12u --- Fake Throw Down To Shortstop --- Like Or Not

JAD said:

We have F4 break in front of the throw from C to SS covering 2B. F4 has four options based on what the runner at 3B does:
1) let the throw go through to SS trying to get the out at 2nd.
2) cut the throw and snap throw to F5 covering 3B behind the lead runner.
3) cut the throw and throw home if lead runner breaks.
4) cut the throw and hold the ball.

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What if the batter bunts or shows bunt? How does that change everyone's assignments?

CoachHarley said:

I have done it in 12u a few times. We had the throw go to F4 though like JAD said. Our F4 would move up to near the pitcher, catch the ball and immediately throw home when the runner on 3 breaks. We didn't do the other stuff that JAD listed, but I like those options for the older girls. May have to work that into JH practice!

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For the record, we did not start running all the plays I listed until 16U and having an F4 with a high softball IQ helps.

JAD said:

We have F4 break in front of the throw from C to SS covering 2B. F4 has four options based on what the runner at 3B does:
1) let the throw go through to SS trying to get the out at 2nd.
2) cut the throw and snap throw to F5 covering 3B behind the lead runner.
3) cut the throw and throw home if lead runner breaks.
4) cut the throw and hold the ball.

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This is typically what I see happen in college. Although F6 may have the better arm/glove with the angle that F4 has coming across they are in a better position to get the runner at 3.

GunnerShotgun said:

What if the batter bunts or shows bunt? How does that change everyone's assignments?

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Most teams are going to call a fake bunt in this situation, F1 and F2 are responsible for fielding all bunts. Not the ideal bunt defense, but most teams are not going to risk the batter popping up into an easy double play. This defensive assignment scenario demonstrates the importance of F1 being able to field her position. This is also a good time for a pitchout, a riseball, or a high fastball. It helps your catcher get the throw off quickly and is a difficult pitch to get down if the batter does try to bunt.

My 12u team will practice this, however I'm hesitant to call it in games due to their lack of consistent execution in practice... as said above, there are a lot of variables, and I'd rather give up one base than giving up 2 runs on a botched throw!

coach james said:

My 12u team will practice this, however I'm hesitant to call it in games due to their lack of consistent execution in practice... as said above, there are a lot of variables, and I'd rather give up one base than giving up 3 runs on a botched throw!

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If you can get your 12U team to pull that off it would be something to see. To you point it is often best to limit the damage to runners on 2nd and 3rd.

Fake throw to 2b can be effective addition to the potential list of options IF the fake is convincing. IMO/IME, a softball is too large and females' hands are too small to make a convincing fake without a high risk of losing control of the ball UNLESS the fake is made without the ball in hand (i.e., the ball should stay in the glove). NECC/Catching Camp is a proponent of this method for both SB and BB.

We have multiple plays... and less risky than the throw to SS and throw back

This is our favorite as it is totally low risk (note the ball is not even in the catcher's throwing hand on the fake)




We also have the play where F4 charges forward on the steal ... this makes the throw from catcher shorter so easier to get the ball back to home. Basically our second base is catching the ball level with the pitcher. We have a bunch of outs on that. Note: SS moves to covers the steal even though their is no throw coming - some runners take the queue to go home on SS moving to cover as they think the fake throw will now either not happen or it will have to be longer.

We also like to snap throw down to 3rd. That also gets some outs.

Greenmonsters said:

Fake throw to 2b can be effective addition to the potential list of options IF the fake is convincing. IMO/IME, a softball is too large and females' hands are too small to make a convincing fake without a high risk of losing control of the ball UNLESS the fake is made without the ball in hand (i.e., the ball should stay in the glove). NECC/Catching Camp is a proponent of this method for both SB and BB.

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^^^This

We have a very good high school catcher...will play lower level college. We sometimes run the fake throw play in 1st & 3rd stuations. She had trouble faking the throw with the ball in hand (dropped ball, slow fake, etc.) Faking the throw with the ball in her mitt has yielded mamy more outs.