View source for Infield

{{Short description|Section of the playing field in various sports}}
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2014}}
[[File:Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California (14331204090).jpg|thumb|Infield at [[Dodger Stadium]]]]
'''Infield''' is a sports term whose definition depends on the sport in whose context it is used.

== Baseball ==
In [[baseball]], the [[baseball field|diamond]], as well as the area immediately beyond it, has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered, ''outfield''. The "diamond" can also refer to the defensive unit of players that are positioned in the region: [[first baseman]], [[second baseman]], [[shortstop]], [[third baseman]]. Sometimes it includes the [[catcher]] and [[pitcher]] who (as a tandem) are often referred to separately as the [[Battery (baseball)|battery]].{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

In baseball the physical infield is where most of the action in a baseball game occurs, as it includes that area where the all-important duel between the [[pitcher]] and [[batting (baseball)|batter]] takes place.<ref name="Mahony">{{cite web |title = Baseball Explained |first = Phillip  |last = Mahony  |publisher =  McFarland Books  |year  = 2014  |url=http://www.baseballexplained.com/  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813034018/http://www.baseballexplained.com/ |archive-date=13 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The pitcher stands on the [[pitcher's mound]] (a raised mound of dirt located at the center of the infield) and from there he pitches the ball to his [[catcher]], who is crouched behind home plate sixty feet, six inches away at what might be called the cutlet of the diamond-shaped baseball field. To the left and right of the catcher are chalk boxes in the dirt called [[Baseball field#Playing areas near home plate|batter's boxes]]. The opposing team's batter must stand in one of the two boxes and from there he will attempt to hit the pitched ball with his bat. The [[umpire]], who officiates the game, stands behind the catcher. The other important parts of the infield are the three [[base (baseball)|bases]], [[first base]] (to the pitcher's left, looking toward home plate), [[second base]] (behind the pitcher) and [[third base]] (to the pitcher's right). Together, home plate and the three bases form a diamond around the pitcher, with each side of the diamond measuring {{convert|90 |feet}}.<ref name="Mahony"/>

== Cricket ==
{{Main|Infield (cricket)}}
In [[cricket]] infield is a central oval on the [[cricket field]], the reference point for fielding restrictions in short forms of the game; in contrast to the more distant ''outfield''.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

==Tracks==
Infield can refer to a region inside a closed [[race track]] used for [[horse racing]] or [[auto racing]], or to an area encircled by the track of a [[roller coaster]].{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Baseball}}

[[Category:Baseball fields]]
[[Category:Terminology used in multiple sports]]