WFHS Baseball Situation Book
Click HERE for the WFHS Animated Situation Book
This animated situation book assumes the "most likely scenario," but it's important to remember that baseball isn't a "canned" game where every happens the way it's drawn out in practice. This is a thinking man's game and we need to be prepared to react and respond to the little things that occur in a game. These little things often determine outcomes of games. Through practice and a good bit of visioning, we can equip ourselves to anticipate these unexpectated scenarios.
As you view the the scenarios involving hits to the outfield, bear in mind that the idea is to kill the play aggressively and intelligently. If a hitter hits a single and he's going no further than first, there is no reason to throw the ball all over the field. Outfielders need to hit that cut-off man squarely and the cut-off man needs to turn and hustle the ball into the infield to kill the action. We don't need unnecessary throws.
As we'll describe in the Basics Book, everyone has someplace to be. Everyone is in every play and the play begins with our recognition of the score, the pitch location and type, the count, the inning, and more. Be moving on every play and consider the play still "live" until the umpire raises his hand to get time.
The key with the outfield hit situations is not so much where the runners are when the play starts as it is how the ball is hit and where. We know, for instance, that a sure double will not be played to first base, so there is no reason to look for action there when getting the ball in. The outfielder's body orientation and position should show consideration of the outfielder's recognition that a sure double is going to call for a throw to the cut to keep the runner from advancing to third. Know where your runners are and be familiar enough with the game to anticipate where the play will be on balls hit anywhere on the field.
WFHS Baseball Jaguar Basics Book (DRAFT)
Click HERE for the WFHS Baseball Jaguar Basics Book (DRAFT version only).
As a member of the West Florida High School baseball team, you play a role in constructing an illustrious history of excellence that is well-known throughout the region. You have a responsibility to take every reasonable and ethical action to maintain that great reputation through your personal mental and physical preparation. That preparation is a year-long process that includes conditioning and skills work with and apart from your team.
Once the team is formed in the latter part of January, your coaching staff’s focus is on building a team and tweaking fundamentals. This effort is maximized and optimized when players are abundantly prepared for the season’s work by the time the team is formed.
Initiative on your part is absolutely essential. This manual will aid in your preparation as it contains information on the minimum standards, skills, and techniques we expect of our players. Deviations from descriptions contained here will occur from time to time, but as a rule, what you read in this manual contains the foundation of what we expect from you. It is nonetheless a foundation. We intend to build on this foundation and refine finer points of the game so we can compete effectively at every level. Learn and know everything in this manual, but be prepared to learn and know more.
Show up for try-outs with a thorough working knowledge of everything in this manual that pertains to you and be ready to go out and win championships.