QUESTION FOR COACHES

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Member

• Mar 19, 2008

• #1

I have a question for coaches- this is a high school level team. There's a runner on 1st base with no outs. The next batter bunts or drags. 1st,3rd and pitcher charge the bunt. 3rd calls off pitcher, fields the ball and throws to 1st. Here's the question - Who's got 3rd? We've been taught the left fielder to cover 3rd in the past. Should it be the pitcher when called off or left field? Thanks for the input.

 

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• Mar 19, 2008

• #2

When the third baseman fields the bunt, I have the pitcher go cover third with the left fielder backing up the play. Some teams have the left fielder cover. The pro of the left fielder covering is that the pitcher is not risking injury by covering a base. The con is that there is now no backup for a throw to third.

 

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• Mar 19, 2008

• #3

If 3rd takes the bunt, I have my pitcher cover 3rd as well. The last several years I have had a 3rd baseman, that after she make the throw, she busts it back and covers her bag.

 

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• Mar 19, 2008

• #4

leftfielder or better yet the catcher, the pitcher then rotates and covers home.

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #5

Left fielder or catcher.

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #6

pitcher

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #7

Why would you have you pitcher do extra work. If everyone is moving on the hit ball then it would be much easier for your leftfielder to cover third. They are already in motion and there momentum is coming forward. The pitcher has a possible play if the ball comes back to her. If she is has to cover third, a bunt back to the pitcher goes untouched and you have girls at 1st and 2nd with no outs.

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #8

Heat, I think the question is referring to that specific situation when the ball is in that "tweener land" that causes the pitcher and 3rd basemen to go to the ball.

Sometimes the hitter at the plate can dictate the coverage. In NWO the last few seasons, a little girl named Molly Berry could hide very well her intentions until she struck the ball. If the left fielder starts creeping too early she could slap it down the line with authority.

In General, we use the call off system between the 3rd baseman and pitcher, and always the left fielder coming. I have to admit, I like the catcher idea, makes sense, she's going to react to the bunt and as soon as she realizes it's going to be fielded in front of her between the pitcher and 3rd baseman, she can continue to 3rd base.

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #9

Why not have the SS cover 3rd with the left fielder as backup and have the centerfielder cover 2nd?

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #10

If you are trying to get the lead runner at second the center fielder will not be able to get there in time.

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #11

SS always covers 2nd. ?2nd rotates to first and the pitcher is just standing around watching everyone? ?Pitcher to 3rd. ?Right field backs up first, as the throw will be down the line. ?If third base calls it then 1st base backs up home to get in a possible rundown rotation. ?Left field comes in and backs up third, center shifts between ss and 3rd base position for back up, staying in the outfield. ?Everyones moving, covering everyones back. ?And after all this , after all this, ?WE DROP THE BALL on the tag! ?AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! :'( :'( :'(

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #12

I like to keep 1st on 1st, let 2nd cover 2nd and ss cover 3rd. Reason? If you have the 1st base charging this kind of blocks the throwing lane for 3rd or catcher. Also, by keeping my best glove in her position, (as well as most of the time she is taller then my 2nd) I have the best chance of a play being made when most if the time the throw is not the best since whichever player making the play is probably rushing the throw. JMAO :-[

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #13

Have to agree w/ Semper - keeping 1st back makes it easier for catcher/pitcher/3rd to make a play ( no cluster in front of the plate ). Also a hard throw for 1st if she's charging - turning 180 and finding the moving target. Keeping her back avoids all that and like Semper said, you have your best glove catching the throw. JMHO

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #14

puppy said:

I have a question for coaches- this is a high school level team. There's a runner on 1st base with no outs. The next batter bunts or drags. 1st,3rd and pitcher charge the bunt. 3rd calls off pitcher, fields the ball and throws to 1st. Here's the question - Who's got 3rd? We've been taught the left fielder to cover 3rd in the past. Should it be the pitcher when called off or left field? Thanks for the input.

Click to expand...

It depends on the situation. Is the BR on 1st slow or fast?

If she is slow and there is a (better than even) chance of gunning down the lead runner then pitcher/left covers 3rd while SS covers 2nd base.

If the runner is average to fast there isn't much of a chance to get this runner at second (and a good chance she has ideas of getting to third on a bunt), so I'll have SS cover third, bring in in CF to cover second, and have the pitcher move into position to back up the play at second (if there is one).

If the pitcher is an excellent fielder I prefer to have 3rd and Pitcher cover bunts.

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #15

If we see the defense ( first not covering the bunt, or the pitcher lacks speed) We drag it down the line and she will always be safe. That is why I like left handed batters wth speed. . By the time they try to throw her out at first, the girl now has turned at second and if she has any kind of speed, she is on the way to third. Tough making a throw from first to third if the girl can turn second and get her out. Since we are talking high school, we find many pitchers lack speed . JoeA and Shayne have the copy that Wright State passed out called the Crash Defense: Here is how we play it.
1. 1st and 3're start out at 30 feet no exceptions: You charge at the bunt.
2. Pitcher acts as a safety: She only covers if the bunt gets past third or first.
3. Short stop shade to 2nd and 2nd shades to first.
4. Catcher covers third only if the third baseman fields the ball. Pitcher Now backs up third, or if she can get there before the catcher she covers third.
5. Each outfielder backs up each base, as a safety net.
Now if the batter is a slapper things change.
1. First starts at 45 feet. but doesn't cover the bunt, she is a decoy and stays home.
2. Pitcher must cover any bunts down the first base side.
3. Second covers second
4. SS Covers third.
Reason a slappers has three options> You try to take away the easiest one to cover and that is the bunt.

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #16

cshilt said:

[quote author=puppy link=1205979887/0#0 date=1205979887]I have a question for coaches- this is a high school level team. ?There's a runner on 1st base with no outs. ?The next batter bunts or drags. ?1st,3rd and pitcher charge the bunt. ?3rd calls off pitcher, fields the ball and throws to 1st. ?Here's the question - Who's got 3rd? ?We've been taught the left fielder to cover 3rd in the past. ?Should it be the pitcher when called off or left field? ?Thanks for the input.

Click to expand...

It depends on the situation. Is the BR on 1st slow or fast?

If she is slow and there is a (better than even) chance of gunning down the lead runner then pitcher/left covers 3rd while SS covers 2nd base.

If the runner is average to fast there isn't much of a chance to get this runner at second (and a good chance she has ideas of getting to third on a bunt), so I'll have SS cover third, bring in in CF to cover second, and have the pitcher move into position to back up the play at second (if there is one).

If the pitcher is an excellent fielder I prefer to have 3rd and Pitcher cover bunts.[/quote]
how fast is your pitcher ? pitcher back up the play at second ?

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #17

PC SOFTBALL said:

how fast is your pitcher ? pitcher back up the play at second ?

Click to expand...

We're conceding second to the lead runner in this case, the pitcher moves to back up second (CF) in the event of rundown. We're more concerned with keeping that lead runner off of third.

 

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• Mar 20, 2008

• #18

I have the pitcher cover 3rd, but the best way to handle the situation is try for 2 outs on the play.

After throwing out the runner at first - first should immediately fire the ball to ss who is covering 2nd. Many times the runner will round second and if the ball is thrown behind the runner - ss can tag the runner for the 2nd out. Great way to take the other team out of a possible big inning.