I can try.

It's a matter of perspective. As the pitcher or the bowler, throwing or bowling a "strike" is a good thing because it helps advance your position in the game (further followup usually being necessary).

If you change your perspective to be the batter, then... not so much. And to the perspective of the pins? An exercise for the reader.

hey thats a damn fine answer!

hey thats a damn fine answer!

Sure, but not from a 9yr old's perspective. Especially when he says "If when you hit the ball it is called striking the ball but when you miss it, it's called a strike." I think he was more focusing on the use of the word strike. Makes sense with bowling since a strike is when you hit the pins. In baseball a strike is when you miss.

Admit it, I have a clever boy.

You have a clever boy. I would submit though, that in baseball, a strike is when the pitcher outperfoms the batter. The pitcher did everything right, he got a ball in the strike zone AND past the batter cleanly. There are various degrees of "striking" the ball that can result in different outcomes. And who am I to say that the "strike" call doesn't refer to the ball hitting the catcher's mitt? Kris (not a baseball fan)

Insightful nakor!

Admit it, I have a clever boy.

How about asking him to come up with the reason?  That might be as insightful as Nakor's explanation.