Wheel play: get the force at third

The corners charge while SS covers third and 2B covers first. CF fills second behind the rotation.

Open in Playmaker

Runners on first and second1 out

Defense Runner / batter Ball

Play progress

Show routes

Read the situation

One out. Runners on first and second. Wheel play is called.

Follow a position

The team’s job

Take the lead force at third on a clean, well-executed bunt defense.

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

Why this rotation works

This is a called team rotation. SS leaves second for third, so CF must fill second; 2B replaces the charging first baseman.

The goal

Take the lead force at third on a clean, well-executed bunt defense.

Watch for these mistakes

Charging without knowing who is covering the vacated base.
Throwing before the receiver is set.
Calling the wheel without practicing CF’s route to second.

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 Wheel play: get the force at third
Pitcher	Charge the middle for the bunt.
Catcher	Call the available out. This example has a clean bunt and a throw to third base.
First base	Charge the first-base side.
Second base	Cover first base.
Shortstop	Break to third on the called wheel play and give the bunter’s fielder a clear target.
Third base	Charge the bunt, secure the ball, and throw to SS at third on the catcher’s call.
Left field	Back up the bunt throw to third, continuing the line from the bunter’s fielder through SS.
Center field	Come in to cover second after SS breaks toward third. Arrive under control; do not collide with the runner.
Right field	Back up a possible follow-up throw from third to first.

Keep learning

Sacrifice bunt: runner on firstView the rotation Sacrifice bunt: runners on first and secondView the rotation

Softball Playmaker Nine-player fastpitch

Wheel play: get the force at third

Take the lead force at third on a clean, well-executed bunt defense.

Runners on first and second. 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 and second. Wheel play is called.
Charge the bunt. The corners and pitcher move on the bunt. Runners advance after the pitch is released.
Find the receiver. 3B fields. SS covers third, 2B covers first, and CF covers second.
Make the throw. On the catcher’s call, 3B throws to third for the out.

Every position has a job

P · Pitcher

Charge the middle for the bunt.

C · Catcher

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

1B · First base

Charge the first-base side.

2B · Second base

Cover first base.

SS · Shortstop

Break to third on the called wheel play and give the bunter’s fielder a clear target.

3B · Third base

Charge the bunt, secure the ball, and throw to SS at third on the catcher’s call.

LF · Left field

Back up the bunt throw to third, continuing the line from the bunter’s fielder through SS.

CF · Center field

Come in to cover second after SS breaks toward third. Arrive under control; do not collide with the runner.

RF · Right field

Back up a possible follow-up throw from third to first.

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

bravara.com/softball-plays/bunt-wheel-third