GAME ANNOUNCING

Before the game, you will announce the starting line-ups for both teams along with the coaching staff and any support staff deemed necessary.  The starting line-up is also important to making sure you know who is batting during the game.  You will use your scorebook to write down the starting line-ups and to keep track of batters during the game.

A typical starting line-up consists of nine batters.  In leagues that use the designated hitter, you’ll have nine batters and a tenth player.  An example of this is located at the end of this section.  If you have a normal starting line-up, you won’t add the extra player at the end of the list.  Some leagues will allow for more than nine batters in a typical line-up, however this usually happens in recreational play or in showcase events.

What you’ll need for the line-ups is the player’s position, uniform number, where they are batting in the batting order, and name of player for each spot in the batting order.  When you announce the line-up, begin with the first batter and read in order to the final batter.  If you have a player who is being hit for by the designated hitter, announce that player last in the line-up rather than after the designated hitter to avoid confusion among others who may be writing the starting line-up into their own scorebook.

In amateur baseball, the starting line-ups will be announced following the meeting of umpires and coaches at home plate.  Your local organization may have a different order, however a good rule of thumb is to have the meeting at home plate, introduce the visiting team who will line up on their foul line, then introduce the home team who will either line up on their foul line or head to their position in the field to prepare for the National Anthem.

Starting Line Up

“Ladies and gentlemen, here are the starting line-ups for tonight’s game, first for the visiting Johnsonville Blue Devils:

Leading off, the short stop, #16 James Wiseman
Batting second, the left fielder, #3 Robert Klemme
Batting third, the right fielder, #1 Tony Torcacho
Batting fourth, the first baseman, #9 Eddie Runfola
Batting fifth and doing the catching, #34 C. J. Hicks
Batting sixth, the second baseman, #9 Grif Maxwell
Batting seventh, the designated hitter, #3 Jay Abadie
Batting eighth, the center fielder, #55 Jim Yaskiewicz
and batting ninth, the third baseman, #40 Will Mair
On the mound for the Blue Devils, #23 Trey Gaudett

The staff for the Blue Devils, the trainer is Manny Juarez, the assistant coaches are #17 Mike Warner and #18 Jerry Lopes and the head coach of the Johnsonville Blue Devils is #5 Bobby Braze.”

On the professional level, the head coach is referred to as the manager.  Some announcers like to make sure the visiting team’s players get announced clearly and will repeat the name and position following their line.

“Batting third, the right fielder, #1 Tony Torcacho.  Torcacho, right field”

Adding this acknowledgement allows fans keeping score a little extra time to write all the information in their scorebook.  Most know who the home-team players are and can easily write the number and position down now, while writing the name in later.  The visiting team is unfamiliar so repeating the name will give fans the chance to get the number, position, and name all written down before going to the next player.

The next two examples expand on the basic starting line-up and include additional information such as grade, where they are from, and/or what school they are from.

Starting Line-up Scholastic EXAMPLE

“Batting second, a sophomore left fielder, #3 Robert Klemme”

Starting Line-up Collegiate EXAMPLE

“Batting second, a sophomore left fielder from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, #3 Robert Klemme”

Starting Line-up Collegiate Summer League EXAMPLE

“Batting second, a sophomore left fielder from Johnsonville University, #3 Robert Klemme”

If you are announcing a true all-star game in which players are taken from each team in the league, change the school to the team they are from.

Starting Line-up All-Star EXAMPLE

“Batting second, a sophomore left fielder from the Johnsonville Blue Devils, #3 Robert Klemme”

You can use the Starting Line-up Baseball Collegiate Assistance Sheet for college summer league and all-star games.