1. University of Northwestern Baseball 1st and 3rd / Bunt Defenses

2. Signs
**All signs that are given start with that sign and end with that sign.** BUNT DEFENSES 1 – Open Hand to Face Mask Regular Bunt “D” (1st = field is divided 1/3, 1st and 2nd = field is divided in half) 2 – Open Hand to Across Chest ---- Pick to 1st or 2nd?????? 3 – Open Hand Across Belt ---- Runner on 1st = 2B charges & 3B charges (kill play) Runner on 1st & 2nd = Wheel Play 4 - Open Hand down Leg ----Runner on 1st = 2B charges & pick to 1st off of 2B & P Runner on 1st & 2nd = Wheel Pick *All position player called picks will come off of two looks to the runner, then a nice count and a pick. All catcher called picks will come off of the catchers glove. Position player called picks can be made by rubbing the wrist and eye contact.
1st and 3rd DEFENSES
1 – Face Mask -----Catcher throwing straight through to 2B
2 – Chest -----Catcher throwing to 2B who is cutting off the ball (has option
to let go through if runner at 3B is not going.)
3 – Belt -----Catcher throwing to 3B
4 – Leg -----Catcher throwing straight back to pitcher forehead
5 - Arm -----Catcher throwing straight to SS collapsing at his position
**Any call with a #31 in it is a 1st to 3rd pick. All other #’s mean nothing.

3. 1st and 3rd : Play 1

4. Pitcher:. After pitch, duck as if the ball is being thrown to 2nd – be
Pitcher: After pitch, duck as if the ball is being thrown to 2nd – be ready for rundown backup at the plate or 1st base. On the fake throw, pretend to cut off the ball.
Catcher: Fake throw through to 2nd and snap the ball to 3rd
1st base: Cover 1st
2nd base: Move to cutoff ½ distance between pitcher’s mound and 2nd base
3rd base: Cover 3rd and be ready for throw
Shortstop: Cover 2nd
Left Field: Back up 3rd
Center Field: Move toward Left Center gap to back up throw to third or throw through to 2nd
Right Field: Move toward Right Center to back up throw through to 2nd base or throw back to 1st base

5. 1st and 3rd: Play 2

6. Pitcher:. After throwing the ball, the pitcher cuts the throw from
Pitcher: After throwing the ball, the pitcher cuts the throw from the catcher. The pitcher then: a) Throws the ball directly to 3rd; b) Fake to 3rd and pivot to throw to 2nd; c)Fake to 3rd, pivot and fake to 2nd and pivot and throw back to 3rd; d) after doing all the parts of C – hold the ball
Catcher: Throw the ball at a height of approximately 18” above the pitcher’s head
1st base: Cover 1st
2nd base: Move to ½ cutoff point between 2nd base and mound
3rd base: Take 1 step toward shortstop hole and move to 3rd base
Left Field: Back up play down Left field line
Center Field: Move to Left Center field to back up 3b or 2b
Right Field: Move to Right Center field to back up plays at 2b or 1b

7. 1st and 3rd: Play 3

8. Pitcher:. Pitcher throws the ball home prepares for the throw to
Pitcher: Pitcher throws the ball home prepares for the throw to go through to 2nd base. On the throw, pretend to cut off the ball.
Catcher: Throws through to 2nd base. Keep the ball one to two feet over the pitcher’s head
1st Base: Cover 1st, notify teammates of steal attempt and what type of steal attempt
2nd Base: Move to ½ way point between pitchers mound and 2nd base. Be ready to make a cut if the base runner at 3rd breaks for home
3rd Base: Delay for two count and move to 3rd, may entice the base runner at third to move too far off 3rd base bag
Shortstop: Cover 2nd base
Left Field: Be prepared to back up throws at 2nd or 3rd
Center Field: Be prepared to back up throws at 2nd
Right Field: Be prepared to back up throws at 1st

