Stealing home in HS ball this year?

Braves · May 15, 2009 at 1:05 PM

OurPasttime713 said: ↑

Southwest Guilford has pulled this off a few times over the past few years, but none this year to my knowledge.

It's certainly an exciting play to watch, and it requires a lot of things:

1) It has to be the right situation in the game. Preferably 2 outs, man on 3rd, weak hitter at the plate. It's not worth it to risk it with less than 2 outs or with multiple runners on base, in my opinion

2) The pitcher needs to be going from the windup. Also the pitcher preferably needs to be a lefty so that his back is to the runner as the runner breaks, but I guess it's not that important what hand he throws with.

3) The runner on third base has to be a great baserunner with good instincts and good speed, and he has to have worked on it before. Southwest works on stealing home at practice probably once a week. There's an art to it. You have to be on 3rd base timing the pitcher up to see if you can get a read for exactly when he's about to start his rocker step. If you wait until he actually TAKES his rocker step to get your jump, it's probably too late. You have to be creeping, creeping, creeping and anticipating his rocker step, so that your feet are already moving and then you just kick it into high gear when he steps back.

4) Most importantly, THE BATTER HAS TO KNOW IT'S COMING. For us, if the sign was given, we always had a signal that the batter would give the 3rd base coach to ensure the coach that the batter had indeed picked up the sign and knew that the runner was coming. This is obviously for safety because the runner is in serious danger if the hitter misses the sign and swings away. If the batter doesn't give that sign, the play is off and the coach tells the runner to stay. Once the batter gets the sign, he gets as far back in the box as he can in order to move that catcher as far back from the plate as possible. There was one time where I was able to steal home my sophomore year in our conference tournament in which the ball beat me to the plate, but due to the catcher being so far behind home plate I was able to get in there safely before he lunged to the plate.

I personally think stealing home is perhaps the most exciting play in baseball. I understand that some people think it's too dangerous but if you really want it to be part of your arsenal you can eliminate the danger, as long as you take the time to make sure the batter gives a sign to let the coach and the baserunner know that he's successfully received the sign and knows what's coming.
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well said!!!

mincmi · May 15, 2009 at 1:37 PM

Add Richie Shaffer

To the list of players that have stolen home. I have seen him do it several times in his career, including this year vs. Ardrey Kell.

doctorbuzzy · May 16, 2009

Apex

T. Bacot at Apex High School has stolen home a couple of times this year.

http://www.garnercitizen.com/2009/04/errors-kill-garner-as-cougars-steal-win/

atbat123 · May 15, 2009 at 9:15 PM

stealing home

Brad Clay for North Meck stole home against JM Robinson last week.

WS-FOOTBALL · May 16, 2009 at 3:26 PM

Saw Jon Holt of West Forsyth do it just now! Vs Central Cabbarus! WOW

Braves · May 16, 2009 at 3:55 PM

WS-FOOTBALL said: ↑

Saw Jon Holt of West Forsyth do it just now! Vs Central Cabbarus! WOW
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Coach Pope must have read this thread

blackjackwally · May 16, 2009 at 9:56 PM

OurPasttime713 said: ↑

I personally think stealing home is perhaps the most exciting play in baseball.
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I absolutely agree. Awesome play and a gutsy call. I have even seen it not work, and given the circumstances it was still not a bad call to make.

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Stealing home in HS ball this year?

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