How to Use Softball Strategy
More than baseball, the talent of your pitcher will determine how your team fares in a softball game. Follow these steps to develop a winning strategy.
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Instructions
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Find someone like Monica Abbott of the University of Tennessee, who averages 14.6 strikeouts per 7-inning game, and your fastpitch softball strategy is pretty simple: Figure out how to score some runs and watch your pitcher win.
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Stack your best defensive players at first base, second base, right field and center field if your pitcher throws hard. Most batters will hit the ball to the right side. Position them at third base, shortstop, left field and center field if your pitcher is hittable.
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Bring all your defensive players in to set up a quick throw home to the plate with runners in scoring position at second or third base.
While the distance between bases is 90 feet in baseball, it's only 60 feet in softball. -
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Scoring runs is easy when you have a strong batting lineup. If you don't have that luxury, or are facing a tough pitcher, put the fastest runner you can find at the top of the lineup. Teach her how to put down well-placed bunts and beat them out for hits. Then give her the green light to steal her way into scoring position.
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Assign the shortstop the job of positioning the defense. Send a hand signal to the shortstop when a shift is in order, and have her relay it to the rest of the players. She should also keep her teammates alert to the number of outs.
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Tips & Warnings
Find experienced, older or former fastpitch softball players to work one on one with your players to increase their skill and confidence.
Baseball players can coach as well on fundamentals such as hitting, fielding ground balls and catching fly balls.
Walks are much more likely to turn into runs in fastpitch softball than baseball. That's to your advantage when your team is at bat, but if it's your pitcher giving up those free passes, use a quick hook and replace her with someone who can throw strikes.
