Slap - D

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coachbob

Banned
Apr 26, 2012
543
0
SoCal
Curious to see how many different slap defenses coaches are using in 14U TB and up? I am trying to figure out all the combinationa that make sense. We are looking at the following as possibilities, as suggested by a local gold coach. Where would you use each, and how call pitches? Thanks! I think I have these right. If you have any additional, please feel free.

1. 1st in, 2nd in, 3rd in, short level baseline.
2. 1st back, 2nd level- shading 2, 3rd in, short level.
3. 1st back, 2nd level, short level - shading 2nd, 3rd in - off the line.
4. 1st in, 2nd level - shading first, short level - shading 2nd, 3rd in.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
If a batter is purely a slapper and cannot hit for power we usually do the following:

1B - behind bag and shading a step or two towards 2B - covers 1B
2B - pulled in, almost even with pitcher, shading 1B
SS - pulled in a step or two in front of base line
3B - Even with bag
RF - shallow
CF - shallow
LF - shallow

We will typically throw a slapper inside - fastballs, riseballs, curveballs from a RHP, and drop curves. A backdoor screwball is also very effective if your pitcher can throw it. Change ups can disrupt the timing of a slapper and if the batter does not stay back she may make contact with the ball outside of the batters box - make sure the umpires are watching for it. If the slapper can hit for power and you hang a pitch over the middle of the plate with this defense you may give up an inside the park homerun unless you have fast outfielders. We will occasionally throw a screwball or fastball way outside to see if they will chase it, but most slappers like to extend their hands and flair the ball over 3B.
 
Feb 12, 2014
244
16
Our coach goes with what he calls a flex defense -

1B - Even with bag
2B - Step in front of pitcher
SS - Step in front of pitcher
3B - Even with bag
 

coachbob

Banned
Apr 26, 2012
543
0
SoCal
If a batter is purely a slapper and cannot hit for power we usually do the following:

1B - behind bag and shading a step or two towards 2B - covers 1B
2B - pulled in, almost even with pitcher, shading 1B
SS - pulled in a step or two in front of base line
3B - Even with bag
RF - shallow
CF - shallow
LF - shallow

We will typically throw a slapper inside - fastballs, riseballs, curveballs from a RHP, and drop curves. A backdoor screwball is also very effective if your pitcher can throw it. Change ups can disrupt the timing of a slapper and if the batter does not stay back she may make contact with the ball outside of the batters box - make sure the umpires are watching for it. If the slapper can hit for power and you hang a pitch over the middle of the plate with this defense you may give up an inside the park homerun unless you have fast outfielders. We will occasionally throw a screwball or fastball way outside to see if they will chase it, but most slappers like to extend their hands and flair the ball over 3B.

Thanks for this. I've had trouble with change ups against the slap for some reason. I think we have to much speed variance with our pitchers. We are working on an off-speed that I think would be good.
 

Ken Krause

Administrator
Admin
May 7, 2008
3,911
113
Mundelein, IL
I usually use a defense we called "Sidekick 6:"

1B up for the drag bunt
2B even with the baseline or even back a bit; covers first
SS playing up even with the P
3B back even with the base and pulled over off the baseline
OF in - especially LF and CF to cover the "up and over"

With the SS up you're trying to cut the angles for the ball to get through (like a hockey goalie coming out of the goal on a rush). SS definitely needs quick reactions.

It was usually pretty successful.
 
Jul 6, 2014
50
0
Ohio
I may be in the minority here, but if you're normal *infield* D is proficient covering the bunt, is there really an advantage not staying with it with the slap?

Does anyone notice D-1 colleges changing up much for slappers? I've seen third pulled in more. In the NPF, way in.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Trick defenses for slappers are all fine and good until the slappers become effective then it becomes an epic fail. If you can get away with it then it makes sense, but at the high levels you will get schooled.
 
Sep 24, 2013
696
0
Midwest
I may be in the minority here, but if you're normal *infield* D is proficient covering the bunt, is there really an advantage not staying with it with the slap?

Does anyone notice D-1 colleges changing up much for slappers? I've seen third pulled in more. In the NPF, way in.

Ive seen defenses at the WCWS use this against good slappers

R to C
L to Foul Line and in
3rd base in
ss over to 3 and in
C into dirt shading 2B
1B behind bag
2B normal

P throws outside to force play to 3/ss/L/C. Dares slapper to power slap over 1b to RF. Never saw a slapper do it but they tried often.

Used it with great success. Seen several schools use it while attending games and WCWS (Im blessed to get to go every year). You don't see these shifts on TV a lot because they focus on the batter pitcher area and not the deep defense/shift. Most the time I only see 3rd base if she comes in on TV and nothing else
 
Nov 8, 2014
182
0
My defense on leftie slappers is pitch location. We know she wants an outside pitch to bounce or drive towards left. So we pull in SS to baseline, 3 is in and off the line, 2 shortens up and 1 is off the line and is expecting drag. We pitch fast and in until we are down in the count, then 3 goes towards line a bit and we go change-up away followed by fast down and away.
 
Jul 6, 2013
371
0
We used to do the short and 2nd in even with pitcher, 3rd and 1st back, outfield at edge of dirt in 12s. It was pretty effective. Don't know if we gave up a base hit in 80 or so games with it to be honest. Once we hit 14s, that went out the window. The girls can hit the ball much better. Lol. I've got a slapper who will try to slap and miss purposefully on the first pitch every time to get the defense to come in like that. Then she just stands in, swings normally, and drives the ball over the outfielders heads usually or in the hole since they are so shallow. Now, we will play 3rd and 1st in a little bit, short and 2nd about with the baseline, outfield in a little bit. Not too much different. One thing I have found is that in 14s it is still tough for many of the slappers to have good discipline on their line. They will drift many times to 1st base. I like to pitch outside a bunch when I see them doing this. And I dearly love throwing change ups to slappers. gives the defense that extra spilt second to see if she's dropping the bat, can throw off her timing, and can make it hard to get a good whack at it. But, like anything else, experience varies, as does skill level of the batter you are facing.
 

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