Objective of the Game

Dene Baseball was similar to the English game of Rounders. It was played by two teams consisting of two players each, a batting and a fielding team. When a player on the batting team managed to bat one of the pitches into the playing field, he and his partner would try to score as many runs between the two bases as possible, before being tagged or thrown out. The runners carried their bats when running between the bases. When they met they had to touch bats. If they forgot to do so, the run would be disallowed.

Equipment

1. For the bases, two bags made from moose or caribou skin, about 30 x 30 cm in size, filled with moose or caribou hair, or with moss. A fat piece of wood can also be used.
2. One bat per player, usually made from spruce, shaped somewhat like a mod­ern baseball bat, but being flat rather than round. It is about 90 cm to 1 m long.
3. A ball made from moose or caribou skin and stuffed with moose or caribou hair, or with moss. The diameter is about 6 cm.

Playing Area

• An open, fairly flat space.
• The playing field does not have a set, standard size. It extends as far as the players are able to bat the ball.

Teams and Players

• This is a team game played by teams of two players each. Men and women play together; children form their own teams.

How to Play

Preparation

• The two mats or pieces of wood used as the bases are set up about 15 m apart.

Starting Position

• The players on the batting team ('Team A') take up their positions in front of the two base mats. The pitcher on 'Team B' takes up his position halfway between the two bases. His partner acts as the catcher and takes up his posi­tion behind one of the bases.

Movement

• Using an underhand throw, the pitcher pitches the ball to the batter. The game is played without strike-outs, and there is no clearly defined strike zone. The pitcher con­tinues throwing the ball until the batter hits it.
• When the batter hits the ball, he starts towards the oppo­site base. His partner takes off at the same time.
• While the pitcher and his partner attempt to retrieve the ball from the outfield, the players on the batting team run back and forth, scoring runs. When they see that the other team have retrieved the ball from the outfield, they stop at the bases in order to avoid being tagged.
• When the partners on the pitching team have retrieved the ball, they attempt to get one of the players of the batting team out by either tagging him with the ball, or by throwing the ball and hitting the player with it. They may not block the runners as they move between bases.

Duration of Round

• The batter continues to bat until he or his partner is tagged or thrown out.
• Then it is his partner's turn. When both players have been tagged, the teams switch sides. Now, 'Team A' pitches and 'Team B' is at bat. When both play­ers on 'Team B' have been tagged, the round is over.

Duration and End of Game

There is no set number of rounds (or 'innings'). The teams agree before the beginning of the competition on the number of rounds per game.

The runners have to touch bats when they meet halfway down the baseline. If the bats do not touch, no run can be scored.

Safety Considerations

A designated area should be established for non-active players at a safe distance behind the batter.