ELJ: My apologies. The point is that if they don't do it in the Olympics or the CWS, there must be a way to defend it.
The trick in softball is not beating the sh*tty teams. The trick is beating the good teams. Teams that can't defend that play are sh*tty--they have a weak catcher and a weak SS. If they are that bad, you should simply have the next batter bunt, because the catcher will no doubt throw the ball into right field.
To beat the good teams, you have to win the 1-0 games. To win the 1-0 games, every base runner is valuable, especially one that makes it to third with less than two outs.
12U girls have a real problem executing because their arms and brains aren't consistent. 14Us in the midwest (not California) have trouble. 16U girls on any marginally successful team will nail the runner at 3B
I believe you are from Iowa. Iowa has the high schools play in the summer, so you don't see really good ASA teams. The California ASA teams are truly a joy to watch. Their fielding is at a whole different level than the rest of the country's.
|