups and variants.<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-ai-row\">\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-q\">Where is the Women's College World Series held?<\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-ai-a\"><strong>Oklahoma City, Oklahoma<\/strong>, at Softball Park \u2014 the same venue confirmed for the 2028 Olympic softball tournament. The WCWS has been held in Oklahoma City every year since 1990, with one exception in 1996.<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-ai-ft\">allaboutfastpitch.com \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 fun facts about softball \u2014 updated March 2026<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-7 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-7 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-16 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">Facts About the Sport That Tend to Surprise People<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-17 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">12. The First Women&#8217;s Softball World Championship Was Not Held in the United States<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-22\"><p>The inaugural Women&#8217;s Softball World Championship was played in Melbourne, Australia, in 1965 \u2014 not in the country that invented the sport. Australia won the final, defeating the United States on home soil. It was a result that surprised most observers who had expected American dominance from the opening game.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-18 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">13. Fastpitch and Slowpitch Operate Under Entirely Separate Rule Books<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-23\"><p>Most people treat them as the same game at different speeds. They are structurally distinct sports. Fastpitch uses a 12-inch ball, a windmill pitching motion, 9 fielders, and 60-foot base paths. Slowpitch uses an 11-inch ball, an arc pitch, 10 fielders, and a different strategic framework entirely.<\/p>\n<p>Bat certifications do not cross over. A bat legal for slowpitch recreational play may fail fastpitch certification requirements \u2014 which matters if you&#8217;re buying equipment for a player in a competitive fastpitch program. The consequences of an illegal bat range from an automatic out to a game forfeit, depending on the governing body.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-11 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"Fastpitch vs. Slowpitch\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fastpitch-vs.-Slowpitch.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fastpitch-vs.-Slowpitch.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9073\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fastpitch-vs.-Slowpitch-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fastpitch-vs.-Slowpitch-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fastpitch-vs.-Slowpitch-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fastpitch-vs.-Slowpitch-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fastpitch-vs.-Slowpitch.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-19 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">14. The Base Paths Are 60 Feet By Design \u2014 Not Just Because the Fields Are Smaller<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-24\"><p>The 60-foot base distance in softball wasn&#8217;t a scaled-down version of baseball&#8217;s 90 feet. It was deliberately set to produce a specific pace of play \u2014 more stolen base attempts, closer plays at the bag, and faster game flow. The average competitive fastpitch game runs approximately 90 minutes, roughly half the current average MLB game.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-12 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"90-Minute Rhythm\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/90-Minute-Rhythm.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/90-Minute-Rhythm.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9072\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/90-Minute-Rhythm-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/90-Minute-Rhythm-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/90-Minute-Rhythm-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/90-Minute-Rhythm-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/90-Minute-Rhythm.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-25\"><p>The flat pitching mound (no elevated rubber as in baseball), shorter base paths, and 43-foot pitching distance combine to produce a game with a different strategic rhythm from baseball \u2014 not a simpler version of it, but a structurally distinct sport with its own internal logic.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-20 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">15. The Equipment Has Changed More Than Almost Any Other Part of the Game<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-26\"><p>Modern <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/best-composite-fastpitch-softball-bats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">composite<\/a> fastpitch bats use layered carbon fiber construction, multi-wall barrel designs, and drop-specific engineering that didn&#8217;t exist 20 years ago. Early composite bats were single-wall, prone to cracking, and required significant break-in before performing reliably. Today&#8217;s top bats are engineered with resin systems that loosen under repeated impact \u2014 expanding the effective sweet spot over the first 150 to 200 swings in a process that meaningfully changes how the bat performs across its lifetime.<\/p>\n<p>The gap between a properly fit, broken-in composite and an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/composite-vs-alloy-fastpitch-softball-bats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">entry-level alloy bat<\/a> is measurable in exit velocity and carry distance \u2014 particularly at the high school and travel ball level. Picking the right <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/fastpitch-bat-drop-weight-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">drop weight<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/fastpitch-bat-length-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bat length<\/a> matters more now than it did when the technology was simpler. The equipment is more capable in both directions.<\/p>\n<\/div><!-- =============================================\n     BLOCK 3 \u2014 KEY MOMENTS IN SOFTBALL HISTORY\n     Paste: Custom HTML block, after Fact #8\n     (the 2028 Olympics section)\n     ============================================= -->\n<style>\n  .sf-tl { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:0 auto 2.5rem; }\n  .sf-tl-title { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; margin:0 0 1rem; font-weight:400; }\n  .sf-tl-row { display:grid; grid-template-columns:46px 1fr; align-items:baseline; padding:.85rem 0; border-bottom:1px solid #f0f0f0; transition:background .12s; }\n  .sf-tl-row:first-of-type { border-top:1px solid #e8e8e8; }\n  .sf-tl-row:last-of-type { border-bottom:1px solid #e8e8e8; }\n  .sf-tl-row:hover { background:#fafafa; }\n  .sf-tl-yr { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.7rem; color:#bbb; letter-spacing:.04em; line-height:1.5; }\n  .sf-tl-body { display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:.2rem; }\n  .sf-tl-label { font-size:.88rem; font-weight:600; color:#1a1a1a; }\n  .sf-tl-text { font-size:.85rem; color:#555; line-height:1.5; margin:0; }\n  .sf-tl-gap { padding:.25rem 0 .25rem 46px; }\n  .sf-tl-line { width:1px; height:14px; background:#ddd; }\n  @media(max-width:540px){\n    .sf-tl-row { grid-template-columns:38px 1fr; }\n    .sf-tl-gap { padding-left:38px; }\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"sf-tl\">\n  <h3 class=\"sf-tl-title\">Softball \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 Key Moments in the Sport's History<\/h3>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tl-yr\">1887<\/span>\n    <div class=\"sf-tl-body\">\n      <span class=\"sf-tl-label\">Invented at the Farragut Boat Club, Chicago<\/span>\n      <p class=\"sf-tl-text\">George Hancock improvises a game using a boxing glove and a broomstick after a Harvard-Yale football announcement.