- Apr 14, 2022
- 617
- 63
While I am against almost all outs on the bases, however I am not for sure first out at 3rd is worse than any other in softball. Different from mlb baseball particularly at younger levels.It takes experience to coach third, no way to get experience other than the jump in and do it. Rule number one of coaching third, similar to the number one rule of fight club , don’t ever make the first out of the inning at third or home. With two outs, you can be more aggressive, especially if you know what hitters are coming up. For a girl with even average speed, second base is a good base to be on.
Also, make sure your girls are drilled into tagging up when they’re at third. They have to fight the urge to just takeoff for home at the crack of the bat. When a ball was in the air, there’s no reason to break for home until it hits the ground. You don’t want an outfielder to make a diving catch and your girl has to double back to third.
At 10u, you probably don’t have too many outfielders that are going to throw runners out at home, but as you progress in the older ages, you will get a feel for where your runner has to be when the outfielder is approaching a ground ball. I can tell you when you get to high school age, if the outfielder gets the ball at the same time, the runners rounding third, she’ll be out most of the time. at 10 U, I’d send them home almost all the time. Just not with 0 outs .
It seams a lot more scoring in softball on plays you would not score from second than baseball.
I checked a d2 chart that certainly does not apply 10u but at d2 The differences run output between 1st and 2nd was .32, 2nd and 3rd .38. With 1 out it is .225 advancing to second, .285 to third.
MLB they are about equal value.
In softball 3rd is some times more valuable than scoring. Lead off triple 1.8 runs lead off homerun 1.6 runs. Would not practice this but find it interesting.
This perplexes me, why a runner on 3rd mean more than one would think.
reasons maybe? Many teams gift the steal of second. Many teams stop a score vs. taking an easy out on a bunt, allowing another base runner.
Making the first out at second may be worse than third.