Pitching & catching

01

Fastball first. Command before extras.

• Your first pitch is a four-seam fastball you can throw to a glove.
• If you cannot throw a strike with it, you do not need a second pitch yet.
• The target is the glove. Not the batter’s fear. Hit the glove.

02

Windup vs stretch. Holding runners.

• Windup: nobody on, or R3 only in some leagues. Stretch: a runner on first or second.
• Come set. Pause. Then throw. If you cannot pause, that is a balk in bigger ball. We pause anyway.
• Hold the runner: vary your time. Do not always go on one beat.

03

Pitch types

Basics: fastball and change. Breaking-ball detail is Experienced.

• Four-seam: fingers across the horseshoe. Straight. That’s your strike pitch.
• Changeup: deeper in the hand. Same arm speed. It should look like a fastball and arrive slower.
• You do not need a curve to pitch in this age group. You need strikes.

04

Pitch counts and rest

You cannot pitch through a dead arm.

• We count pitches. Coaches write them down after the inning.
• If your arm feels dead, heavy, or sharp, you say it. You are not finishing “just one more.”
• Rest days are part of pitching. They are not a punishment.

05

Catcher: signs, receiving, block, passed ball with R3

• Signs: fingers. Simple. Pitcher nods. If he shakes, you go again.
• Receiving is catching the pitch where it is. Framing is receiving. Not yanking.
• Block then throw. Passed ball with R3: you go get it. Pitcher covers home.

06

Between innings and between outings

• Between innings: eight warmup pitches. Get them up. Last one is a fastball you would throw for a strike.
• Catcher is in gear, on time. Do not make the infield wait in the sun.
• Between outings: play catch. Easy. You are a baseball player, not only a pitcher that day.