Jason in Denver

Hello my name is Bob Young. I am a member of the So. St. Louis
Corkball League and have been playing for over 20 years. My grand
father was one of the founders of our league back in 1936.

I think part of your problem is that you are looking at the markwort
field layout which is incorrect. Our club provided Markwork with the
layout years ago but they got it backwards in their pictures. I've
called them to let them know but they have been slow to change the
layout.

The half circle in their picture should be fliped and face the other
way. Additionally, the foul line should touch the tip of home plate.
Thus, the half circle extends into fair play not behind the foul line.

The half circle is the radius but the circle does not extend back of
the foul line. Thus, you have a half-circle from foul line to foul
line. From the tip of home plate to the right foul line is 15ft, and
from the tip of homeplate to the left foul line is 15ft, and from the
tip of home plate to center field is 15ft. connect the dots and you
get the half circle.

This half circle only applies to balls hit on the ground. They must
travel out of the half circle to be a hit. The catcher is not allowed
to interfere with a ground ball in the circle. If he does, the batter
is awarded a hit. Other than that, the half circle does not affect
any other ball.

Now, a pop up that goes straight up and lands inside the half circle
but in front of the foul line is considered a hit. A pop up that
lands in fair teritoty and bounces back into the half circle but
remains in front of the foul line is also a hit. Only ground balls
must make it outside of the 15ft half circle.

Any hit ball that ends up behind the foul line is an out. It's where
the ball ends up (unless a fielder interferes with the ball.

If you swing and miss and the catcher holds the pitch your out. Any
foul ball is an out including a foul tip. The catcher does not have
to hold a foul tip. Two called strikes, provided the catcher hold the
last strike, is an out. If a guy keeps swinging or is called on the
second strike and the catcher keeps droping the pitch, the batter
keeps batting. There is no double play in St. Louis Corkball.

Because the catcher must hold a swinging or called strike for an
out,the position is extremely important. A bad catcher will cost you.

If I can find a better picture of a field layout then I'll try to e-
mail you something.

Hope this helped.