Baseball score counter · Free · No sign-up
Baseball Score Counter
A baseball score counter keeps the count of balls and strikes, the outs, and each team’s runs inning by inning. This one applies the count rules, including foul tips, foul bunts and the dropped third strike, and ends the game correctly: the X, the walk-off and the Little League run rule.
Free, no sign-up, works offline, and nothing leaves this browser.
Away 0–0 Home · count 0-0, 0 outs
Tap every pitch. Ball four is a walk, strike three is out, and three outs end the half-inning.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Away | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Home | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tap each pitch: Ball, Strike (called or swinging), Foul, a caught Foul tip or a Foul bunt. The count applies the rule for each, walks and strikeouts included. Keep the bases lit by tapping them, then use Hit, Run scores and the outs as each play finishes; a home run clears the bases and scores everyone. Keys: B ball, S strike, F foul, Ctrl+Z undo.
This keeps the count, the outs and the line score; it does not umpire the game. It applies the Official Baseball Rules on the count (5.05, 5.09), the end of a game (7.01) and the extra-inning runner, and Little League Rule 4.10(e) for the run rules. It does not decide whether a pitch was a strike, guess where runners went on a hit, keep a batting order or player statistics, or count pitches for arm safety — the pitch counter does that, with each pitcher’s strike percentage from the balls and strikes, and the pitch count rest calculator turns the counts into the days a pitcher must sit out — and it is not an official scorebook. In youth and school games an official pitch count recorder keeps each pitcher’s total separately from the score, and for school games the daily limit comes from the state association under NFHS Rule 6-2-6: see high school pitch count rules by state.
Adding up runs is easy. The count is where it goes wrong: a foul with two strikes, a foul bunt, a dropped third strike. So is the ending, when the home team does not bat or a walk-off stops the game on the winning run.
In baseball, each batter faces a count of balls and strikes: four balls is a walk and three strikes is a strikeout. Three outs end a team’s half of an inning, and the team with more runs after the last inning wins; the visitors bat first and the home team bats last.
- No sign-up
- Free to use
- Counts never leave your browser
- Works offline
- Unlimited counters
Key facts
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Keeps | Balls, strikes, outs, runners on base, and runs, hits and errors by inning |
| Pitch keys | Ball, strike, foul, caught foul tip, foul bunt, hit by pitch |
| Count rules | A foul is never strike three; a foul tip or foul bunt can be |
| Dropped third strike | Offered only when the batter may run: first base empty, or two out |
| Walks | Batter to first, forced runners move up, a run forced in with the bases loaded |
| Game end | The X, the walk-off on the winning run, and extra innings when tied |
| Run rule | Little League: 15 after 3, 10 after 4, optional 8 after 5 |
| Rules | MLB (9 innings), US high school (7) and Little League Majors and Minors (6) |
| Extra-inning runner | Placed on second automatically in MLB mode; a switch for others |
| Undo | Every pitch, out, run and base change |
| Where data goes | Nowhere. Local storage in this browser only |
How to keep score in baseball with the counter
Set the rules once, then tap as the game goes.
Choose the rules
MLB, US high school, or Little League Majors or Minors. They set the innings, the run rule and the dropped third strike, so changing them starts a new game.
Name the teams
The visitors bat first and the home team bats last. The team at bat is outlined.
Tap every pitch
Ball, Strike, Foul, Foul tip or Foul bunt. Ball four walks the batter and strike three is out; with two strikes the Foul key leaves the count alone.
Keep the bases lit
Tap Runner 1st, 2nd or 3rd to show who is on. Walks and hit batters move forced runners for you, and the bases decide whether a dropped third strike lets the batter run.
Finish each play
Hit, Safe on error, Out in play or Out on bases, then Run scores for each runner who crossed the plate. Home run scores the batter and every runner on base.
Let the game end itself
Three outs switch sides. The counter writes the X, stops on a walk-off and applies the run rule; End game here covers a time limit or rain.
Where a baseball score counter gets used
Any game without a scoreboard operator, and anyone who wants the count right.
Little League and youth games
A parent or coach keeping the count, the outs and the score, with the 10- and 15-run rules applied as they come up.
High school and adult leagues
Seven or nine innings, the line score by inning, and runs, hits and errors at the end.
Umpires without an indicator
The ball-strike-out count on a phone, with the foul-ball rules built in.
