Continuation play

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Jun 28, 2016
34
6
NJ
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:
  • 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?
 
Last edited:
Jun 29, 2013
589
18
I like the idea, I thought of doing something similar (and hate the continuation rule as well). My philosophy early in a game is to make sure to get the out at 2 even if it means giving up a run. I look at it is trying to avoid a big inning, if the runner is on third and your pitcher is struggling, concede the run early in a game and get the out.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
If you have an aggressive pitcher a lot of the time they can just keep their eye on both. Catcher throws back to pitcher immediately and the pitcher is in the circle with an eye on both runners. That's what we do and they rarely advance (10U). They usually try it on the next pitch. Depending on the situation we may have the catcher fire it to SS and try to get the runner on 3 picked off.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
The continuation play pretty much ceases at really good 12u and 14u. The girls learn how to defend it and attempting it just results in 2 outs.

This has been covered several times in the past, you need to use the lookback rule to your advantage in this situation if you want to stop it. The catcher holding the ball, or throwing to 1st never activates the lookback rule and if the other coach is smart throwing to first wont stop the runner anyway. I would just have my runner go straight through the base toward right field and then make a left hand turn toward 2nd. Even on a walk the batter/runner is entitled to run straight through 1st without liability to be put out.

Getting the ball back to the pitcher in the circle will activate the lookback rule when the batter/runner reaches 1st base. This forces the runner at 3rd to either immediately advance home or return to third. Also, the pitcher is the closest to all the bases and only has about a 40' throw to make while the catcher would have 60-80' throw depending on which base they are throwing to. Have F4 or F6 cover 2nd and pitcher receive ball and move toward back of circle making no attempt to play on anyone, this activates the lookback rule as soon as the batter/runner touches 1st. Runner at 3rd must move one way or the other. If they move to home the pitcher can play on them at the plate, if they move back toward 3rd the pitcher can now throw to 2nd for the play on advancing batter/runner and then if the runner at 3rd attempts to advance they have the full 60' to run instead of still being off the base. As I said, this play pretty much ceases at higher levels of play because it will end up with 2 outs.
 

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