Stolen Base
SBA runner advancing a base on their own during a pitch, without the help of a hit, walk, error, or defensive indifference.
A stolen base is credited when a runner advances under their own power during a pitch and is not aided by anything else. The runner starts on the pitcher's motion and beats the catcher's throw.
Youth baseball complicates this, because most young divisions restrict when a runner may leave. Many leagues require the runner to wait until the pitch crosses the plate, which removes the lead and makes the steal a contest between the runner and the catcher's arm alone.
Not every advance is a steal. If the catcher makes no throw because the defense has conceded the base in a blowout, the scorer records defensive indifference rather than a stolen base. If the runner advances on a wild pitch or passed ball, that is what gets credited instead.
When is a stolen base credited?
When a runner advances a base under their own power during a pitch, with no hit, walk, error, wild pitch, or passed ball responsible for the advance.
Can you steal a base in Little League?
Yes, but with a restriction in most divisions: the runner may not leave the base until the pitch crosses the plate. Leadoffs are not permitted, which makes stealing much harder than at higher levels.
Let the scorebook keep itself.
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