Posted by: Deano (dharisis@firstam.com) on Tue Dec 10 17:24:25 2002

First of all, great site!

This is a good question and I believe that Teacherman presented a good case for how to defend. I just want to add my two cents. The tendency on this particular play is to pull the 1st basemen off the bag toward right field (assuming a regulation 60ft LL base path). The runner at 3rd has no where to go but home, so defending home plate is important. But I also like to ensure that all the bags are covered, especially THE BAGS THAT CAN BE IMMEDIATELY ADVANCED TO.

I have my defense cover this play as follows: Pitcher covers 1B, SS rotates to 2B. Leave 3B unoccupied, as the 3rd basemen comes down the line to back-up home. The 3rd basemen serves no value staying at 3B unless the runner inadvertently comes way off the bag in error. This is definitely a problem at AAA (10 year olds) and under, but the Majors kids all know better.

I would also like to know the score. If I'm sitting on a 2 run lead late in the game, I'm not as concerned about the guy at third as I am about that tying run at 1st (and removing a potential force play at 2nd base with two down assuming my guy makes the catch and allows the runner at 3rd to tag-up and score).

Some may argue that this is an unorthodox approach. But, to me, the score and situation has a lot to do with it. Unfortunately, trying to teach a group of 11-12 year olds how to defend this situation in multiple ways would only add confusion.