One of the best ways to keep yourself in the game and to help your team is to back up on every play when the ball is not hit to you. By backing up you can keep a runner or runners from advancing on an errant throw. Position - Right Field Situation: Runner on First, batter bunts the ball, ball is fielded and an errant throw is made to first. If you are backing up first on the play, you may be able to keep the runner from going to third and you most likely will keep the batter on first. Position - Center Field Situation: Runner on First, ball is hit back to the pitcher, Ball is fielded and an errant throw is made to second. If you don't move, the runner will easily make it to third. If you are backing, the runner will most likely have to stay at second. Position - Left Field Situation: Runner on first, double play ball hit to the first baseman, first baseman overthrows the shortstop. If you are backing up second you will probably keep the lead runner from advancing to third base. If not, it's an easy extra base and maybe a run. Situation: Runner on second, batter bunts the ball, ball is fielded by the pitcher who makes an errant throw trying to get the runner going to third. If you are backing up the play, you may keep the runner from advancing, saving a run, and the batter from going to second. As the above examples illustrate, backing up can prevent a bad situation from getting worse...

THE BALL HIT TO THE PITCHER

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   When the ball is hit, the Pitcher should field the ball and throw it to the First Baseman who should be covering first base. If the ball is being thrown away at first base and seeing that the Catcher is running to back up first base, the Pitcher should at that time cover home plate. (Note: the Catcher only backs up first base when the ball is hit to the Pitcher or towards the left side of the infield and there are no runners on base.)

 

   The Catcher should run to back up first base as soon as the Pitcher fields the ball and makes his throw to first base. The Pitcher may possibly throw the ball away at first base and the Catcher might have to field the ball as the back up and make his throw towards second base.

   

   The First Baseman should move to step on first base and wait to catch the ball thrown by the Pitcher.

   

   The Second Baseman should run behind second base backing up the Pitcher. The Shortstop should be covering second base. The Pitcher may miss the ball, or else throw the ball away at first base once he fields it. The runner could be advancing in the direction of second base.

   

   The Third Baseman should move in the direction of the ball in case the Pitcher fields or misses it, then he runs to cover third base when the Pitcher fields the ball.

   

   The Shortstop also, should move towards the ball in case the Pitcher fields or misses it, and then he should cover second base when the Pitcher fields the ball.

   

   The Left Fielder should run towards the ball backing up the Pitcher and the Center Fielder. As soon as the Pitcher fields the ball and makes his throw to first base he then runs to back up third base.

   

   The Center Fielder should run towards the ball (in case it gets past the Pitcher, Second Baseman, or the Shortstop) backing up the Second Baseman, who should be backing up the Shortstop, who should back up the Pitcher  while covering second base.