last time,
An article titled "Basic Outfield Defense Techniques and Tips for Beginners in Amateur Baseball"So, I wrote about outfielders in general.
This time, I'd like to write about how to handle hits in the outfield.
There aren't that many patterns for outfield hits.
There are roughly three types of hits: hits that go over your head, hits that drop in front of you, and hits that roll past you.
A fly ball has a high chance of being an out, while a line drive has a low trajectory and is less likely to go over the batter's head, but it has a high probability of being a hit.
I'd like to consider different approaches depending on the type of batted ball.
KeithJJ / Pixabay
A hit that goes over your head
Frankly speaking, there's nothing we can do about it.
However, while there is a decision to make on the first step whether to go forward or backward, if it's a hit that goes straight to the fence, you can only think that it's the pitcher's fault for giving up the hit.
What I dislike most is when a ball is hit so far behind me that I just can't catch it. I feel like I could have caught it if I had reacted a little better, which makes me feel like I messed up, and I personally hate that.
Anyway, for balls hit behind you, there's nothing you can do but chase after them with all your might.
If the ball is likely to hit the fence, maintain a little space between yourself and the fence and handle the rebound ball calmly.
Many people panic when handling the ball in this cushioning situation, but try to stay calm, catch it properly, and smoothly return it to the relay while keeping in mind the throw to third base.
At this time, be careful not to throw the ball too high.
If the relay throw fails to connect, the risk of the runner advancing further increases.
For practice, during outfield practice, simply watch other people's hits and practice making your own judgments, such as "this one's in front" or "this one's behind."
This is a good opportunity to practice and improve your ability to judge the ball's trajectory.
Also, practicing playing defense slightly further forward can serve as practice for chasing down opponents.
If the second baseman and shortstop have a wide defensive range to the back, the outfielders can naturally move back as well, making things easier for them, but due to team circumstances, it can't be helped.
A hit that falls in front of me
This is quite difficult to judge, and the key is to be able to recognize the large bounce that is unique to softball.
The ball comes to a spot that makes you think you might be able to catch it, but it's a line drive with not much of an angle, and the way it travels varies, so it's difficult to judge.
Basically, you should move forward, but it's important to cut your losses early if you think you won't be able to catch it.
If you wait in an awkward position, the ball will go over your head and become a triple or a home run.
It's difficult to charge straight ahead, but if you charge all the way in, you can hit it with your body and at least knock it down.
Liner flies, if in doubt, wait (and in some cases, back off to prevent the fly from flying over your head), while fly flies, if in doubt, can try going forward with less damage.
That's because the fly in front is angled upwards, so even if you can't dive in and catch it, it's less likely to be as disastrous as a liner.
A ground ball that rolls through the infield.
This is practically a guaranteed hit, so focus on making a secure catch.
I'll run as far ahead as I can and make sure I don't lose sight of it.
On rough outfield fields, the ball can move unexpectedly, so don't be overly cautious and catch it carefully.
When a runner sees the ball deflected by the outfielder, they will try to advance to the next base, so make sure to catch it securely and quickly return it to the relay thrower.
When attempting a stab throw, one-handed catching is necessary, but stick to the basic principle of "catch first, then throw."
Afterword
For outfielders, once you've mastered the basics of "getting to the landing spot (running)" and "catching the ball," it's mostly a matter of judgment.
The only way to hone your judgment is to watch batted balls from the outfield.
Even when it's not your turn, if you observe as if you were actually performing the action, you'll accumulate experience points.
There's a limit to the number of pitches you can catch, so try to remember every single one so you don't waste a single one.
For beginners in amateur baseball: Outfield defense - things to do between plays
Basic Outfield Defense Techniques and Tips for Beginners in Amateur Baseball
This is a summary page of articles I've written about amateur baseball.
A collection of articles on batting, fielding, and base running tips for beginners in amateur baseball.
