Defense

01

Positions and who is in charge of fly balls

Priority: center field, then the corners, infield last on the outfield grass.

• Nine spots: P, C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, RF. Know your starting place.
• CF has first say on a fly ball. If CF calls it, corners get out of the way.
• LF and RF have the next say. Infielders coming out onto the grass yield to the outfield.
• Call it: “Mine.” Echo: “Take it.”

02

Ground balls: funnel, hop types, feeds

• Funnel: glove out front, bring it to your chest, throw.
• Long hop: let it come. Short hop: give. In-between hop: you moved late. Get around it next time.
• Feed: a throw another infielder can handle. Chest. Not at the dirt, not at the face.

03

Fly balls: drop step, communication, fence

• Drop step first. Then run. Do not backpedal a long way.
• Call it out loud. The other player peels.
• Fence: find it with your hand. Then play the ball. Do not crash blind.

04

Alignments

• Regular: normal depth. Out at first if nobody is on.
• Infield in: we are cutting the run at the plate. 0 or 1 out, runner at third.
• No-doubles: outfield deeper. Nothing over your head.

05

Cutoffs and relays

Cut 2 is second. Cut 3 is third. Cut 4 is home.

• A cutoff is the infielder in the path of a long throw. They may catch it and throw somewhere else.
• The outfielder hits the cutoff in the chest. Not a rainbow over their head. Not a one-hopper they cannot handle.
• Someone lines them up. Listen for “cut 2,” “cut 3,” “cut 4.”

06

Double plays and force vs tag

• Force: the runner has to go. You touch the bag with the ball. You do not have to tag the person.
• Tag: the runner does not have to go. You tag the person (or the bag they occupy, on a force).
• Double play with R1: get the ball to second, then to first. 6-4-3, 4-6-3, 5-4-3. The bag first.

07

Catcher: setup, block, throw, tag at plate

• Setup: quiet. Target the pitcher can see. Glove is the target.
• Block: body first. Keep the ball in front. Then pick it up.
• Throw: replace your feet. Chest toward second. Hit the shortstop or second baseman in the chest.
• Tag at the plate: two hands. Swipe. Then show the ball.

08

Pitcher as a fielder

Cover first. Back up bases. Field the comebacker. The maps are in Playbook PFP.

• After you throw it, you are a fielder. Get in a ready position.
• Ball to the right side: you cover first. 1B will toss you the ball. You hit the bag.
• Do not stand on the mound and watch.