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-gap\"><div class=\"sf-tl-line\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tl-yr\">1895<\/span>\n    <div class=\"sf-tl-body\">\n      <span class=\"sf-tl-label\">Minneapolis firefighters develop the outdoor version<\/span>\n      <p class=\"sf-tl-text\">Lewis Rober's team \u2014 The Kittens \u2014 popularize outdoor play. \"Kitten ball\" becomes a regional name for the sport.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-gap\"><div class=\"sf-tl-line\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tl-yr\">1926<\/span>\n    <div class=\"sf-tl-body\">\n      <span class=\"sf-tl-label\">\"Softball\" officially adopted as the universal name<\/span>\n      <p class=\"sf-tl-text\">Walter Hakanson unifies six regional variants under one name. The Amateur Softball Association is established.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-gap\"><div class=\"sf-tl-line\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tl-yr\">1965<\/span>\n    <div class=\"sf-tl-body\">\n      <span class=\"sf-tl-label\">First Women's Softball World Championship \u2014 Melbourne, Australia<\/span>\n      <p class=\"sf-tl-text\">Australia defeats the United States in the final on home soil \u2014 a result few saw coming.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-gap\"><div class=\"sf-tl-line\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tl-yr\">1982<\/span>\n    <div class=\"sf-tl-body\">\n      <span class=\"sf-tl-label\">First NCAA Division I Softball Championship<\/span>\n      <p class=\"sf-tl-text\">UCLA defeats Fresno State 2\u20130 in eight innings in Omaha to claim the inaugural national title.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-gap\"><div class=\"sf-tl-line\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tl-yr\">1996<\/span>\n    <div class=\"sf-tl-body\">\n      <span class=\"sf-tl-label\">Olympic debut \u2014 Atlanta \u2014 USA wins gold. Every ticket sells out.<\/span>\n      <p class=\"sf-tl-text\">Softball enters the Olympic program. All games are sold out \u2014 the only sport at the 1996 Games to achieve that.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-gap\"><div class=\"sf-tl-line\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tl-yr\">2005<\/span>\n    <div class=\"sf-tl-body\">\n      <span class=\"sf-tl-label\">IOC votes to remove softball \u2014 first sport dropped in 69 years<\/span>\n      <p class=\"sf-tl-text\">The 2008 Beijing Games become the last to feature softball as a medal event for the next 13 years.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-gap\"><div class=\"sf-tl-line\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tl-yr\">2021<\/span>\n    <div class=\"sf-tl-body\">\n      <span class=\"sf-tl-label\">Softball returns for Tokyo 2020 \u2014 Japan wins gold<\/span>\n      <p class=\"sf-tl-text\">Delayed one year by COVID-19. Japan defeats the US in the gold medal game. Softball is excluded again from Paris 2024.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-gap\"><div class=\"sf-tl-line\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tl-yr\">2024<\/span>\n    <div class=\"sf-tl-body\">\n      <span class=\"sf-tl-label\">Oklahoma wins fourth consecutive NCAA title<\/span>\n      <p class=\"sf-tl-text\">The Sooners complete an unprecedented four-peat, setting the record for most consecutive national championships.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-gap\"><div class=\"sf-tl-line\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tl-yr\">2025<\/span>\n    <div class=\"sf-tl-body\">\n      <span class=\"sf-tl-label\">Karlyn Pickens sets Guinness World Record \u2014 79.4 mph. Texas wins first NCAA title.<\/span>\n      <p class=\"sf-tl-text\">Pickens breaks her own record (78.2 mph, set in March) in the Super Regionals on May 25. Tennessee wins 1\u20130. Texas ends the Oklahoma dynasty at the WCWS.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-gap\"><div class=\"sf-tl-line\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-tl-yr\">2028<\/span>\n    <div class=\"sf-tl-body\">\n      <span class=\"sf-tl-label\">Softball returns to the Olympics \u2014 LA Games, played in Oklahoma City<\/span>\n      <p class=\"sf-tl-text\">Six nations compete at Softball Park \u2014 the same venue as the WCWS. First time the US hosts Olympic softball since 1996.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-13 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1432\" height=\"800\" title=\"Fun Facts About Softball Infographic\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fun-Facts-About-Softball-Infographic.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fun-Facts-About-Softball-Infographic.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9085\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271432%27%20height%3D%27800%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201432%20800%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271432%27%20height%3D%27800%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fun-Facts-About-Softball-Infographic-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fun-Facts-About-Softball-Infographic-400x223.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fun-Facts-About-Softball-Infographic-600x335.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fun-Facts-About-Softball-Infographic-800x447.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fun-Facts-About-Softball-Infographic-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Fun-Facts-About-Softball-Infographic.jpg 1432w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-8 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-8 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-21 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">The Bottom Line<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-27\"><p>Softball&#8217;s full story has more texture than a standard facts list captures. A sport was invented in 45 minutes on Thanksgiving afternoon in 1887. A pitching speed record broken twice in the same season by the same pitcher at the same university \u2014 the same university that also produced the previous record holder. An Olympic comeback is playing out in a softball-specific stadium more than a thousand miles from the city whose name is on the Games.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9084,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-softball"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9113,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137\/revisions\/9113"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}