Defensive strategies and tactics
This is an excerpt from Complete Guide to Slowpitch Softball by Rainer Martens & Julie Martens.
Triple, No One on Base
Hit: Deep fly ball to left field landing just inside the foul line and rolling to the fence. It looks to be a triple. LF is in pursuit as illustrated in figure 8.4.
Defensive goal: Hold B to a triple and relay the ball to H.
Fielding the ball: LF is alone in fielding a ball near the foul line. The only throw from this position is to the relay player.
Relay: SS is the relay person, coming out to about the 150-foot (45 m) mark or halfway between the ball and home, and, of course, in line between the ball and home. C lets SS know what to do with the relay throw:
- Cut and throw to 3B.
- Cut and throw to H.
- Cut and hold, running the ball back into the infield.
P positions him- or herself to be the cutoff player, positioned in line with SS and home and about 50 feet (15 m) out from home, as shown in figure 8.4. If B tries to go home, then SS throws home through P. C tells P what to do with the throw:
- Don't cut; let it come through.
- Cut and relay to home (because the throw is off line or weak).
- Cut and throw to 3B (because B rounded 3B but on the strength of the throw stopped and is trying to return to 3B).
Other defensive positions: 1BP backs up H, 2BP covers 2B in case B retreats, and 3BP goes to 3B.
Hits to other locations: If the ball is hit to center field or the right side, the relay to H is essentially the same, except that 2BP becomes the relay person for balls hit to the right side and SS covers 2B.
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