Pick-off Options at 3B

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Jul 29, 2016
231
43
My daughter is a catcher. She never ever ever ever takes off her mask.

What I'd like her to do in this situation is to cleanly field a low pitch, but pop out of her stance and throw her helmet off (a signal to the rest of the team that its a fake), looking around frantically circling the plate left and right for the ball.

And when the runner, assuming the ball is loose, comes in, tag her out.

I think with a little practice, this is a fake that could be used once or twice per season.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
This type of stuff is most prevalent at 10/12U. A quick throw back to the pitcher is the best move most of the time, but for a pick-off attempt, throw to 3B shadowing the runner up the line. It's the least risky in terms of the throw and catch, you have a chance of back-up with the SS coming over to cover, and have the best chance to get a tag on the runner. I had Rec teams able to execute this after some specific practice and I used a prearranged word signalling a snap throw to 3B.
 
Jun 26, 2019
256
43
My daughter is a catcher. She never ever ever ever takes off her mask.

What I'd like her to do in this situation is to cleanly field a low pitch, but pop out of her stance and throw her helmet off (a signal to the rest of the team that its a fake), looking around frantically circling the plate left and right for the ball.

And when the runner, assuming the ball is loose, comes in, tag her out.

I think with a little practice, this is a fake that could be used once or twice per season.
This is much like what I was thinking of. It would probably only work once but you might as well try it
 

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,468
Members
21,443
Latest member
sstop28
Top