Turning 2

OK, please don't jump on my case because I am trying to find out the way it is done it softball. So here goes:

Ball is hit to 2nd basemen and she flips to the short stop covering. Short tags 2nd and prepares to make the throw to 1st only to have the runner coming into 2nd half bent over half standing up right in the way. Now I know how this was addressed in baseball but I want to know what you guys teach your infielders. Do you have them eat the ball and loose a chance at a dp or do you have them fire away? I will refrain from stating what we taught in baseball for now. I am not looking for an arguement, I am actually trying to prevent possible misunderstandings on the field. By the way I am working with middle to high school age girls.

 

Fire away

If the runner is making an attempt to avoid being hit. Head down and likely the SS is going to be somewhat out of the base path....... FIRE AWAY. MS/HS girls that have played any TB or Rec ball have likely been told to continue with the play and fire away. I would tell girls not to throw to hurt the girl coming in, BUT if the ball hits the runner it will then be the umps call........... work you SS to avoid the runner as much as possible.

 

Gotta throw it

One kid has to learn to make the play, the other needs to learn to get out of the way. We teach this at the 12u level. I don't think I've seen anyone get hit trying to do this.....YET!

 

agree!!

Shortstop must complete the play! If the runner gets in the way and is hit by the throw, Then the ump should call the runner out. ( double play successfully completed) I am pretty sure that would be interference. I don't think many players would purposely try to hurt anyone, but they should be taught to go ahead and make that throw to first base.

 

I agree. We don't teach them to intentionally throw at a player, but to make the throw in their throwing path. We also teach them to try to avoid the incoming player. On the same situation, we also teach our girls to slide if we are on offense and break up the double play by getting in the defenders feet. We teach it all within the rules and just view it as part of this game. No one is taught to try to hurt anyone.

 

Thanks yall. This is what I was going to do but just wanted to see some others opinions.

 

No Choice !!

If the throw from second forces the SS to cross over the bag , the SS has no option but to throw through the line of the runner.


--- Guru

 

???

Why is the runner going to 2nd out if the throw hits her? If she is in the basepath trying to legally advance. We teach the SS to come across the bag in order to get out of direct involvement in the basepath. If the SS throws and the ball hits the girls helment and goes over the fence what is the ruling. Not sure I would teach to throw at the runner in any circumstance. Puts to much into the umps hands. Not saying its right I am just saying.

 

Well coached infielders will create a throwing lane to AVOID hitting the runner. With enough practice, this type of move becomes quick and instinctive. It makes no sense to TRY to hit the runner and leave it up to umpires to make an interference call.

Base runners have a right to their base path. In the situation described in this thread, if the runner was "half bent over" she likely will not draw an interference call unless she made an obvious movement away from her path to deliberately interfere with the throw.

 

BUT---

But just like you are taught defending against a slide due to ice, sometimes the brain takes over, and it kicks into survival mode, and you forget what you were taught ,and end up in a ditch. I don't ever tell any player to intentional try to hit a player,but the line of throw is the line of throw,and if the runner is coming right toward the SS, well I don't know what else to tell her to do,but to throw to the shortest distance between 2 points..not disagreeing just sometimes the reaction time may cause you to make quick decisions...

Guru