Dartball is a game in which darts are thrown at a large wooden or Homasote board that resembles a baseball field with colored areas which denote bases. Dartball uses baseball-like rules and scoring. Dartball rules and board configurations vary from league to league, but generally teams comprise either seven or nine players plus possible alternates. Dartball teams are usually formed by churches, often playing their games during fall and winter months in church basements or common areas. Most leagues end their seasons with championship tournaments held at local high school gymnasiums. Dartball games can be very competitive; just as in baseball, the opposing team and its supporters may attempt to distract the "batter." In each match played there are three individual nine-inning games, with the exception of tie games in which extra inning games will be played. In some leagues, in order for a team to record a win, they must win at least two out of the three individual games. In other leagues, each win or loss in an evening's match is counted in the team's season standings. History The first Dartball board was introduced by the Apex company in 1923. The game travelled quickly with Dartball Leagues established as early as 1928 (Mon Yough Church Dartball League). It is reported by the president of Apex that "the sport of Dartball was spread around the country by Johnny Appleseed types, such as Lutheran ministers who would bring their dartboards and their bibles as they moved from one congregation to the next." On March 31, 1941 Life magazine ran a story on Dartball citing Philadelphia, Kansas City and Milwaukee as strongholds of the sport. Darts and dartboards The darts used for dartball are different from the typical pub game darts, and are made of wood with real feathers and metal tips. Most church leagues use Apex #2 tournament darts. Most boards consist of a four-base diamond: first, second, third, and home plate. Additional areas are marked as strike, out, ball, error, sacrifice, double play, triple play and hit-by-pitch. The home run tends to be in the very center of the board. The diamond is surrounded by a six-inch foul line border. The entire playing field is 42 inches squared including foul territory. Some boards are more complex and consist of out, single, ball, strike, double play, triple play, stolen base, runner off first, runner off base, sacrifice, balk, home run,