Positional Play

Hi Girl's! I would like you to think about two positions you like to play. If you continue with softball, you will discover all positions are important. No more bored outfielders! Below I try to give you an idea of what qualities you will need at each position. Some of the things I talk about we may not do until next year, such as bunting and sliding. When the league will adopt these rules and other “real softball rules” is still to be determined.

The First Baseman

A good first baseman must be able to field and shift her feet quickly. Being tall is an asset at first base because you can then stretch further for the ball while still keeping one foot on the base. A lefty also has an advantage because lefties can throw to other bases without pivoting. However, the most important quality a first baseman can have is the ability to catch a hard-thrown ball, even if the throw is a little off or hits the dirt in front of her.

* First basemen learn to “heel” the bag.

* First baseman wave and shout off a throw (yelling “No! No! No! and waving her arms) if it is too late to get the runner out.

The Third Baseman

The third baseman must have quick reactions but does not necessarily need to be a fast runner. A strong arm is most important. Being right handed is an advantage for the same reason being left-handed is at first base. A third baseman does not have to be particularly tall. The third baseman doesn’t need to be as sure-handed as the middle infielders… often she can knock down a hotly hit ball, pick it up and still have time to make the play at first base.

* Tip… If you want to be good third baseman, invest in (con your parents into buying you) a catchers mask and/or other catcher gear. Wear this gear during practice so the coaches can hit you hard ground balls and line drives. The team has only one catching outfit and it will be hard to get time with it.

*A third baseman must work on running in towards home plate to retrieve slow grounders. Ask a coach to give you a “slow-roller” drill.

The middle infielders

The middle infielders must be the most sure-handed, smooth-fielding players on the team. They must have quickness, speed, and a quick throwing release.

The middle infielder – Short Center

In every other league I know of for your age group, the only middle infielders are the shortstop and the second baseman. It looks like this year we will again have a “short center.” There is no short center in fast pitch softball so it is difficult for me to talk about the qualities of a good short center.

Obviously, being a good fielder is a plus. The ability to throw hard to first is also an advantage, but long throws (compared to the third baseman) are not as common.

A good short center is able to make plays at second base, particularly force-outs.

Shortstop

This player is the most sure-handed player on the team. In addition to being able to throw accurately to first, the shortstop must be able to “feed” the short center (the second baseman in other leagues). The shortstop must be able to cover a wide range. However, the short center position cuts down on the required range substantially.

*Definition - a “feed” is a throw that starts a double play. The feed throw, either over or underhanded, will usually be to the short center in our league.

* A shortstop eventually learns how to sidearm a throw. This is true because sometimes she will not have time to straighten up to throw overhand to first.

* A shortstop must cover third base when the third baseman is pulled off the bag.

Second baseman

A good second baseman usually plays way back in the infield since her throws to first are short. This is particularly true if ESAA doesn’t allow bunting again this year. A second baseman, because she is playing so far back in the infield, must be quick when running in for soft grounders. Many of her throws to first base will be underhand. She must learn to “shake hands” with the first baseman when throwing underhand to first base. The second baseman should also know when not to run for the ball. This usually occurs when the pitcher and first baseman are running in for a soft ground ball. In these situations, the second basemen must run to first base and be ready for a possible throw from the pitcher or from the first baseman. The second baseman must be able to feed the ball, similar to how the shortstop does it.

The Pitcher as Infielder (Also see “Fast-Pitch Pitchers” later in this article)

A pitcher becomes an infielder as soon as she releases the pitch.

By the time the pitcher fields the ball, the batter is barely out of the batters box. If there is a runner on third, a good fielding pitcher takes the time to fake the runner back to third.

If there is a runner on first, the pitcher has time to decide whether to throw to second or to first.

Pitchers must be prepared to cover first anytime the first baseman is pulled off the bag. Here to, the pitcher must know when not to field the ball. If the third baseman or catcher is close, the pitcher should allow one of them to field the ball, as they do not have to pivot to throw to first.

If there is a luxury of choice, the pitcher is the last player you want fielding the ball.

