Don't Get Caught Like This

I just "talked" with an online sports mom friend. Actually she shared this with my on Twitter. My fellow softball mom went to a high school tournament softball game last night and told me about a situation that happened during the game. After reading what she wrote, even I felt a sense of frustration.

I know this happens on a regular basis because I've seen it myself. You probably have too.

Here's the situation...

Bottom of the 7th...

Score tied...

2 outs...

Bases loaded...

Batter rips one to right field...


...can you guess where I'm going with this?


Batter doesn't hustle down the line and gets thrown out at 1st base!

Ugghhhhhh

Always Hustle Down the Line!

Those hits to right are no where near a guarantee any more. Especially when you hit it solid with today's high performance bats, that ball get there in a hurry. Right fielders and coaches are aware more now than ever that they CAN gun that runner out at 1st. Outfielders train for that now. They aggressively pursue that out ESPECIALLY with 2 outs and runners in scoring position because if they can get that out at first, it wipes out the score of any runner that crosses the plate on that hit.

Always, Always Hustle Down the Line!

Another situation that drives me nuts as a coach AND as a former player....Batter pops up the ball SKY HIGH and trots to first all frustrated. Then the ball is misplayed and drops. Instead of the batter/runner being able to take advantage of that next base, they are scrambling to get to first after the drop. Thankfully I've never been subject to seeing anyone get thrown at at first due to their lack of hustle. Maybe you have.

In those situations, the weak grounder, the ugly pop up, you've already "messed up" in a way by not hitting the ball as solidly as you can. You owe it to yourself AND TO YOUR TEAMMATES to give your best effort to get to that bag. Don't choose to compound the poor hit with a poor run. Get you butt in gear and get down that line as quick as you can and put pressure on that fielder or make the other team PAY if they make a mistake. Never give up on any hit.

Always, Always, Always Hustle Down the Line

I'll tell you about another situation similar to this in another post. When a coach told me about this other situation, it was another one of those "wow" moments.