Watching on TV or at the park
Follow a game pitch by pitch and see why a foul did not change the count. Cricket’s version is the delivery that does not count at all, a wide or a no-ball, which the cricket score counter keeps out of the over.
Learning to keep the book
Check a hand-kept scorecard against the count, the outs and the line score.
Softball and backyard games
Seven innings under the high school setting; the count rules are the same in fastpitch.
What changes the count: fouls, foul tips, foul bunts and the dropped third strike
Most online scorekeepers have a Ball key, a Strike key and an Out key, and leave the rest to you. The rest is where a count goes wrong. Of the free baseball scorekeepers near the top of a search on 2026-09-28, ScoreCounter’s board does not keep balls and strikes at all, Baseball-Calculators’ umpire clicker counts to three strikes and resets, with no rule for fouls, and Digital Tally Counter’s scorekeeper, the most complete of them, does not say what it does with a foul bunt, a foul tip or a dropped third strike. Those are the three pitches that decide a count.
| Pitch | With 0 or 1 strike | With 2 strikes | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball | One more ball | One more ball; the fourth is a walk | OBR 5.05(b)(1) |
| Called or swinging strike | One more strike | Strike three | OBR 5.09(a)(2) |
| Foul ball, not caught | One more strike | No change: the count stays | Definition of a strike |
| Foul tip, caught by the catcher | One more strike | Strike three, and the batter is out | Definition of a foul tip |
| Foul bunt | One more strike | Strike three, and the batter is out | OBR 5.09(a)(4) |
| Hit by pitch | Batter to first | Batter to first | OBR 5.05(b)(2) |
A count is read balls first: 3-2 is three balls and two strikes, the full count. A foul is a strike only until there are two, which is why a batter can foul off pitch after pitch at 3-2 without striking out. The two exceptions are the ones scoreboards miss. A foul tip is a ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher’s hands and is caught; it is always a strike, so with two strikes it is strike three. A foul bunt is also always a strike, so a batter who bunts foul with two strikes is out. The counter has a key for each, and its Foul key will not make strike three.
When a dropped third strike lets the batter run
Strike three is not always an out. If the catcher does not hold it, OBR 5.05(a)(2) makes the batter a runner “providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out.” With a runner on first and fewer than two out, the batter is out whether the ball is caught or not, which stops a catcher dropping the ball on purpose to start a double play. Whatever happens, the pitcher is credited with a strikeout, which is how a pitcher can record four strikeouts in one inning.
| Situation | 0 or 1 out | 2 out |
|---|---|---|
| First base empty | Yes | Yes |
| Runner on first | No: the batter is out | Yes, and runners are forced |
| Little League Minors and Tee Ball | No: every third strike is out | No |
| Foul tip or foul bunt as strike three | No: caught, or a dead ball | No |
The counter works this out from the bases you have lit. After a strikeout the batter could run on, it offers Dropped third strike: safe at first. Tap it if the batter made it: the out is taken back, the batter goes to first and any forced runners move up, so with the bases loaded and two out it forces in a run. In the Minors it is never offered, because Little League Rule 6.05 makes every third strike an out there.
When a baseball game ends: the X, the walk-off, the run rule and extra innings
Getting the count right matters on every pitch. Getting the ending right matters once, and it is the part people argue about afterwards. There are four ways a game ends early or late, and the counter applies all of them.
| Rules | Innings | Run rule | Extra innings | Dropped third strike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | 9 | None | Runner on second each half (regular season, since 2020, permanent from 2023) | Batter may run |
| US high school (NFHS) | 7 | Set by each state association | State tiebreakers vary | Batter may run |
| Little League Majors | 6 | 15 after 3 innings, 10 after 4; optional 8 after 5 | Full innings, no runner | Batter may run |
| Little League Minors | 6 | 15 after 3 innings, 10 after 4; optional 8 after 5 | Full innings, no runner | Always out |
The X: the home team does not bat when it is already winning
The visitors bat first, so the home team always has the last turn. If the home team is ahead when the top of the last inning ends, the bottom half is not played, and the line score shows an X there rather than a 0. A 0 would say the home team batted and failed to score. The counter ends the game at that third out and writes the X itself.
Batting last is an edge for the same reason the hammer is in curling: the side that goes last knows exactly what it needs. Baseball fixes it for the whole game by home and away; curling moves it end by end.
