Runner at 3B and batter walks...

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Jan 7, 2014
972
0
Western New York
...what do you teach (the coach) or your DD's team do? I'm looking for both offensive and defensive responses.

Does the batter who walks go straight to 2nd? Do you have planned plays to defend this sitch?

I would even ask that you designate 10U\12U\14U\16U.

Older DD (not my team) worked on some things tonight with this scenario that I'm struggling with - for any number of reasons.

I realize I am being somewhat cryptic here - however I am trying to keep my bias (and what my 12U team does) out of this...I'm open minded...I want to see what you folks are doing...

TIA

CP
 
Mar 20, 2014
918
28
Northwest
My DD is a 16U catcher. One of her favorite things to do is to throw out a runner stealing to second base when third base is occupied. A lot of base runners think that it is a "gimme" base and sometimes jog to second. She will look back the third base runner (they sometimes don't take much of a lead since they don't thing the throw to 2nd will happen) and she will throw down to 2nd. You have to have a catcher with a great arm and it has to be practiced. Her team also practices a play where the catcher throws a quick snap back to the pitcher who will immediately turn and gun to second. The key is to catch them by surprise so that the runner on third doesn't go. Number of outs and score of course play a big part as well.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Lower level Team

We will concede the run if they want to run into an out at 2nd. Just quickly get the ball back to the pitcher and get the out at 2nd. On a bunt 2nd has base.

Offensively we stay on 1st unless there is no one on 2nd and there is any sort of a foot race to the base.
 
Apr 17, 2012
806
18
Wi
We teach our second basemen to walk up in the base line and cheat toward first. Catcher throws ball back to pitcher. Pitcher with arms at her side watches the batter/runner. Because of the lookback rule the runner at 3 rd has to retreat to the base. If the batter turns and runs to second the pitcher throws to second baseman standing in the baseline tags the runner and then throws immediately home. We are 12u but did the same at 10u
 
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
Wait. The runner at 3rd does not have to return (or go) until the runner gets to 1st base.

Many just ignore the batter/runner because she is going to 2nd base on the next pitch, anyway.

I think throwing to first base, works though.
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
Amy is spot on, the runner at third does not have to retreat until the batter/runner reaches first base. A walk is the same as a hit ball from that perspective.
 
Apr 17, 2012
806
18
Wi
Good to know. Regardless once the ball gets to the P the runner had better be moving back toward third or they may get picked off at third. The play has still been effective at least at the 10-12 level for us. We have gotten a couple double plays on this.
 
May 4, 2014
200
28
So Cal
10U and 12u.. On offense teach girls to keep going to second and for runner on third to be ready to go home on throw to anywhere but pitcher. We will hold runner at first if there are 2 outs and catcher is capable.
On defense we may back pick 3rd base and then throw back to pitcher but we usually let the runner get the base... Will only go for it with 2 outs... Odds of getting double play much lower than allowing run in
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
starting at 12u we started to do what Inde says, only our second base would be only about 10-15 feet away from first base. Once the turn happens the pitcher throws to second base, she tags and throws directly home. If there is any hesitation on if she can get the runner rounding the bag she throws home. How many times this worked where we got at least the one out at home. And the number of double plays was surprising.

At 14u we got less outs, but very few tried to go past 1st and we kept the runner at 3rd. At 16u it never happened, and less girls tried to steal second as it is not a free base at that point.
 
Jan 22, 2014
17
0
Sweeny, Tx
If the game is not close I will throw down to 2nd to get the out and try and quick throw back to home. If the runner stays on first she will typically try and steal 2nd on the next pitch. I will call a pitchout and as Soon as pitcher releases ball I have my SS crash behind the mound and my catcher will quick throw to the SS who then fires it back home to get the out at the plate. This has worked for me a cuple of times. If the game is tight I typically wont throw down at all, let her have 2nd and just play the odds.
 

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