Adam Howitt's Blog

Sep 24
2003

Successful Softball

At : 9:29 AM | Link | Softball | Comments (0) | Send | 690 Views |

After a season without a win in the Spring of 2003 and only one win for the team in the subsequent season when I wasn't playing, Team Bad Guy won our second game (ever) last night and I played a good part in the win. 2 RBIs and 2 runs with only 1 out.

My first hit was a pretty lame drive just left of second base that got Jeff out at second and I ended up at first. I remembered a lot of things my old tennis coach had told me about visualizing the ball going over the net to the part of the court where you want to put it, so for my second hit, that is what I did. As I stood to bat I pictured the ball sailing past the third baseman and when I came to hit it went just as planned. The same thing happened for my next hit where I was able to drive a looping ball around the first baseman towards right field, as planned.

My last hit of the night came with 1 man down, 1 on third and us trying to put extra insurance runs on the board. I've never been in this position before so it was nice to have an opportunity to try to homer the ball and I nearly made it past the fence, again as a result of seeing the ball in my mind rising high off the bat and dropping just over the fence. It earned me a sacrifice fly since Jeff raced home.

I'll be glad to see Mark post something positive for once over at Clemudelt.

Sep 10
2003

What is Softball?

At : 10:02 AM | Link | Sport, Softball | Comments (1) | Send | 400 Views |

On NPR this morning Sports Illustrated editor Frank Deford suggested that if Baseball is like Marriage whereas Football (American) is like Sex. What does that make Softball?

Aug 29
2003

Brit learns Softball

At : 11:28 AM | Link | Softball | Comments (0) | Send | 574 Views |

Last night as things were winding down at work I took some time with my workmates and teammates for the slowpitch Softball league we play in. I wanted some general strategies for playing since last season I made some fundamental screw ups. As I gather new tips from them, I'll add them to this post. Here goes:

Batting

  • If the count is 3-0 don't swing, take the opportunity to walk

    • Running

  • If there are 2 outs, run on anything as soon as the batter connects
  • If there are less than 2 outs and it's a fly ball to right field either 1. run to about halfway and watch the catcher. Advance if it is dropped or return and stay if it is caught since you will be unlikely to make the advance after returning. This is usually a strategy for first base or if the catcher is poor. OR 2. stay on base until it is caught if you are between 2nd and 3rd and the catcher has good hands.
  • If you aren't being forced you must be tagged with the glove (with ball in it) or with the ball itself (risky since the ball can be knocked from their hand). If not they just need to have a foot on the base when they have the ball.
  • You can only overrun first base and when you do, you must stay to the right of the line extending from home base to first base.

    • Listening to base coaches

  • As you approach second base you should be looking for signals from the third base coach
  • At this point (s)he will suggest you stop (at second), continue or go home.
  • As you approach third the signals could be slide, stayup or go home. If they try to tell you to go back ignore them since they have screwed up. Hesitation is more likely to get you out than following their initial instruction.