R, H and E: the three totals after the innings
A line score ends with three columns for each team. R is runs. H is base hits: times a batter reached base on a fair ball without the help of a fielding error or a fielder’s choice (Official Baseball Rules 9.05). E is errors, the misplays the official scorer charges to fielders when they let a batter reach or a runner advance (OBR 9.12), and they sit on the line of the team that made them, not the team that benefited. So 3 runs on 2 hits is possible, and so is 10 hits and no runs. The counter keeps all three by inning; whether a ball was a hit or an error is the official scorer’s call, so enter what the scorer rules.
The walk-off: only the winning run counts
OBR 7.01(g): if the home team scores the winning run in the bottom of the last inning, or of an extra inning after a tie, “the game ends immediately when the winning run is scored.” Runs behind it do not count, so a walk-off win is by one run, with one exception: a home run out of the park, on which the batter and every runner score. Worked through from 3–3 in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded:
| Play | Runners who cross the plate | Final score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk or hit batter | 1 | 4–3 | The run forced home from third wins it |
| Double into the gap | 2 or 3 | 4–3 | The game ended when the first run scored |
| Grand slam | 4 | 7–3 | A home run lets every runner score |
The counter follows the same rule. In a walk-off situation, Run scores ends the game on the winning run and accepts no more, a walk with the bases loaded forces in the one run that wins it, and Home run scores the batter plus every runner you have on base.
The run rule (mercy rule) in Little League
Little League Rule 4.10(e) ends a game when one team leads by 15 runs or more after three innings, or by 10 or more after four, and the losing manager concedes. Each comes half an inning earlier when the home team is the one ahead, because the home team would not need its last turn: two and a half innings for 15, three and a half for 10. When the visitors lead by that much, the home team still bats. Since 2023 leagues may also use an 8-run rule after five innings in the regular season; it does not apply in tournament play. The counter checks the margin whenever a half-inning ends, and the 8-run option is a box to tick. Some leagues also end the game the moment the home team reaches the margin in its own half; if yours does, tap End game here.
Extra innings and the runner on second
A game tied after the last inning goes on, a full inning at a time, until one team leads at the end of an inning or the home team takes the lead in its half. Since 2020 (permanent from 2023) MLB starts every extra half-inning of a regular-season game with a runner on second: the player who batted just before that half’s leadoff hitter. The counter puts that runner on for you in MLB mode, and its switch covers leagues that use a similar tiebreaker and postseason games that do not.
Online counter vs a clicker, an app, paper and a spreadsheet
Every counting method trades something away. This is what each one actually costs you.
| Feature | This online counter | Handheld clicker | Counter phone app | Pen and paper | Spreadsheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | $5–$15 | Free with ads, or paid | Cost of paper | Subscription |
| Anything to install | No | Buy the device | App store download | No | Yes, or a web login |
| Several counts at once | Unlimited | One per device | Usually limited | Yes, messy | Yes |
| Fix a miscount | Undo and redo | Start over | Sometimes | Cross it out | Edit the cell |
| Counts by more than one | Any step size | One at a time | Sometimes | Manual maths | Yes |
| Below zero | Yes | No | Rarely | Yes | Yes |
| Keeps the count if you close it | Saves automatically | Until you reset the dial | Yes | If you keep the paper | Yes |
| Works with no signal | Yes, after first load | Yes | Yes | Yes | Often not |
| Keyboard and shortcuts | Full | None | None | None | Partial |
| Sends your counts anywhere | Never | Never | Often, for accounts and ads | Never | Yes, to the cloud |
Other counter types
The same counter, set up and explained for a specific job. Your counters are shared across all of them.
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Open cricket score counter →American football score counter
Touchdowns and the try at each level, with NFL, college and high school overtime rules.
Open american football score counter →Boxing score counter
Three judges' 10-point must cards and the verdict they give, split and majority draws included.
Open boxing score counter →Hockey score counter
Ice hockey goals and shots by period, with each league's overtime, shootout and standings points.
Open hockey score counter →Pool score counter
Straight pool with the breaking foul and three-foul penalties, and 8-ball, 9-ball and 10-ball races.
Open pool score counter →Rugby score counter
Union, sevens and league points, conversions tied to tries, golden point and bonus points.
Open rugby score counter →Soccer score counter
Goals by minute, five subs in three windows, second yellows, extra time and aggregate.
Open soccer score counter →Table tennis score counter
Games to 11 with the server named, doubles order, the swap at 5 and the expedite system.