9. 1st and 3rd Play: Play 4 with RH Hitter

10. Pitcher:. Pitcher throws pitch and moves to fake the cut on the
Pitcher: Pitcher throws pitch and moves to fake the cut on the throwing of the ball to 2nd base. The pitcher should pretend to cut off the throw to 2nd.
Catcher: Catcher throws the ball to 2nd and throws the ball approximately 1 foot to 1 ½ feet over the pitcher’s head
1st Base: Cover 1st base
2nd Base: Cover 2nd base
3rd Base: Delay for a two count and then cover 3rd base
Shortstop: Make sure the ball has not been hit to the left side of the infield and then back up the throw to 2nd base
Left Field: Back up 3rd base
Center Field: Back up 2nd base
Right Field: Back up 1st base

11. 1st and 3rd: Play 4 with LH Hitter

12. Pitcher:. Pitcher throws pitch and moves to fake the cut on the
Pitcher: Pitcher throws pitch and moves to fake the cut on the throwing of the ball to 2nd base. The pitcher should pretend to cut off the ball
Catcher: Catcher throws the ball to 2nd and throws the ball approximately 1 foot to 1 ½ feet over the pitcher’s head
1st Base: Cover 1st base
2nd Base: Make sure the ball has not been hit to the left side of the infield and then back up the throw to 2nd base.
3rd Base: Delay for a two count and then cover 3rd base
Shortstop: Cover 2nd base
Left Field: Back up 3rd base
Center Field: Back up 2nd base
Right Field: Back up 1st base

13. 1st and 3rd: Play 5 – Early Break Defense

14. Pitcher:. The pitcher hears his teammates say, “Step Off,” turns
Pitcher: The pitcher hears his teammates say, “Step Off,” turns and throws the ball to the 2nd baseman coming up into the base line. After releasing the ball, back up 1st base
Catcher: Prepare for play at the plate
1st Base: Follow the base runner toward 2nd base allowing space to catch the ball moving forward to make the tag
2nd Base: Come up into the baseline, catch the ball and be ready to tag the base runner or force the runner back to 1st base
3rd Base: Delay for a two count and then move to the bag
Shortstop: Cover 2nd base
Left Field: Back up 3rd base
Center Field: Back up 2nd base
Right Field: Back up 1st base

15. 1st and 3rd: Play 6

16. Pitcher:. Pitcher delivers the ball to the plate and prepares for
Pitcher: Pitcher delivers the ball to the plate and prepares for the throw to go through to the shortstop
Catcher: Catcher looks at 3rd and throws to shortstop who should be about 15 feet to the left of 2nd base
1st Base: Cover 1st
2nd Base: Cover 2nd
3rd Base: Cover 3rd
Shortstop: Move toward 2nd and catch ball coming forward from 15 feet to the left of 2nd base – look to throw the ball back to home or 3rd for a pick off
Left Field: Back up 3rd
Center Field: Back up 2nd
Right Field: Back up 1st base line

17. Bunt Responsibilities

18. Pitcher:. Pitcher delivers the ball to the plate and follows to the
Pitcher: Pitcher delivers the ball to the plate and follows to the plate to be ready for the bunt
Catcher: Takes anything close to the dirt are of home plate
1st Base: Cover 1st base line. Take the ball if bunted hard up the 1st base line
2nd Base: Cover Push Bunt area in 3-4 hole, recognize 1st baseman moving forward and take base if 1st baseman vacates the bag
3rd Base: Cover 3rd base line. Take the ball if bunted hard up 3rd base line.
Shortstop: Move to the open base, 3rd if base runners on 1st and 2nd & 2nd if base runner on 1st. Shortstop must recognize where the ball is going and where they need to be
Left Field: Back up 3rd
Center Field: Back up 2nd
Right Field: Back up 1st base line

19. Bunt: Third Base Wheel

20. Pitcher: Cover and control the 1st base side of infield
Catcher: Come forward in front of home, field ball if in the dirt area around home
1st Base: Cover 1st
2nd Base: Cover 2nd
3rd Base: Charge the plate and control the 3rd base side of the infield
Shortstop: Cover 3rd
Left Field: Back up 3rd
Center Field: Back up 2nd
Right Field: Back up 1st base line

