About Lineball

Lineball is a game like softball except there is no baserunning. There are four players on each team.  When up to bat a teammate pitches a 16'' softball so the hitter can best hit it into the field of play.  The ball must travel a minimum of 40' on the fly before hitting the ground.  If the ball lands anywhere past that line and between the foul lines, the batter gets a hit.  If the ball bounces before the line, or the ball lands in foul territory, then it is foul.  Two fouls means the batter is out.  A batter who swings and misses is out.  A ball caught on the fly by a fielder means the batter is out. 

If three hits come before three outs, the batting team gets a run.  After the three hits, every consecutive hit scores a run.  A homerun occurs when the batter hits a ball that gets past every fielder even if it is for only a moment.  If a homerun is hit, the batter and anyone "on the bases" scores automatically.  This empties the bases so three hits are needed again for the next run.

Like softball, after three outs the next team bats.  An inning is over after both teams make three outs.  The game lasts for five innings. If the game is tied after five innings, extra innings are played until a team wins.

There are countless variations to this game (some of which have nothing to do with us) including using wiffleballs, playing on sand instead of grass, changing the shape of the field, and changing the amount of players on a team.

History

The Lineball Tournament began as the idea of Bruce Urso, after receiving a M.S. in Recreation Administration from Western Illinois University.  He devised the Earlville competition as an Illinois version of a summertime sport that began and became a craze fifty years ago in San Diego, where it attracts huge crowds each summer.

Its popularity in California skyrocketed to a point where the mayor of Sand Diego offered an official proclamation of welcome.

In putting together the Illinois event, Bruce Urso changed the format significantly to make it a uniquely Illinois - and Midwestern - sport.  In Illinois the players use a 16 inch softball, any type of bat, but no gloves.  Four players, with a fifth serving as a designated hitter, take turns batting from home plate.  Batters must hit pitched balls from a teammate on the fly over a horizontal line 40-feet away from home plate into a playing area 75-feet wide, with no length restrictions.

Specific rules govern outs, fouls, and run scoring.  Games last five innings with three outs, unless a tie requires extra innings.

When we began back in 1980 we only had four teams.  The one he was on included his wife, father and brother.  Today, we have a hardcore group who loyally returns every year.  As word of our tournament spreads, we have a regular influx of new players.  Many of them travel long distances just to play lineball in Earlville. 

The players come here for more than just the games.  It's the atmosphere we create along with  good food, exercise and lasting friendships.  We offer all people, regardless of age, the chance to compete in our tournaments.

Many people find it more enjoyable than other baseball-like games because its focus is the most fun part, hitting.  There is no time wasted on running the bases.  In the two days of the tournament a player may bat a hundred times.

A teammate pitches the ball so the batter can best hit it.  After a max of two pitches the next player gets to bat.  Players can bat many times in an inning.

Lineball can be played equally by people of all ages as there are many types of players.  For more information on strategy, please visit the strategy page.

The next tournament in September 2005 will be the 25th annual tournament.  

Lineball received a US copyright in 1995.       

The Lineball Field

The batter stands in the batters box on the tip of the triangle.  Forty feet away is the line from which lineball gets its name.  The pitcher stands a few feet away from the batter.  The batter must hit a 16'' softball over the line and between the two foul lines which are 75 feet apart.  This area is where the batter is aiming.  The field stretches out into infinite as far as the batter can hit the ball.  The batter must hit from the plate, and the pitcher may pitch from anywhere, as long as its in foul territory.  Most batters prefer the pitcher 5-8 feet down the line.

the lineball field

Official Rules