I have both the pitcher and 3B crashing in this situation. Whichever doesn't field the ball goes straight to third. If neither fields the ball, it is the 3B's responsibility to get back to her bag.
Do you have pitcher cover?
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ALL and I mean every single one of them!
If the ball is in play, every single player had better be moving. Either outfielders crashing towards the infield to cover a bag or back up a play or infielders lining up to throws.
The strategy is as different as a snowflake based on that coaches preferences. However, let's be realistic as to the OP. The distance is too great for pitchers to cover bags. My pitchers are in charge of cutting off outfield throws to home when the run is inevitable, in an attempt to get a trail runner.
As to your specific question, for me, I prefer for my CF to cover 2 and SS gets 3. RF and LF are crashing in to the dugout areas to be available for a poss overthrow. My pitcher is roaming between the mound and home to cut a relay if nesc.
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Many different ways of doing it... we actually have two depending on personnel because our #1 and #2 pitchers play infield when not pitching (and they don't play the same position so it isn't a straight swap) and it effects what we do..
Pitcher A: - C, 1st, 3rd and P crash. 2B covers 1st, SS covers 2nd, LF covers 3rd, CF moves left to backup any throw to 2nd, RF covers the line for overthrow on the put out on 1B
Pitcher B: - C, P, 3rd crash, 1B stays back, 2B covers 2B, SS covers 3rd, LF moves left to backup secondary throws, CF generally doesn't move much, RF covers the line for overthrow on the put out on 1B
Pitcher B is much more athletic than Pitcher A and she can cover bunts better than 1st coming in when she pitches. Not so much with Pitcher A - we need the 1B to crash. Also the normal catcher for pitcher B is quicker to the ball which helps, but the 2B is not as reliable.
Lots of moving parts, but actually simple in execution.
As long as every girl knows her little part of it. That is why, when you get older, there are fewer true utility players: not every girl can learn all the nuances of every position.
We keep 1st at 1st. Second covers second ss covers third. Pitcher and third plus catcher cover the bunt. If you have a good fielding pitcher this works great
How well does that work with a LHP?
I am going to answer this because in my Pitcher B situation this is also how we do it....
Answer: We don't have a LHP. If we did, we may cover bunts when she is pitching differently, just as we do for Pitcher A & B that we have now. Whatever works best for the players you have available in the positions they are in.
Great if she is my dd��who is the lh pitcher on this team
I think it depends on your options at the corners. Sometimes the 1B is well, the least athletic player player on the team, range wise. Sometimes they are one of the most athletic. The lesser, I'd have stay on the bag and take my chances.
As far as the LHP, my DD was one ( was sure is hard to say ), I'd rather the corners handle the bunt unless it's right up her alley. That half a second that a LHP needs to spin around can cost you an out against teams with speed. It's so much more natural for a RH to pick and fire.
In fastpitch 2nd base would cover the first base bag should 1B have to go in the hole to field a ball, since 2B should already be moving to her left towards first anyway. With 60 foot bases the pitcher does not have the time to get to first to cover.
