We played softball/work-up most of the fall and spring. Hard-balls (baseballs) were banned.
Work-up is where 3 players are ‘up’ As one gets put out the catcher becomes ‘up’ and the player who got out moves to right field. As the outs go on he moves to center, then left, then 3rd, then Short, the 2nd, then 1st, then pitcher, then catcher then he’s up again.
You needed to remember what position you had for the next recess for play to resume.
Either that or we played pop up. One or two kids would have the bats and hit flies to the other players. Catching a pop fly you took the batter’s spot. Otherwise a grounder was worth 25 cents and a one bouncer was worth 50 cents. When you got $1.00 you took over as a batter for the guy who hit you the winning play.
Softball/workip sounds like great fun while using a lot of energy. No standing around.