Who do you have cover 3b in this situation?

[mad hornet]

Had some interesting discussion with one of my assistant coaches lately on who should cover third base with runner on 1B, less than 2 outs, and a bunt is laid down.

What do you teach on your team?

a) 3b fields bunt then hustles back to third?
b) you've already conceded 2nd to the runner on 1B so have the SS cover third?
c) bring in the Left fielder to cover third, have SS hold the runner on 2B?
d) something else entirely?

Assume young (10 - 12u) but elite travel players.

 

[Coach JV]

If the bunt is laid down third pitcher covers 3B

 

[Kaizen]

If F5 fields the bunt, F1 covers 3B. If anyone else fields the bunt, F5 covers 3B.

 

[WinThemAll]

F2 covers 3B (momentum is already going that way) when F5 fields the bunt.
If anyone else fields bunt, F5 goes back to cover.

 

[Kaizen]

I prefer to have F2 stay home any time there are runners on base. If F2 goes to cover 3B, someone else has to cover home and then you could potentially have two players out of their natural positions instead of just one. F1 can probably change directions and cover 3B just as effectively as F2 can get there in catcher's gear.

 

[shockcoach]

If the bunt is laid down third pitcher covers 3B

If the ball is not bunted right back to pitcher, she covers 3rd base. If it is, the 3rd baseman should be covering. The left fielder should also be sprinting in to either back up 3rd, or cover if necessary.

 

[Jim]

In baseball, the catcher covers third if the third-baseman fields the bunt with a runner on first. His initial momentum towards the bunt naturally takes him that way. This would make sense to me in softball as well.

 

[shockcoach]

Covering third is not a priority if you make the initial play(s)--unless something else goes awry.

Then your sac bunt to move the runner to 2nd will easily end up moving the runner to 3rd. As a matter of fact, many teams will have the runner not even slow down while they round 2nd and head to 3rd. You had better put someone over on 3rd base to cover. At the younger ages, pitchers play other positions when they are not pitching. I would have no problem with a pitcher covering. After she delivers the pitch, she becomes a fielder and she had better get her butt out of the circle if she's needed to field the ball somewhere.

 

[mad hornet]

Then your sac bunt to move the runner to 2nd will easily end up moving the runner to 3rd. As a matter of fact, many teams will have the runner not even slow down while they round 2nd and head to 3rd. You had better put someone over on 3rd base to cover. At the younger ages, pitchers play other positions when they are not pitching. I would have no problem with a pitcher covering. After she delivers the pitch, she becomes a fielder and she had better get her butt out of the circle if she's needed to field the ball somewhere.

This is exactly what we are working to defend. The suggestion was that we have the Left Fielder cover third since the pitcher and 3b are already moving forward to cover the bunt. I was not comfortable having no back up and now also risking giving up a run on the play.

We're going to experiment with this at our next practice. I coach 10 and 12u teams and as you say, we have 3-4 pitchers per team that do also play other positions.

I like the idea of teaching pitcher and 3b covering depending on which other player fields the bunt.

 

[fireball]

I really don't think it matters who covers the bag, just that someone gets there and it looks planned. We practice and have the left fielder cover. With a runner on first, once the ball is down, she is on a sprint to the bag, and is at the bag or really close to the bag by the time the runner is at 2nd. Only once did someone try for third last year.
As long as someone is at the bag ready for a throw, most coaches are going to hold the runner at 2nd.
Whatever you decide to do, practice it, make it routine, and the runner will not advance.