As the week progresses and our thoughts keep turning to the upcoming season there are some things coaches can do to keep the lists we provide up to date.
The Fastpitch Chronicle Coaches Honor Roll is one of those lists. I’ve updated the list tonight by boosting Williams Bay Head Coach Jeff Kuespert to the 200 win level. He moved up to that list late in the 2015 season. Congratulations to Jeff for reaching that milepost.
As I have in the past I will periodically post some situations for you to ponder. Tonight’s situation deals with two runners occupying the same base. The shortstop is trying to tag out the lead runner between second and third, a trail runner right behind advances to second base. The lead runner escapes the shortstop’s attempt at the putout and makes it back to second base untouched. When she arrives the trail runner is occupying second base. The shortstop tags the lead runner who is standing atop second when both runners occupy it. When the tag is applied the trail runner heads back to first base and another rundown occurs. What would be the correct call on that tag at second base?
As a coach what do you instruct your runners to do in this situation? What do you do to instruct your fielders to do?
Here is another one. The bases are loaded. The runner at first legally swipes second basebut the runner at second does not advance. The pitcher receives the ball in the circle from the catcher and makes no play on any runner. Can both runners remain aboard second base? What must the umpire do in this situation?
Yet another one. With a runner at first the batter hits a bouncer to the first sacker who then (1) steps on first base then tags the runner who never left the base or (2) tags the lead runner who is standing atop first base then steps on first base. What’s the correct ruling in these two scenarios?
And finally a fourth one. With a lead runner at second base and the trail runner at first the batters hits a deep flyball over the centerfielder’s head. The runner at first advances to third base as the lead runners get caught in a rundown between third and home. The lead runner gets back to third base safely but gets obstructed on her way to teh bag. Both runners are now standing atop third base. The catcher tags the trail runner. What’s the correct call in this mess?
I’ll post the correct calls in the next Fastpitch Bulletin.
Keep it Rising!
Bob
