Bunt coverage differences

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Sep 11, 2014
229
0
Pa
Just want to see what bunt coverages people use and why. I have been using 5 crashes, 1 covers 1st base side, 2 gets in front of plate, 4 goes to 2nd, 6 goes to 3rd. Of's back up bases in front of them. I noticed though when we moved states, almost all the teams in my new area have corners crash, 4 goes to 1st base and 6 goes to 3rd. CF is supposed to cover /no base on a steal.

Reason I like mine vs other one. To me there are less moving parts, stable target at 1st base, less of a cluster in front of plate and all bases are still covered. When I see a defense using the corners crash d, I fake bunt and move my runner 60 ft with no problem. I have never seen a runner stealing get thrown out with the CF covering on a fake bunt where the corners crash and middle covers corners.

What do you guys think/use?
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
You should vary your coverage IMO. Just recognize that there are pros and cons associated with all of them! Stick to just one coverage and a well-coached team will exploit the weakness.
 

SB45

Dad, Coach, Chauffeur
Sep 2, 2016
150
28
Western NY
I agree on varying coverages. I like the 1B to stay back too because, well she's a better first baseman. But, if you don't charge from first there are an abundance of girls out there good enough to lay it down the first base line...and you'll never get them out even if you cheat the 3B way up. As for the stolen base concern...your SS should be covering like normal...SS covers 2nd if stealing from 1st...SS covers 3rd if stealing from 2nd. If you really, really want to keep your 1B at 1st...cheat your 2B up and have her charge in place of the 1B. As for the base coverage if you charge both corners (assuming a runner on 1st)...the only gap to cover is 3rd base...I prefer 1 or 5 to cover (whoever doesn't field bunt)...some use 7, but then you have no backup. If you want to keep your 1B back and you have a good fielding pitcher...I would charge both corners a couple times early in the game, and then start holding your 1B back...or mixing it up.

Another thing...as for moving your runners with no problem on a fake bunt with corners charging...as they get older and the pitchers get better...you're giving up a strike and giving the pitcher an advantage...and the catchers arms are getting better too! Only a matter of time until that play starts to become...your runner's out and your batter is in a hole...maybe 50% of the time.
 
Last edited:
Nov 16, 2015
184
18
situational in both how your team is built and how the game is going. We have multiple defenses

I am curious how people cover the 1st and 3rd bunt or square for a bunt
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Our 1st is not greatest fielder so I like her staying at first, pitchers problem. She has straight and left of her.

CF has 2nd.
 

obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
I like your method most of the time- especially when our pitcher is one of our best fielders and often we have had a 1B who is not a great fielder.(I have seen this with many teams)
 

SB45

Dad, Coach, Chauffeur
Sep 2, 2016
150
28
Western NY
I am curious how people cover the 1st and 3rd bunt or square for a bunt

This is a good question...and I would like to see input from others as well. Defensively, we typically have a play on for 1st & 3rd that relies on 2B taking a cutoff, 3B covering the bag...leaving just the pitcher to cover an actual bunt...which is pretty weak coverage. Good call for a fake bunt, OK call for an average bunt assuming we can hold the runner at 3rd, can't defend a suicide. ...take the out at first if we can keep the base runner at 3rd from scoring, make a play on the runner at 3rd or hold the runner at 3rd and let them load the bases. Offensively, lots of teams assume a fake bunt on the first pitch...depending on the situation and players involved...I think a suicide squeeze can be a smart, aggressive play.
 
Last edited:
Sep 11, 2014
229
0
Pa
Another thing...as for moving your runners with no problem on a fake bunt with corners charging...as they get older and the pitchers get better...you're giving up a strike and giving the pitcher an advantage...and the catchers arms are getting better too! Only a matter of time until that play starts to become...your runner's out and your batter is in a hole...maybe 50% of the time.

Agreed, my older daughter plays HS ball, she stopped playing travel this past season when she aged out of 14u. I coached her team for rec ball. For rec ball the fake bunt still worked because pitching was slow and catchers weren't as good, so if the runner got a good jump they were fine. In travel, it turned into the batter only fake bunting if we had our fastest runner on the bases. If not it would be a bunt down first base line, with the runner leaving on release. Or, if we played a team that always had the corners crash, we would still fake bunt cause 2nd was wide open, take the strike if the first pitch was one and then work from there. We had a pretty strong batting team, so rolling the dice on a first strike wasn't to bad.

Now, for the new HS team, all I have seen so far is corners crash, mids go to corner bags, 2nd base wide open. We just moved to the school and last season they had a rough year, 4-13. I have watched one winter work out and ask both my girls after practices what the coaches are saying, working on. So far not impressed......they told my youngest that she needs to "Squish the bug" when she swings. Just one example of why I am not impressed though.
 
Sep 11, 2014
229
0
Pa
For runners on 1st and 3rd:

For 12u we have been having 3rd crash, 6 goes to 3rd base, 4 goes to 2nd base but up in front of the bag kinda almost right behind the pitcher. If its a fake, the catcher will throw hard to 4, who catches it and if runner on 3rd base bites, throws back to 2 for tag. If actual bunt, see if runner on third is coming and throw ball to 2, if not throw to 3 who then immediately throws back to 2 if runner left. If runner already scored, 3 gets ready to look at other runner to see if they are going to 3rd base.
 

SB45

Dad, Coach, Chauffeur
Sep 2, 2016
150
28
Western NY
For runners on 1st and 3rd:

For 12u we have been having 3rd crash, 6 goes to 3rd base, 4 goes to 2nd base but up in front of the bag kinda almost right behind the pitcher. If its a fake, the catcher will throw hard to 4, who catches it and if runner on 3rd base bites, throws back to 2 for tag. If actual bunt, see if runner on third is coming and throw ball to 2, if not throw to 3 who then immediately throws back to 2 if runner left. If runner already scored, 3 gets ready to look at other runner to see if they are going to 3rd base.

Couple thoughts...just maybe a different point of view to consider. This seems like you are giving up 2nd base for free on a fake bunt, as there is no one there to cover. We don't like giving up that base for free. I feel like there is a progression here as your team ages...first it is, you fool the runner at 3rd and she breaks for home. (my guess is for you...this is this spring beginning of the summer) Having 4 cut off the throw, you've likely got that covered. The next progression is the runner is frozen or only breaks for home if the throw goes through to second...in which case the play you want is most likely at 3rd base. Is 6 there in time to cover an immediate throw from 4 after the cut? (my guess is...this is where you'll be at the end of next summer) Once you start freezing runners at 3B by having the play well covered, you may be able to let the throw go through to second base and get the runner stealing. (this is what you'll be talking about with your team next off season)
 

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