International Tie Breaker Strategy

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Jul 30, 2013
44
0
10U Championship had both teams in the same situation. Runner gets to third with 1 out. We were home team. Visitors put down a bunt. Our HC tells our fielders to get the out at first. Throw back to home is late and the runner scores. Our turn and I ask the batter to choke up and put the ball in play. She does exactly that. However our 3rd base coach had our runner breaking for home on release. Problem is, she is not a good base runner and she stops running on contact then proceeds to try to make it home. Dead duck. I'm not saying this was a bad strategy since she probably would have scored easily if she continued to run. However, a pop-up might end the game. What are your thoughts on how to handle this situation on either side?
 
Jun 9, 2014
31
0
Problem is, she is not a good base runner and she stops running on contact

You identified a problem. I don't think there is enough coaching of base running in practices. This is a specific play that needs to be practiced as an offense, and also defensively practice receiving the ball and being ready to make another play.

Several factors to practice offensively: getting appropriate lead, identifying the ball off the bat as upward or downward angle, watching third base coach at full speed, rounding a base, and ultimately sliding. Thus is a specific situation that should also have a signal (bunt and run?).

Defensively, young inexperienced players have a tendency to get the out and stop. Practice receiving the ball and immediately look for next play (footwork and awareness).
 
May 18, 2009
1,314
38
Unfortunately the coach doesn't get to pick who his base runner is. The mental portion of the game is a huge factor in base running. Stopping part way down was a mental error. It happens with 10 year olds.
 
Jul 30, 2013
44
0
I would have preferred to hold the runner and load the bases. I'll take my chances with getting a strike out or a force at home. Our first baseman played it well. She caught the ball and fired a strike back to home. However, the runner was well down the third base line and we had no hope of turning that double play.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Coach your girls to really sell a fake throw(as if she's throwing to first, after having checked the lead runner) Really get their whole body into it. More times than not the runner will break towards home (or any base) and then its easy pickens.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
Coach your girls to really sell a fake throw(as if she's throwing to first, after having checked the lead runner) Really get their whole body into it. More times than not the runner will break towards home (or any base) and then its easy pickens.

Our shortstop did this yesterday in what turned out to be the play of the tournament. Runner was on second. I thought it was a risky move, because she was giving the runner first base on a grounder to short, but she sold the fake, chased the runner back to second and dove and tagged her out. You could hear the hush that came over the other team's dugout and stands. They were deflated. That was a quarterfinal game, so loser had no real hope of recovering. We won by a run.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
I would have preferred to hold the runner and load the bases. I'll take my chances with getting a strike out or a force at home. Our first baseman played it well. She caught the ball and fired a strike back to home. However, the runner was well down the third base line and we had no hope of turning that double play.

The thing that coaches too often overlook is the assessment of how easy or hard it is to score a run. If you've played 6 innings and the score is 2-2 and your pitcher is still going strong, then you might be willing to allow runners to reach base and set up the force. But if it's a typical 10U game and the score is 6-6 and teams are averaging 1+ runs per inning, then getting outs is more precious. I'd be much more willing to trade an out for a run.
 
Aug 9, 2013
230
0
If you are on the offense side, that throw must go toward first before taking a chance UNLESS your strategy all year is to go on contact. That runner needs to make sure of it. I do a lot of bunting with runners on third to generate runs and I drill my girls on making sure the ball is released.

My friend who coaches HS uses an on contact strategy and like he says to me -> 4 things have to go right: field ball, throw ball, catch ball and tag.
 

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