The baseball season is more than half over. For those of us in the home of the Texas Rangers, we thought the season would be over by now. They know how to make a game exciting. As a matter of fact earlier this year the Rangers set a new record by scoring 30 runs in one game. Not every baseball game is exciting

While attending a recent Ranger’s game, Hooters introduced a game they called Hooter’s Wingo. Essentially it is a Bingo game played with plays on the field. Each square on the card has a particular baseball play. If that play happens on the field, you circle the play on the card. The winner gets 5 circled plays in a straight line. For example, if there is a strikeout (K) and there is a K on the card, circle the K. I thought it would be nice to have a SCOUT bingo game.

In order to play the game, you have to know the codes.
Defensive Codes:
1-Pitcher
2-Catcher
3-1st Base
4-2nd Base
5-3rd Base
6-Shortstop
7-Left Field
8-Center Field
9-Right Field
U-Unassisted
F-#- any number player caught a fly ball
BK- Balk

Offensive Codes:
1B- Single
2B- Double
3B- Triple
HR- Solo Home Run
HR2- 2-run Home Run
HR3- 3-run Home Run
HR4- Grand Slam
K- Strikeout Swinging
KL- Strikeout Looking
SAC-B- Sacrifice Bunt
SAC-F- Sacrifice Fly
2B-GR- Ground Rule Double
BB- Walk
IBB- Intentional Walk
SB- Stolen Base
CS- Caught Stealing
HBP- Hit By Pitch
E(Position #)- Error (E6- Error Shortstop)
WP- Wild Pitch
PB- Passed Ball
CI- Catchers Interference

The next step is to create the card. Originally I was going to create a card layout that would allow you to fill in the spaces and make your own card. My sons told me no one would take the time to do that. In order for this to be a meaningful idea, I had to generate different cards that could be used.

My son, Matt, designed the cards well beyond any concept that I would have considered. Here are the steps you need to follow:
1. Go to the Web site- http://www.aqualoc.us/scoutbingo.aspx (there is a link below)
2. Select the number of cards you want to make
3. Select the Format. The Easy format uses the descriptive terminology (Ground out to third). The Hard format uses the scoring terminology (5-3).
4. Select the theme. Scout puts the SCOUT letters across the card. Bingo puts BINGO across the card. This can be used in non-Scouting situations.

He analyzed the different plays and weighted them so you didn’t get 4 errors and 5 double plays on one card. He did a really nice job.

Try this with your kids. It could make baseball fun even if your team isn’t playing well.