Crowding the plate

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Mar 20, 2015
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We are playing 12U A/B. I'm noticing that many good batters we are facing esp power hitters are crowing the plate. Our pitchers have good control so I refused to call an outside fastball and give them what they want. So I'm calling inside pitches top and bottom of zone and inside and outside change ups. Also trying to get them to chase outside off the plate or high fastball. Not calling inside off the plate in fear of hitting them and giving up first base.

This strategy seems to work at first, but it limits the pitch call variation so second time around they start to figure they are getting inside fastballs and they adjust. They will not rip the ball but will produce ground balls to left side gap or fight off the pitch into weak singles into left field. Any ideas on how to approach this type of hitter?
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
We are playing 12U A/B. I'm noticing that many good batters we are facing esp power hitters are crowing the plate. Our pitchers have good control so I refused to call an outside fastball and give them what they want. So I'm calling inside pitches top and bottom of zone and inside and outside change ups. Also trying to get them to chase outside off the plate or high fastball. Not calling inside off the plate in fear of hitting them and giving up first base.

This strategy seems to work at first, but it limits the pitch call variation so second time around they start to figure they are getting inside fastballs and they adjust. They will not rip the ball but will produce ground balls to left side gap or fight off the pitch into weak singles into left field. Any ideas on how to approach this type of hitter?

Note the bolded above... this is the problem. You are sticking to calling strikes and worrying about hitting a couple so the batters have no fear of being hit by a pitch and can stay right where they are. Hitting a good power hitter and giving up one base isn't all that bad - especially if the alternative is giving them a pitch they can thump for a double or more or if there is no one on. Giving up one base to get them moved or thinking about it is a small price to pay to get your plate back under your control

Not only come in off-the-plate, but come in up, in and out of the zone. Not at the head of course, but something right under their hands is excellent. They'll get off the plate soon enough or at the very least they have to be worried that it is coming again. Now the outside corner becomes an option again.

If they are going to hang over the plate, they take that risk. And I would also be pointing out to the umpire that they are hanging over the plate because an inside pitch NOT entirely in the batters box is requires the batter to get out of the way.

Oh - a nice tailing 2-seam from a RHP that starts in the river and lookis like it is coming right for them and then tails onto the inside corner is a GREAT pitch for the crowding the plate batter.
 
Last edited:
Jul 14, 2018
982
93
...they start to figure they are getting inside fastballs and they adjust. They will not rip the ball but will produce ground balls to left side gap or fight off the pitch into weak singles into left field. Any ideas on how to approach this type of hitter?

If they're crowding the plate, getting inside fastballs, and still able to pull the ball, the hitter must be getting way out in front. Changeups are your best weapon, but any moving pitch is hard to adjust to if the hitter's hands are already in front of the plate before the ball gets there. Since you're in 12U, most drop balls are just starting to break at the 40-foot mark so they might not be as effective in front of the plate. Low pitches, however, for the power hitter who is early can be tough. It's too late to adjust the swing path so they may wind up just tilting the barrel down which will produce a foul ball.

Sometimes an A-level three or four hitter is just going to get their knocks. DD gave up a homerun this weekend to the cleanup hitter -- she crushed an inside fastball to the opposite field. As marriard said, sometimes coming up and in to a good hitter who is crowding the plate will give up a base, but it's better than four!
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Be aware of the batters stride... My girls will often crowd the plate, knowing the pitch call will be inside, then she'll step open to hit that pitch. And vise-versa... stand away from the plate, get the outside call, then step into it... cat and mouse
 
Mar 28, 2014
1,081
113
We are playing 12U A/B. I'm noticing that many good batters we are facing esp power hitters are crowing the plate. Our pitchers have good control so I refused to call an outside fastball and give them what they want. So I'm calling inside pitches top and bottom of zone and inside and outside change ups. Also trying to get them to chase outside off the plate or high fastball. Not calling inside off the plate in fear of hitting them and giving up first base.

This strategy seems to work at first, but it limits the pitch call variation so second time around they start to figure they are getting inside fastballs and they adjust. They will not rip the ball but will produce ground balls to left side gap or fight off the pitch into weak singles into left field. Any ideas on how to approach this type of hitter?

The Shift!
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,131
113
Dallas, Texas
As marriard said, sometimes coming up and in to a good hitter who is crowding the plate will give up a base, but it's better than four!

My DD broke a batter's ankle. The rest of the batters moved back.
 
Mar 22, 2019
29
8
Illinois
We are playing 12U A/B. I'm noticing that many good batters we are facing esp power hitters are crowing the plate. Our pitchers have good control so I refused to call an outside fastball and give them what they want. So I'm calling inside pitches top and bottom of zone and inside and outside change ups. Also trying to get them to chase outside off the plate or high fastball. Not calling inside off the plate in fear of hitting them and giving up first base.

This strategy seems to work at first, but it limits the pitch call variation so second time around they start to figure they are getting inside fastballs and they adjust. They will not rip the ball but will produce ground balls to left side gap or fight off the pitch into weak singles into left field. Any ideas on how to approach this type of hitter?


If your pitcher throws a GOOD screw that drops off that is the best pitch but if it doesnt drop DONT THROW IT. High heat inside at their hands works too. Put up or back up.
 

NBECoach

Learning everyday
Aug 9, 2018
408
63
Be aware of the batters stride... My girls will often crowd the plate, knowing the pitch call will be inside, then she'll step open to hit that pitch. And vise-versa... stand away from the plate, get the outside call, then step into it... cat and mouse

We instruct our catcher to signal us the box location of each hitter as many benches are located a fair distance from the plate. Doesn't always work as pitching control is needed, but it gives us an educated guess on where to pitch the hitter.
 
Dec 15, 2012
102
18
Most 12U hitters are used to hitting outside pitches. If your pitchers have enough control, you can make living with inside pitches. DD has frustrated many a hitter by working inside. The two hardest pitches to hit (percentage wise) are up and in and down and away.
 

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