The Catcher

Forget how the catcher’s position use to be when you were younger… the pitcher pitches the ball, you throw it back … the pitcher pitches the ball, you throw it back …, etc., etc.

The catcher can be a team leader by keeping everyone’s head up.

The catcher should try to develop a good working relationship with the umpire. A catcher can help her pitcher by relaying why the umpire called the pitch a ball.

A good catcher “frames” the pitches. Catching and bringing a borderline strike back into the strike zone usually gets the strike call.

Again, I’m uncertain when ESAA will adopt the “real” fast pitch rules… rules that include things like bunting, passed balls, wild pitches, dropped third strikes, sliding and stealing. A catcher who can practice for these things will be invaluable when our league implements these rules.

Even if stealing and bunting are not allowed this year, you can practice how to react to them. We can train you. This is optional if ESAA does not implement these rules.

Remember, unless there is a force out situation at home plate, tagging out a runner at home can be very dangerous with a no slide rule. Runners will be forced to run through the plate, and potentially set themselves up for a collision with the catcher. The catcher should accept all throws in front of the plate.

Outfield Play

Sure, you must be able to catch fly balls. The truth is that catching fly balls is only a tiny part of being a good outfielder. The mark of a quality outfielder is how quickly she can judge a fly ball and “get a jump on it,” how much ground she can cover, if she can run backwards for the deep fly, how well she can field base hits, how well she throws (and how well she knows where to throw), and how well she backs up infielders in game situations.

Speed is essential to being a good outfielder, with the center fielder usually the fastest of the three. Outfielders all call for the ball, with the center fielder the “lady in charge.”

Outfielders should catch all routine fly balls with two hands (catch & cover).

Outfielders should always assume the ball will get through the infield, so they should be sprinting toward the ground ball the instant it is hit. Moreover, on every play outfielders must be moving somewhere! Good conditioning is a must.

Fast-pitch Pitchers

Fast-pitch Pitchers are developed not born. The process involves practicing long hours after the rest of the team is home watching TV. They put in many hours practicing alone or with a dedicated parent or friend. Signing up for a pitching clinic in the off-season is highly recommended for serious pitchers. See me for recommendations or use our web sites softball links page to find a camp or clinic.

In our league, fast is good but accuracy is the most important. A fast-pitch pitcher must be able to get the ball in the strike zone more often than not.

The windmill delivery is used. Our pitchers will have some advantages over most leagues.

Pitching advantages in our ESAA league.

* The ball this year will be a 11” ball, not a 12” ball all other leagues use. You will be able to grab more of the ball and this should improve your accuracy.

* You will also be able to pitch the ball faster than a 12” ball.

* A hard-hit soft 11” ball doesn’t come off the bat as fast as a 12” hard softball does, making it easier to field.

* A 11” ball is also much harder to hit than a 12” ball. This alone should improve your strikeout ratio over a pitcher that uses a 12” ball.

* If the rules are not changed in 2000 regarding passed balls (bunting, dropped third strikes, base stealing, etc.) this is an advantage to the pitcher.

* If the distance between home plate and the pitching plate (the rubber) remains at 35 feet again this year, the batter has much less time to react to your pitches. In real fast-pitch, the distance is 40 feet. (note: Lincolnwood: Distance is 37 feet).

* At thirty-five feet from the pitching plate to home plate, it is easier to throw strikes.

* Safety. The 11” ball is much softer than a 12” regular softball, making it a little less likely to be seriously hurt by a line drive that hits you.

Pitching disadvantages in our ESAA league

* If bases remain 55 feet apart instead of the normal 60, you will have less time to field a ground ball and throw out the runner.

* Safety. The pitcher has less time to react when the rubber is only 35 feet away from the plate instead of the normal 40.

* Safety. The pitcher has more difficulty seeing an 11” ball hit hard and back to the pitcher.

There is much more to say and learn about each position. This synopsis is meant to give us only a flavor of what will be involved playing these positions now and in the future.

Source: A combination of out of my head and from Softball, by Mario Pagnoni and Gerald Robinson. For more information on this book, see “Book Reviews” on our website.