Baseball is a game where situations and seemingly tiny details can be the difference between winning and losing. Often in baseball, situations pop up that you can work on in practice. The best situational drills address game events that every player needs to anticipate.
1st and 3rd Situation
This defensive drill teaches your players the options when the other team tries to steal second or in some cases execute a double steal. Practice three play options and have players comfortable with performing them in a game. The first play is to throw through, used when you have a lead of at least two runs late in the game and you have confidence that your catcher can throw the runner out. To execute, the catcher will throw to the second baseman covering second base. The second play option is to throw to third, best used when the runner on third is aggressive and might try to run on the throw to second. Have the third baseman cover third and have the catcher make a hard throw to third, hoping to catch the runner breaking for the plate. The last option is the shortstop cut, a trick play to get the lead runner best saved for when a double steal attempt is likely, where the runner on third will break for home on the throw to second base. To execute, have the shortstop cut in front of second and take a throw from the catcher. The shortstop will then throw out the runner at the plate.
Rundown Situations
Rundowns occur when your team is on defense and has a runner caught between bases. Have players practice rundown situations with single or multiple runners at different bases. This drill teaches your runners getting out of rundowns as well. Tell the players that if the runner is stationary, you want to run at him, staying ahead of him with the ball ready to throw. Have them throw to the side of the runner, never over the top. This ensures the runner can't get hit by the throw so as to get in safely. Make sure they get out of the baseline if they don't have the ball; trying to cut the runner off is asking for an obstruction call. Force the runner back to the base she came from if possible. The players must show the runner the ball, keeping it up in the throwing hand until attempting to make a tag with two hands.
Situational Hitting Drills
Work on executing bunts down both the third and first base lines. Have players execute at least two bunts down each line. Have players work on hit and runs. In this drill, players hit a hard ground ball up the middle, preferably to shortstop or second; have each player get at least four swings in. When a hit and run is called, your player must swing and preferably make contact unless the pitch is going to hit him. Practice with a runner on second base and no outs. Have the hitter either hit a deep fly ball to right or center field or preferably on the ground to the right side. Work on a situation with a runner on third with less than two outs. In this situation, have the player to hit a deep fly ball to the outfield. Have each player work on several swings of each situation.
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