Open table tennis score counter →Tennis score counter
Love to game with the server's court, every change of ends, tie-breaks and doubles order.
Open tennis score counter →Padel score counter
The 2026 Star Point, golden point or advantage, who serves and receives, and every change of sides.
Open padel score counter →Volleyball score counter
Rally scoring with the six-position rotation, the next server, time-outs, subs and beach mode.
Open volleyball score counter →Americano padel score counter
Rotating partners for 4 to 16 players, matches to a points total, and every player's running total.
Open americano padel score counter →
All 72 counters, by category: Everyday (7) · Sport & scores (44) · Fitness & health (7) · Work & field (5) · Faith (9)
Frequently asked questions
Is a foul ball a strike with two strikes?
No. A foul ball counts as a strike only when the batter has fewer than two strikes, so with two strikes the count stays where it is and the batter can keep fouling pitches off. There are two exceptions: a caught foul tip and a foul bunt are always strikes, so with two strikes either one is strike three.
What happens if the catcher drops the third strike?
The batter may run to first if first base is empty, or if there are two out whatever the bases. With a runner on first and fewer than two out the batter is out anyway. Either way the pitcher is credited with a strikeout. In Little League Minors and Tee Ball every third strike is an out, caught or not.
Does the home team bat in the bottom of the 9th if they are winning?
No. If the home team leads when the top of the last inning ends, the game is over and the bottom half is not played. The line score shows an X in that space instead of a 0, because the home team did not bat. The same applies in the 7th in high school and the 6th in Little League.
What does the X mean on a baseball scoreboard?
An X in the home team’s last inning means that half-inning was not played, because the home team was already ahead after the visitors batted. It is different from a 0, which would mean the home team batted and did not score. The counter writes the X itself when a game ends that way.
Do all runs count on a walk-off?
Not usually. The game ends the moment the winning run scores in the bottom of the last or an extra inning, so runs behind it do not count and a walk-off win is by one run. The exception is a home run out of the park: the batter and every runner on base score, so a walk-off grand slam counts four runs.
What is the mercy rule in Little League?
Little League Rule 4.10(e) ends a game when a team leads by 15 runs after three innings or by 10 after four, and the trailing manager concedes. If the home team is the one ahead, each comes half an inning earlier. Leagues may also use an 8-run rule after five innings in the regular season, but not in tournaments.
How does the count work in baseball?
The count is the balls and strikes on the current batter, said balls first, so 2-1 is two balls and one strike. Four balls is a walk and three strikes is a strikeout. A foul adds a strike only up to two. The count goes back to 0-0 for every new batter, including when a half-inning ends mid at-bat.
How many innings are in a baseball game?
Nine in MLB and most college and adult baseball, seven in US high school and in softball, and six in Little League Majors and below. A game tied after the last inning goes to extra innings until a team leads at the end of an inning, or the home team goes ahead in its half.
Why is there a runner on second in extra innings?
Since 2020, and permanently from 2023, MLB regular-season games start every half of every extra inning with a runner on second base, to settle tied games sooner. The runner is the player who batted just before that half’s leadoff hitter. It does not apply in the MLB postseason. The counter places the runner in MLB mode and has a switch for other leagues.
Is this an official baseball scorebook?
No. It is a score counter for youth games, rec leagues and following a game pitch by pitch. It keeps the count, outs, runners, and runs, hits and errors by inning, in this browser only. It does not call pitches, keep a batting order or player statistics, count pitches for rest days, or replace the official scorer.
Counting guides
Longer answers to the questions behind the counting.
- Baseball
How to keep a baseball scorebook
The 1-9 position numbers, the symbols US and Australian scorers use, a half-inning scored box by box, and the Rule 9 sum that proves the book.
- Baseball
How to keep an official pitch count
Little League requires an official recorder at every game. Almost nobody explains the job.
- Rules
High school pitch count rules by state
NFHS sets no number; each state does. The varsity maximum and rest table for 34 states, each linked to the association's own rule, and the 15 we could not open marked as such.
- Tallying
Tally marks explained
Groups of five, the five-bar gate, and why the convention has survived for centuries.
- Reference
Types of counters explained
Synchronous vs asynchronous, mod-N, ring and Johnson, industrial and PLC counters, plus mechanical and software counters.
- Golf
Stableford points and net scores
Stroke index, strokes received, net score, points — in the order you actually need them.