The sport is ultra-competitive, yet for decades, softball players have brought a light-hearted nature to dugouts and the vibe of the games, complete with cheers, chants, dances and props.

Listening purely to the music, however, it’s easy to see why ‘Royals’ was Lorde’s breakout hit. The sparse beat, the crescendos and soaring of the chorus, the bemusement at watching plutocrat ...