Vitilla facts for kids
Vitilla is a fun and popular game similar to stickball. It's mostly played in the Dominican Republic and in parts of the United States where many Dominicans live. It's a bit like baseball but with some cool twists!
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What is Vitilla?
Vitilla is a street sport that mixes parts of baseball and Cricket. Instead of a baseball, players use a large plastic water bottle cap called la vitilla. A broomstick is used as a bat. The game is usually played with only two or three fielders.
How is Vitilla Different from Baseball?
Vitilla has some unique rules that make it different from regular baseball:
- There are only two bases, called primera (first base) and tercera (third base). There is no second base.
- The field is shaped like a triangle, with each side about 50 feet long.
- The pitcher stands 45 feet from home plate.
- Behind the batter, there's a special target. If the pitcher hits this target, it's a strike!
- The vitilla cap is tricky to hit. It can float and spin super fast, making it hard to catch too!
- Players don't usually wear gloves.
- There are no walks in Vitilla. If a pitch isn't swung at or misses the target, the pitcher can just throw it again.
- You can't steal bases or lead off in Vitilla.
Why is Vitilla Important?
Many people believe that playing Vitilla helps Dominican Major League Baseball players become great at hitting and fielding. The game needs a lot of skill and quick reactions. Vitilla started from a game called Dominican stickball in the 1970s. The first official tournament for Vitilla happened in 2009.
Playing the Game: Rules of Vitilla
Since Vitilla is a street sport, there aren't official rules set by a big sports group. However, companies like Beteyah, which makes Vitilla gear, have suggested rules. Also, tournaments like the Red Bull Clasico De Vitilla have their own rules. Most of the game's words are in Spanish, since that's the main language for most players.
The Field and Bases
The Vitilla field has a home plate and two bases: primera (first base) and tercera (third base). The path between the bases forms a triangle, with each side being about 50 feet long. The pitcher stands 45 feet from home plate. There's a circular strike target behind home plate, about 18 inches wide and 18 inches off the ground. There's also a foul area in front of home plate (15 feet) and foul lines connecting home plate to primera and tercera. A home run line is usually about 100 feet from home plate.
How to Play and Score
The team with the most runs at the end of the game wins. Teams decide how many innings they will play before the game starts. Each team gets to bat once per inning. Three outs end a team's turn at bat. A player scores a run when they run around all the bases and get back to home plate.
Batting in Vitilla
The lanzador (pitcher) throws the vitilla towards the strike target. The bateador (batter) stands in front of the target, trying to hit the vitilla.
- A strike is called if the vitilla hits the strike target.
- It's also a strike if the bateador swings and misses.
- Hitting the vitilla foul counts as a strike if the batter has less than two strikes.
- There are no walks. If the bateador blocks the target and gets hit by a pitch, it counts as a strike.
- If the vitilla isn't swung at or misses the strike target, the pitcher can throw it again.
- Hitting the vitilla and running the bases are similar to baseball, but players cannot lead off or steal bases.
Fielding in Vitilla
The fielders include the lanzador (pitcher) and two or three jardineros (fielders). There is no catcher. The lanzador usually has many vitillas nearby to keep the game going. Players typically do not wear gloves. The lanzador must keep one foot on the pitcher's mark. It's okay for the pitcher to skip or bounce pitches to the bateador. Just like in baseball, outs can be made by:
- Catching a hit vitilla before it touches the ground.
- Tagging a runner with the vitilla in hand.
- Tagging a base to force an out.
See also
In Spanish: Vitilla para niños
