Defending ITB, no outs, only 1 outfield cannon

Momo'sDad · Mar 9, 2015

Scenario: 14u elimination game. Away team fails to score in the top half of ITB.

Home team has runners at 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Runners have average speed. Defense has only 1 strong arm in the outfield.

Coach pulls infield in, but leaves outfield at a normal distance.

I know the defense is behind the 8-ball, but how many of you would walk the next batter (leadoff) to load the bases and then pull everyone in with no outs?

riseball · Mar 9, 2015

Winning run is 60 feet away so there is no downside to walking the first batter. Put cannon in left or right field, shift fielders and throw the next hitter inside.

quincy · Mar 9, 2015

If the other Team has a batter you want nothing to do with you need to leave first open for her, otherwise I would walk the batter and take my chances. Best case a home to 1st double play.

riseball · Mar 9, 2015

Use to do that with my DD. If I thought she was an easy K we went after it.

CJ D · Mar 9, 2015

If you're bringing infield in with no outs and needing a tag at home, you better walk the batter. You're going to have to defend a squeeze bunt twice against me regardless of who is batting. And with infield in, my runner on third is going to be almost half way down the line when the ball is put in play. That gives you roughly 1.4 seconds to field the bunt, make the toss to home, and make a good tag. I like my chances if you give me a couple shots at it.

Jquick823 · Mar 9, 2015

I would probably move my lesser outfielders to SS and 2nd. Infield in it's a short throw so less arms can make that play. 3B would be my best player that I can put there at this point both mentally and physically. I would load the bases for the force at home. Really the only right answer is the one that works.

CoachAl · Mar 9, 2015

Outfield IN

Momo'sDad said:
Coach pulls infield in, but leaves outfield at a normal distance.

I would probably walk the first batter unless she had done something earlier in the game that would indicate she is a good strikeout candidate.

As far as outfield, we always play them shallow in this situation - or close enough to where they can beat the runner at 3B. This might mean slightly different distances for all 3 based on their arm strength. They understand that ANY deep ball is a game winner anyway with <2 outs so they are not fearing a shot over their heads. They are just in position to have the most success possible in this scenario....which hopefully we don't find ourselves in often but it has happened a few times! Actually won a 1-0 game in this situation last fall (minus the ITB) and I still have the gray hair to show for it!

PA SB Dad · Mar 9, 2015

In the past, I have walked the first batter to load the bases, taking away the bunt, and look for a force at home. I've rethought that approach lately, as I think the kid at the plate is usually pretty anxious to swing away and try to win the game. My thoughts these days are not to just give up the base and leave no room for error for my pitcher, but make the batter look at four shoulder high pitches and see if I can get a strike out or a pop up.

JAD · Mar 9, 2015

If there is a big stick at the plate I would walk her. If you think you have a chance to strike her out or get a weak grounder in the infield, pitch to her, but nothing fat. Put outfielders at a depth where they can reasonably expect to catch a fly ball and make a strong throw to home in time to nail the runner - depth also depend on the speed of the runner at 3rd.

riseball · Mar 9, 2015

Some very good points. But I have to wonder how many teams have a ITB game plan? And of those that do, how many actually practice it and have the ability to execute? Most times teams fly by the seat of their pants.

All too often situations come up in games which are never addressed in practice. I get a kick out of coaches and parents who will tell a hitter who is deep in the count to foul off pitches or expect players to routinely lay out for a ball. Then you find out that the team has never practiced such basic skills. Yet coaches will spend endless time on rundowns, trick plays, etc.

Defending ITB, no outs, only 1 outfield cannon

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