Softball

A good softball is neon green, however there are some in many different colors such as white and pink to support breast cancer. In the core of the softball is a small ball made of cork or plastic. Tightly wrapped around the miniature ball are pieces of string. Around the string are two neon leather covers that are carefully put together by a red stitching.

Brand new softballs are the best kind. The leather still contains its scent which is like inhaling a breath of non-polluted air. The leather is still fresh, which provides a nice, non-slippery grip when you throw. But if you want to get the maximum velocity on the ball, you must place the pads of your fingertips on the red stitching because it increases the spin. There are softballs of many sizes; small, 10 inch, for the little girls who are barely learning the game, medium, 11 inch for the rookie players, and the most common type, 12 inch which is used for anyone ages 12 and up.

In order to receive the satisfaction of a good game, the perfect ball must be etched with black marks from the bat, brown spots from hitting the dirt, and sometimes tears from hitting against the fence. It is pretty much understood that the prettiest softballs are the ones that are the least "pretty" of them all.