Defending the Slap

[Little Bird]

Are we talking about a left-handed slap, or the elusive bitch slap?

[Joe]

Best way to defend is w/ a bad ass drop curve.

[Coach11]

With a speedy runner on 1B and a slap hitter up, what is the best way to set up your IF to defend against a steal / slap situation?

F4 and F5 rush the batter.....F3 covers 1st, F6 covers 2nd. Unless it is a very poor slap, I'm giving R1 second base and going for BR at first.

R7 covers 3B and F1 backs her up, should R1 try and advance.

[GSB]

With a speedy runner on 1B and a slap hitter up, what is the best way to set up your IF to defend against a steal / slap situation?

If do right...no can defend.

Grasshopper,

When you can take the pebble from my hand, you will have learned how to defend against the slap.

[GIMNEPIWO]

We have found , that if you scout the teams that you will be seeing in advance of the tourny ... the best way to defend the slap is to buy their slappers a cake ...

fat woman.jpg (3.73 KiB) Viewed 3785 times

[kingskid]

Coach 11 I am sorry but your outfield should never cover a base. This is big girl softball right?

F3 Covers 1
F4 covers 2
F6 Covers 3 and is cheated over to cover the left side
F4 is cheated over to cover closer to 2

Pitch the slapper outside and make her bunt or slap to F5
Do not allow her to drag bunt down the first base line that is where you are weak in coverage.

That is basic coverage with runner on 1 and Slapper is up

[GIMNEPIWO]

Coach 11 I am sorry but your outfield should never cover a base. This is big girl softball right?

F3 Covers 1
F4 covers 2
F6 Covers 3 and is cheated over to cover the left side
F4 is cheated over to cover closer to 2

Pitch the slapper outside and make her bunt or slap to F5
Do not allow her to drag bunt down the first base line that is where you are weak in coverage.

That is basic coverage with runner on 1 and Slapper is up

uh .... What ? ... my cake theory has a better shot at it ...

[Coach11]

Coach 11 I am sorry but your outfield should never cover a base. This is big girl softball right?

Yes....it is "big girl" softball......which is why I can allow an outfielder to cover a base.

Softball being the small ball game that ir is, it is crucial to have OFs prepared and planned to cover the bases in different scenarios.

I have them cover bases quite often....especially in certain pick off attempts.

I've used set ups like you describe before....often with good results. But when facing better teams (and better slappers) it's harder to get them to put the ball where YOU want it. A good slapper attempting to advance a base runner is going to foul off those outside pitches until she sees something she can place where SHE wants it.

Your setup leaves a nice hole for a good slapper to take advantage of.

Mine addresses the batter and protects against the possibility of R1 taking an extra base.

[kingskid]

uhh ok

In order for your SS to cover 2 thet must play over. Does that not leave a huge hole in the 5/6 spot. Last time I checked that is a slappers best spot. I have NEVER seen any team at Nationals 16u-18G cover any base with a outfielder.

If you choose to run a "Trick Play" pick off with your outfielder your call I thought he was asking standard defense of a slapper with runner on 1.

A good slapper will put it over your F7 head if she is playing close enough to cover 3 right? A good slapper will foul off untill she hits it right? Where is she going to hit that outside pitch?
Pitch a good slapper inside and watch it go right up the middle where EVERY defense is weak right?
I am sorry just not sure why F7 needs to cover 3
Sounds like most HS coaches!!!

JMO....

[WildRoseCoach]

Saw this set up during HS Semis:

F3 back behind the bag, F4 way in by the circle, F6 a little closer than normal, F5 normal

This was for a lefty slapper. Seemed to work for them as the slapper grounded out twice, one to F4 and once to F6.