Sacrifice bunt: runner on first

Charge the bunt with a clear receiver at first. The catcher reads the runners and calls the throw.

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Runner on first1 out

Defense Runner / batter Ball

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Read the situation

One out. Runners on first. The defense expects a sacrifice bunt.

Follow a position

The team’s job

Get the out at first and keep the next base covered.

One defined rotation for nine-player fastpitch. Follow your coach’s calls when your team uses a different system.

Why this rotation works

When the first baseman charges, 2B must beat the batter to first. The shortstop handles second while the defense fields the bunt.

The goal

Get the out at first and keep the next base covered.

Watch for these mistakes

Charging without knowing who is covering the vacated base.
Throwing before the receiver is set.
Chasing a difficult lead out instead of taking the available out at first.

Walk it through at practice

Set the runners and call the situation before contact. Have each defender name their job, then walk through the rotation together. Repeat with the ball live and stop at the receiving position to check the cutoff, coverage, and backup.

If fielders lose time getting the ball out of the glove, use the quick hands transfer drill to practice a clean exchange before adding the runners and coverage.

All nine responsibilities

Position responsibilities for Sacrifice bunt: runner on first
Pitcher	Charge the bunt, secure the ball, and throw to 2B at first on the catcher’s call.
Catcher	Call the available out. This example has a clean bunt and a throw to first base.
First base	Charge the first-base side.
Second base	Cover first base.
Shortstop	Cover second base.
Third base	Charge the left side. If another fielder takes the bunt, recover quickly toward third.
Left field	Be the second backup at second: go deeper than center field, on the line of a follow-up throw from first.
Center field	Back up a possible follow-up throw from first to second. You’re the first backup.
Right field	Back up the bunt throw to first, beyond 2B on the incoming throw’s line.

Keep learning

Sacrifice bunt: runners on first and secondView the rotation

Softball Playmaker Nine-player fastpitch

Sacrifice bunt: runner on first

Get the out at first and keep the next base covered.

Runner on first. 1 out. Positions shown at the finish. Yellow shows the ball. Coral squares show runners.

How it works

Read the situation. One out. Runners on first. The defense expects a sacrifice bunt.
Charge the bunt. The corners and pitcher move on the bunt. Runners advance after the pitch is released.
Find the receiver. P fields. 2B covers first; SS covers second.
Make the throw. On the catcher’s call, P throws to first for the out. With P fielding, 3B recovers to third behind the runner.

Every position has a job

P · Pitcher

Charge the bunt, secure the ball, and throw to 2B at first on the catcher’s call.

C · Catcher

Call the available out. This example has a clean bunt and a throw to first base.

1B · First base

Charge the first-base side.

2B · Second base

Cover first base.

SS · Shortstop

Cover second base.

3B · Third base

Charge the left side. If another fielder takes the bunt, recover quickly toward third.

LF · Left field

Be the second backup at second: go deeper than center field, on the line of a follow-up throw from first.

CF · Center field

Back up a possible follow-up throw from first to second. You’re the first backup.

RF · Right field

Back up the bunt throw to first, beyond 2B on the incoming throw’s line.

Bravara standard defense. Adapt to your coach’s coverage calls. Diagrams illustrate responsibilities and are not to scale.

bravara.com/softball-plays/bunt-first