First & Third Booklet — Coaches Lab

First & Third

First & Third: Throw Through to Second

Runners on 1st & 3rd 1 out Catcher throws to 2B; watch the runner at 3rd

Runners on first and third; the runner on first breaks for second. The catcher throws through to second for the tag — but the whole defense is watching the runner at third.

Ball Bag Backup

P

Pitcher Backup

Watch the runner at third and be ready to cut the throw if he breaks for home.
C

Catcher Ball

Check the runner at third first, then throw through to second; if the runner at third goes, come up throwing home.
1B

First Base Bag

Trail the play and cover first base.
2B

Second Base Bag

Cover second and apply the tag; be ready to fire home if the third-base runner breaks.
3B

Third Base Ball

Hold the runner on third and take a snap throw if he strays too far.
SS

Shortstop Backup

Back up the throw at second from the shortstop side.
LF

Left Field Backup

Move in to back up the play.
CF

Center Field Backup

Back up second base.
RF

Right Field Backup

Back up second base from the right.

Key point

First-and-third with a steal: the defense's first job is the runner at third. Tag the steal only if the runner at third can't score.

Drill

First-and-third reps: catcher reads the third-base runner, then decides throw-through, cut, or home.

Watch for

Defenders so locked on the steal at second that the runner at third trots home — eyes on third first.

First & Third

First & Third: Cut and Go Home

Runners on 1st & 3rd 1 out Cut man reads the runner — home if he breaks

Same first-and-third look, but the runner on third gambles for the plate. The pitcher cuts the throw to second and fires home.

Ball Bag Backup

P

Pitcher Ball

Line up in front of the mound as the cut man; if the runner at third breaks, cut it and throw home.
C

Catcher Ball

Throw through firmly but a touch lower, so the cut man can read it and grab it if the runner goes.
1B

First Base Bag

Trail the batter-runner and cover first.
2B

Second Base Bag

Cover second; if the throw is cut, trust the read.
3B

Third Base Ball

Hold your runner and be ready for a snap throw.
SS

Shortstop Backup

Back up second base.
LF

Left Field Backup

Back up the play.
CF

Center Field Backup

Back up second base.
RF

Right Field Backup

Back up second base from the right.

Key point

The cut man is the whole play: he reads the runner at third and decides in a heartbeat — let it go to second, or cut and throw home.

Drill

First-and-third defense with a live runner at third; the cut man practices the read-and-react both ways.

Watch for

A cut man who freezes — indecision lets the run score AND the trail runner reach second.

First & Third

First & Third: Concede the Run, Take the Out

Runners on 1st & 3rd 1 out Throw through to 2B; bank the out, let R3 score

Sometimes the right play is the simple one: throw straight through to second, take the sure out, and concede the run from third. A pre-pitch team decision based on score and outs.

Ball Bag Backup

P

Pitcher Backup

Stay out of the throwing lane and back up the play.
C

Catcher Ball

Throw straight through to second for the out — you've conceded the run, so don't gamble.
1B

First Base Bag

Trail the batter-runner and cover first.
2B

Second Base Bag

Cover second, take the throw, and apply the tag.
3B

Third Base Bag

Cover third base.
SS

Shortstop Backup

Back up the throw at second.
LF

Left Field Backup

Back up the play.
CF

Center Field Backup

Back up second base.
RF

Right Field Backup

Back up second base from the right.

Key point

Know the score and the outs BEFORE the pitch — sometimes the smart play is to concede the run and bank the out, no heroics.

Drill

Situation cards: call out score/outs/inning and have the team shout the plan (cut, throw-through, or concede) before each rep.

Watch for

A defense that 'concedes' but then airmails second anyway — if you're taking the out, make the routine throw and get it.

First & Third

First & Third: Run-and-Hold

Runners on 1st & 3rd 1 out Trap R1 in a rundown; hold R3 at third

The runner on first takes off. Instead of throwing it around, the defense traps him in a rundown between first and second — and holds the runner at third the whole time.

Ball Bag Backup

P

Pitcher Backup

Trail in to back up the rundown and watch the runner at third.
C

Catcher Ball

Throw down to the shortstop, but keep your eyes on the runner at third.
1B

First Base Bag

Close the rundown from the first-base end.
2B

Second Base Ball

Take the throw or run the trapped runner, glancing at the runner on third.
3B

Third Base Ball

Hold the runner on third and take a snap throw if he breaks.
SS

Shortstop Bag

Receive at second and start the rundown on the runner from first.
LF

Left Field Backup

Back up the play.
CF

Center Field Backup

Back up second base.
RF

Right Field Backup

Back up first base.

Key point

Run-and-hold: trap the runner from first in a rundown but NEVER lose sight of the runner at third — the rundown's whole job is to hold him.

Drill

First-and-third with R1 stealing: the defense executes the rundown while a coach sends R3 on any careless throw — punish the lapse.

Watch for

Defenders chasing the rundown with their backs to third — one fielder always faces the runner at third.

First & Third

First & Third: Pitchout, Back-Pick Third

Runners on 1st & 3rd 0 out Pitchout → C back-picks R3 leaning

Expecting the runner on third to get greedy, the defense calls a pitchout and the catcher fires to third to back-pick him.

Ball Bag Backup

P

Pitcher Backup

After the pitchout, break toward third to back up the throw.
C

Catcher Ball

On the pitchout, come up throwing to third behind the leaning runner.
1B

First Base Bag

Cover first base and hold the trail runner.
2B

Second Base Bag

Cover second base in case the runner from first breaks.
3B

Third Base Bag

Sneak back to third, give a target, and apply the tag.
SS

Shortstop Backup

Back up third base behind the bag.
LF

Left Field Backup

Sprint in to back up third base.
CF

Center Field Backup

Drift in to back up.
RF

Right Field Backup

Drift in to back up the infield.

Key point

A pitchout takes the bat out of it and gives the catcher a clean look — call it when the runner at third is getting greedy with his lead.

Drill

Pitchout-and-back-pick reps to third; the third baseman times his break while the pitcher and shortstop rotate to back up.

Watch for

Calling the pitchout but the third baseman not sneaking back in time — the back-pick only works if the bag is covered.