ball vs softball

ball and softball both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
ball	Yes	No	Yes	No
softball	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, softball is a hyponym of ball; that is, softball is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than ball:

ball: a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs
softball: a game closely resembling baseball that is played on a smaller diamond and with a ball that is larger

As nouns, softball is a hyponym of ball; that is, softball is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than ball:

ball (noun)	softball (noun)
a pitch that is not in the strike zone	a game closely resembling baseball that is played on a smaller diamond and with a ball that is larger
a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs	ball used in playing softball
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
a spherical object used as a plaything
a solid projectile that is shot by a musket
a more or less rounded anatomical body or mass
one of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens
a lavish dance requiring formal attire
a compact mass
an object with a spherical shape

ball (verb)	softball (verb)
form into a ball by winding or rolling
to live very well