international tie breaker strategy

[gvm]

To be fair to your coaches it is a progression. Once the team is able to consistently get the easy out at first, then you can move on to trying for lead runners (or if you have consistent heads up players who going to be available for a play at second/third). It generally isn't the throw - it is teaching the players to cover the base quickly so the play can be made. Nothing worse than trying to make a play to second and there is no one at second to cover the bag and you end up getting no one.

There are two drills we use for this

- Three bounces/three steps. General guide for infielders - if the ball bounces more than three times or they take more than three steps then it is VERY unlikely they will get the lead run so take the easy out at first (unless the ball is hit to a force at a base).
- We have our catchers be the field captains for this. They are the ones who can see the entire field and they are the ones screaming out the base the throw should go to ("TWO, TWO, TWO" for example). The team knows to listen to them and they are so loud you don't really have a choice. They even drown out the parents

Maybe this is the season your team is ready for this step.

THREE BOUNCES/THREE STEPS ???? that is perfect !!!

 

[marriard]

THREE BOUNCES/THREE STEPS ???? that is perfect !!!

It works well as a starting point and for learning... As you get to know teams you are playing against you start to identify their "2 step/2 bounce" players (the fast ones) and "4 step/4 bounce" players (the slow ones). Over time we have even run into a rare '1 step' players who are just lighting quick across the bases.

 

[rowdy]

If we are the home team we play to get the first three out we can get. If the run scores that is fine, but our priority is to make sure they get no other baserunners because we tried to prevent that run from scoring.

Now in your scenario. With only one runner on base we would make them trade an out to move the runner to third. Now we would check the runner and get the out at first. If the runner was off the base too far we wouldn't risk giving up the run and we would allow the runner to gain first base to hold the runner at third. Depending on where we are in the line up I may pitch around the next batter to set up a force at the plate.

The problem with a runner on third is a fly ball ends the game so you have to keep the ball in the infield. We have confidence in our pitchers and catchers to throw and defend the low strikes so that is where we would live for a couple of batters.

The key to the tie breaker is always playing to score the runner on second. Bunt the first batter to mover your runner to third. We usually bunt the next batter to make the defense make a decision, if they take the out at first we score, if they don't we have runners on second and third after the next pitch and most likely win the game.

The key is always the second run in an ITB. Even great pitchers can't prevent you from laying down a good bunt if you practice.