Sacrificing

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Aug 10, 2016
686
63
Georgia
So DD usually bats second. Our first batter is pretty good and usually can get on (obviously why she's first batter). DD is great at bunting so she tends to sac bunt a LOT. Sometimes she'll get her bunt down on the first pitch so she only moves the runner to second. She has gotten RBIs if the runner is able to steal 2nd and they are fast enough to make it home. Her MS HC had her further down in the lineup for the first couple of games, but once she saw that DD could do that, she moved her to second also.

She's never tried out for a travel team - but do coaches look at stuff like that as well? She's still small and her good hits can usually make it to the outfield but I would not say she's a real power hitter. She's taking lessons to get better but hasn't really gotten a chance to really hit in games.
 
May 23, 2015
999
63
I've never been a fan of sacrifice bunting. I've seen a lot go wrong from killing the lead runner, missing two bunts and now you're in a hole with two strikes, to a pop up, to a double play. Personally I believe and out isn't an even swap for advancing a runner one base when stealing has a higher rate of success. MAYBE if you're trying to manufacture a single run late with a weaker batter at the play, or in the last inning with a runner on 2nd and no outs.
 
Feb 4, 2015
641
28
Massachusetts
A coach who 'always' bunts her is doing a disservice to her growth as a player. She needs to get her cuts in. Just because she is small doesn't mean she can't be a good singles contact hitter.
She needs to develop all aspects of her game.

For travel, coaches look at a lot of things in addition to skills, like attitude and willingness to learn. If the has those qualities, she'll have no problem finding a team.

There's a travel team for everyone and the important thing is to find a team that will help her grow as a player. That usually means finding a good coach (avoid daddy ball if you can), a team that plays slightly above her level, and a good group of girls that she likes and who are supportive of each other.

final thought... If she's small, fast and already a good bunter, consider switching her to the lefty (if she's not already) and teach her to slap and hit from that side.
 
Aug 10, 2016
686
63
Georgia
Her hitting coach did test her hitting left but her swing is all weird. She has good power hitting with her left, but it would take some work.

He doesn't always make her bunt, it just happens that she comes up in a good sac situation. She can actually get a good enough bunt to make it into a single since she's fast enough to beat the throw. Her rec team is large - we have 13 players - and they all bat - so she sometimes only gets 2 at bats - maybe 3 if we are hitting well so she doesn't always have that many opportunities to hit away.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
MS coach had DD sacrifice bunt a fair amount.

She got good at it and seamed to still get her fair share of full swings in.

Especially if she is batting 2nd, she is probably getting 1 more at bat then most your Team.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
... it just happens that she comes up in a good sac situation.

Why is this a good bunting situation?

You say that the leadoff batter ''usually'' gets on base. How often does your DD get on base when not bunting? Are the chances so low that it makes sense to make an out on purpose just to get this really good leadoff player to second base? Does your DD reach base frequently on these bunts?

In middle school ball, which are generally fairly high scoring, I can't see where this is a good strategy unless your DD draws a fair amount of errors with her bunts and isn't a very good hitter otherwise.
 
Last edited:
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
If lead-off hitter got on and DD sacrificed they were trying to get runner to 3rd with 1 out.

Not saying it is right or wrong but that was thier plan.
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
There are good times to sacrifice. Against some teams if you can get up in the first inning or if you get 1st and 2nd down a run with 3 and 4 coming up,etc. At lower ages and especially at lower levels it's not even always a sacrifice to bunt as the teams aren't great at fielding. I don't like to sac much but it's nice that when you need it they can do it. As for having a kid who can only do that, it's not going to lead to a very long career.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
We've got a player who's very good at bunting but not very fast, so usually it's an out for her and the runners advance. But the coach doesn't call it ALL the time. She should get to swing away sometimes too. Size and power don't always go together. I've said this before but on our team last year the most consistent hitter was one of the smallest girls. I loved watching them bring in the outfielders - she was leadoff, and they figured she'd not have much power but be really fast (which she was). So she'd come up and knock it over the outfielders' heads and get a double or triple because they weren't ready for her.
 
Jul 26, 2016
32
0
Bunting is a skill every player should have down pat. Be it a power hitter, whatever
Its a very effective tool when used correctly
 

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