By: Donna Runyon; Women’s Softball Coach at Ohlone College

Taking a Pitch

1. Always crowd the plate. Use this pitch to practice loading and weight shift, keeping the head quiet.

2. Roll in on all inside pitches, never allow the inside pitch to back you off the plate.

3. When taking a strike to allow a base runner to steal second base always drive the hands into the strike zone, and then pull back directly toward the catcher. This should momentarily freeze the catcher.

Sacrifice Bunting

1. Move up on the plate and to the front half of the box. This will increase the percentage for putting the ball down in fair territory.

2. Pivot early! As the pitcher reaches the set position, pivot into the proper bunting position. This method will help prevent hurrying the bunt and force the defense to commit themselves.

3. An early pivot will allow the hitter to be balanced and the ability to “slap” or “push” on command.

4. Execute your plan by bunting the first pitch thrown for a strike, and placing it in fair territory

Hit and Run Technique

1. No thought process is needed! The toughest decision, to swing or not to swing, has been removed. Great call if a player is struggling at the plate.

2. You will be swinging! There is no need to be in a hurry. Slow all the actions down, center on detail and follow the pitch to the plate.

3. Think slow motion. There is no need to commit the upper body- WAIT

4. There will be a lot of holes opening up with the runner going on the pitch, so the key is for the batter to make solid contact and hit the ball on the ground.

Runners @ 2B and 3B (Less Than Two Outs)

1. It is an automatic “GO” on any ground ball hit to an infielder. The runner needs to get a good jump off the batted ball.

2. Force the the infield make a play @ the plate.

3. The worst case scenario is an out at the plate, with runners @ 2B and 3B again. Remember to “wheel” the runner around 1st and take 2B on the play.