THE THREE IN ONE DRILL

PART II – SET III

SET III

Infield double plays/pitchers and catchers.

I. Purposes

• Infield Double Plays: To allow infielders to practice double play skills as a group.
• To pick up the practice temp.
• Pitchers and Catchers:
  1. To teach pitchers how to cover home plate correctly in the event of a passed ball / wild pitch with a runner on third base.
  2. To teach the pitchers how to pitch out correctly.
  3. To teach the pitchers and catcher how to intentionally walk a batter.
  4. To teach the catchers how to make a shin guard slide and throw to the pitcher covering home plate in the event of a wild pitch / passed ball with a runner on third base.
  5. To teach the pitchers how to help the catcher locate a passed ball or wild pitch that goes behind home plate toward the backstop.

Infield Double Plays

II. Procedure

• Coach fungoes ground balls to the infielders who execute the double play.
• Coach fungoes from the area outside the right-handed batter’s box (third base line.) This clears home plate area for pitcher’s and catcher’s drills.
• 5-4-3 Double Play - Coach fungoes to third baseman who throws to the second baseman at second base. The second baseman executes his pivots and throws to first base.
• 6-4-3 Double Play - Coach fungoes the ball to the shortstop who throws to the second baseman at second base. The second baseman executes his pivot and throws to first base.
• 4-6-3 Double Play - Coach fungoes the ball to the second baseman who throws to the shortstop at second base. The shortstop executes his pivots and throws to first base.
• The first baseman remains at first base to receive throws during the entire drill.
• This is a rapid fire drill but caution must be exercised to avoid injures. The coach who is fungoing ground balls must be aware of the pitchers simultaneously executing their drills and fungo only when the pitchers are out of the way. This is achieved by fungoing only between pitcher’s delivers.

Pitchers And Catchers

III. Procedure

• Pitchers on the mound with a baseball.
• Catchers in full gear behind home plate.

IV. Pass Ball / Wild Pitch Drill

• Pitcher throws from SET POSITION makes an imaginary pitch to the catcher.
• Catcher is in receiving position.
• Have the next catcher or assistant coach stand near home plate, out of the catcher’s view, with a baseball in his hand.
• After the pitch has been made, the assistant coach rolls his baseball toward the backstop.
• Catcher goes after wild pitch and the pitcher covers home plate.

V. Coaching Points

• Pitcher
1. Runs to cover home plate.
2. Points at the ball to give the catcher a visual clue as to the location of the ball and simultaneously YELLS:
3. THERE! THERE! THERE!
4. Stands in front of home plate facing the catcher.
5. After the catcher tosses the ball and its direction is determined. The pitcher steps across home plate with his left foot, makes the catch and tags the runner attempting to score from third base.
6. Tag the runner with the back of the glove, sweeping the glove in front of home plate. The runner will tag himself out.
7. In the event of contact and if time permits, the pitcher should have the baseball in his bare hand and then put it back into the glove and make the tag two-handed with the back of the glove. If the hands are split during contact, the ball will not be dropped!
• Catcher
1. Locates the baseball.
2. Makes a shin guard slide on the right side of the baseball.
3. Scoops up the baseball and makes a quick, compact-arm toss to the pitcher covering home plate.

VI. Pitch Out

• Pitcher
1. On the mound with a baseball.
2. Throws from SET POSITION.
• Catcher
1. Receives pitch and shifts into position to throw.
2. Fakes a throw to second base.
• Coaching Points
1. Set position should be held longer than normal to disrupt base runner’s timing when pitch out is called.
2. Slide step for a quick delivery to home should be utilized.
3. No high leg kick!
4. Knee to knee delivery for quickness from set position.
5. Eight percent (80%) of weight on back leg.
6. Bring knee of striding leg to knee of back leg when making delivery from set position.
7. Pitch should be about three feet outside home plate�Rule of thumb: In the middle of opposite batter’s box.
8. Pitch should be chest high to the catcher.
9. Don’t try to throw “too hard” and negatively impact accuracy�.give the catcher a ball he can handle easily.

VII. Intentional Walk

• Pitcher
1. Throw medium speed fastballs� 75% to 80% of normal velocity.
2. Never lob the ball!
3. Pitch should be chest high.
4. Control all base runners before making delivery to home plate.
• Catcher
1. Cannot leave the catcher’s box until the pitcher releases the ball.
2. Give target by standing as far as possible to the side of catcher’s box and when the pitcher releases the ball, take a lateral step to catch the ball. Do not make a crossover step.
3. Target with right-handed hitter should be given with the “catcher’s right hand” extended into the opposite batter’s box.
4. Target with left-handed hitter should be given with the “catcher’s glove” extended into the opposite batter’s box.

Good Luck!

Remember to look for PART II – SETS 4 in our next JNL Newsletter.