21. Bunt: Pinch with Early Break

22. Pitcher. Pitch the ball, cover and control the area in front of the
Pitcher Pitch the ball, cover and control the area in front of the mound
Catcher: Come out in front of home plate and be ready to take anything in the dirt area around home
1st Base: As the Shortstop hits his glove, charge home plate; cover and control the 1st base side of the infield
2nd Base: As the shortstop hits his glove, charge to cover 1st base
3rd Base: As the shortstop hits his glove, charge home plate; cover and control the 3rd base side of the infield
Shortstop: Hit the glove as the pitcher comes to his set position and looks at the runner at 2nd
Left Field: Back up 3rd base
Center Field: Back up 2nd base
Right Field: Back up 1st base line

23. Bunt: First Base Wheel

24. Pitcher: Throw the pitch and cover 3rd base side of the infield
Catcher: Be ready to field any ball in the dirt area in front of home
1st Base: Charge and cover the first base side of the infield
2nd Base: Cover 1st base
3rd Base: Cover 3rd base
Shortstop: Cover 2nd base
Left Field: Back up 3rd base
Center Field: Back up 2nd base
Right Field: Back up 1st base line

25. Bunt: Coverage with Runners at 1st and 2nd; Pinch

26. Pitcher: Pitcher releases the ball and moves to the front of the mound to field the bunt
Catcher: After the ball is bunted, moves out to retrieve the bunt at or before the ball gets out onto the infield grass
1st Base: When the shortstop hits his glove, he covers and controls 1st base line
2nd Base: When shortstop hits his glove, he covers 1st base
3rd Base: When shortstop hits his glove, he covers and controls 3rd base line
Shortstop: When the pitcher comes to his set position, he takes one step toward 3rd base and slaps his glove. With the base runner on 2nd base, we want this player to move toward 3rd base before the 3rd baseman moves from the bag
Left Field: Back up 3rd base
Center Field: Back up 2nd base
Right Field: Back up 1st base line

27. Bunt: First Base Wheel with 3rd Base Charge

28. Pitcher:. Pitcher releases the ball and moves toward the 3rd
Pitcher: Pitcher releases the ball and moves toward the 3rd base side of the infield to field the bunt
Catcher: After the ball is bunted, moves out to retrieve the bunt at or before the ball gets out onto the infield grass
1st Base: When the shortstop hits his glove, he covers and controls 1st base line
2nd Base: When shortstop hits his glove, he covers 1st base
3rd Base: When the shortstop hits his glove, he moves three steps toward home and on the bunt, retreats back to cover 3rd
Shortstop: The shortstop hits his glove and takes two steps toward 3rd and then goes back to cover 2nd base (A pick can be set up here)
Left Field: Back up 3rd base
Center Field: Back up 2nd base
Right Field: Back up 1st base line

29. Bunt: Second Base Charge

30. Pitcher: Pitcher covers the third base side of the infield
Catcher: Catcher takes any ball close to home
1st Base: Covers 1st base
2nd Base: On the slap of the shortstops glove, the 2nd baseman breaks for the plate and covers the 1st base side of the infield
3rd Base: Takes two steps toward home and makes sure the pitcher can take any ball that is bunted to 3rd base side
Shortstop: Cover 2nd base
Left Field: On the slap of the glove cover 3rd base
Center Field: Back up 2nd base
Right Field: Back up 1st base line

31. Bunt: Third Base Wheel on Suicide

32. Pitcher: Pitcher covers 1st base side of the infield
Catcher: Catcher takes any ball close to home plate
1st Base: Take three steps toward home an ensure the pitcher can catch any bunt on 1st base side
2nd Base: Cover 2nd base
3rd Base: Charge with the base runner if he or as he breaks for the plate
Shortstop: Cover 3rd base, be ready for a throwback
Left Field: Back up 3rd base
Center Field: Back up 2nd base
Right Field: Back up 1st base line