I hate the continuation play and wish they would do away with it at 10U. It's so easy to steal 2nd at 10U anyway.
The continuation play means on a walk the batter can run around 1st and keep going to 2nd. It's usually done when you have a runner on 3rd -- have the batter run to 1st and keep going to 2nd. If catcher throws to 2nd, the runner on 3rd comes home; if the catcher holds the ball, the runner gets to 2nd. Since very few 10U catchers can throw out a runner at 2nd, the typical defense is to hold the ball or throw it back to the pitcher. The pitcher then ignores the batter and looks back the runner to 3rd.
What do you think about defending it by having the catcher after ball four immediately throw the ball to first base (before the batter gets there). In continuation the batter can't stop running. But now if she rounds the bag the 1st baseman tags her out. Meanwhile the 1st baseman is facing the runner on 3rd. If she bolts for home the 1st baseman throws home.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Thoughts?
The continuation play means on a walk the batter can run around 1st and keep going to 2nd. It's usually done when you have a runner on 3rd -- have the batter run to 1st and keep going to 2nd. If catcher throws to 2nd, the runner on 3rd comes home; if the catcher holds the ball, the runner gets to 2nd. Since very few 10U catchers can throw out a runner at 2nd, the typical defense is to hold the ball or throw it back to the pitcher. The pitcher then ignores the batter and looks back the runner to 3rd.
What do you think about defending it by having the catcher after ball four immediately throw the ball to first base (before the batter gets there). In continuation the batter can't stop running. But now if she rounds the bag the 1st baseman tags her out. Meanwhile the 1st baseman is facing the runner on 3rd. If she bolts for home the 1st baseman throws home.
Advantages:
- Your 1st baseman should be your best ball catcher, and C to 1B is a much shorter and easier throw than C to 2B.
- Much easier to tag out a girl rounding first than to catch a throw and drop a tag on a sliding runner at second.
- Your 1st baseman is looking right at the runner on 3rd and the batter heading to 1st, unlike the pitcher who has to either watch the batter to see if she makes the turn, or the runner on 3rd, but can't watch both.
Disadvantages:
- Runner might take off for home as soon as catcher throws to first; 1B needs to be ready to throw back home immediately.
- If ball four is a wild pitch/passed ball, by the time the catcher gets it and throws to 1st, the batter may already be rounding 1st; need to coach catcher not to throw to first in that situation.
- If the catcher makes a bad throw to first, now you've given up a run and allowed the batter to reach second. The safer play is still to concede second and look the runner back to second.
Thoughts?
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