I have been trying to watch as many college games as possible, trying to learn the game compared to baseball. One thing that consistently jumps out at me is the leads off of second base. Every time I see the runner darting off the base, I feel like they should be thrown out. They are moving 2-3 steps after the ball is caught, hips turned toward third, all momentum going. Watching a recorded game last night of Pitt/Notre Dame, there was only one pump fake by the catcher. I was at the point where I was yelling at the tv.... 
I called Jay Weaver from the New England Catching Camp because I know he knows softball better than me. One thing he had to remind me was about typical arm strength. I'm thinking I can come out of a crouch and throw a softball 75-80 mph, when girls just don't have that arm strength. But still.... There are three potential scenarios if I come up hard from a crouch ready to throw:
1. The girl tries to bait me, I pump fake and hose her at third.
2. The girl cuts her lead short and scrambles back to the bag.
3. She freezes, I run straight at her, make her commit to one direction and throw her out.
In baseball, the middle infielders work with the pitcher to keep the runner close. Since this isn't part of softball, wouldn't the catcher be most responsible for keeping that runner in check?
Also, why not set up plays? In college, I had a play with the catcher that if I took glove off (I played shortstop), picked up dirt and threw it in the direction of second base, I wanted him to try to throw down after the pitch. It was rare, but an out was for the taking, we did our best to take it. Does stuff like this happen in fastpitch??
I called Jay Weaver from the New England Catching Camp because I know he knows softball better than me. One thing he had to remind me was about typical arm strength. I'm thinking I can come out of a crouch and throw a softball 75-80 mph, when girls just don't have that arm strength. But still.... There are three potential scenarios if I come up hard from a crouch ready to throw:
1. The girl tries to bait me, I pump fake and hose her at third.
2. The girl cuts her lead short and scrambles back to the bag.
3. She freezes, I run straight at her, make her commit to one direction and throw her out.
In baseball, the middle infielders work with the pitcher to keep the runner close. Since this isn't part of softball, wouldn't the catcher be most responsible for keeping that runner in check?
Also, why not set up plays? In college, I had a play with the catcher that if I took glove off (I played shortstop), picked up dirt and threw it in the direction of second base, I wanted him to try to throw down after the pitch. It was rare, but an out was for the taking, we did our best to take it. Does stuff like this happen in fastpitch??
