Wheel fake: catcher pickoff at second

Show the wheel rotation, then have the catcher throw behind the runner at second. A fastpitch adaptation of the wheel fake.

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. The wheel fake is called.

Follow a position

The team’s job

Catch a runner off second after the pitch reaches the catcher.

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

Why this rotation works

The fake only works when the catcher and second baseman share the timing. In fastpitch, this example uses the catcher’s throw after the pitch, not a baseball-style pitcher pickoff before delivery.

The goal

Catch a runner off second after the pitch reaches the catcher.

Watch for these mistakes

The runner animation or instruction implying a lead before pitch release.
2B arriving late after selling the fake.
Throwing when the runner has already returned safely.

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 fake: catcher pickoff at second
Pitcher	After delivering the pitch, loop around the first-base side and get behind home for a possible return throw from second.
Catcher	Make the pickoff throw to second.
First base	Charge the right side to show the bunt, then recover to first as the catcher throws to second.
Second base	Fake toward first, then cover second.
Shortstop	Break toward third as if the wheel play is on, drawing the runner’s attention away from second.
Third base	Charge the third-base side.
Left field	Move behind CF, ready if the pickoff gets through the backup.
Center field	Back up the throw to second.
Right field	Move behind CF, ready if the pickoff gets through the backup.

Keep learning

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

Softball Playmaker Nine-player fastpitch

Wheel fake: catcher pickoff at second

Catch a runner off second after the pitch reaches the catcher.

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. The wheel fake is called.
Deliver the pitch. The pitch reaches the catcher. SS shows the break to third and 2B fakes toward first.
Break back to second. 2B returns to the bag. The catcher makes the pickoff throw if the runner is still off.
Apply the tag. 2B receives and tags the returning runner. CF backs up the throw.

Every position has a job

P · Pitcher

After delivering the pitch, loop around the first-base side and get behind home for a possible return throw from second.

C · Catcher

Make the pickoff throw to second.

1B · First base

Charge the right side to show the bunt, then recover to first as the catcher throws to second.

2B · Second base

Fake toward first, then cover second.

SS · Shortstop

Break toward third as if the wheel play is on, drawing the runner’s attention away from second.

3B · Third base

Charge the third-base side.

LF · Left field

Move behind CF, ready if the pickoff gets through the backup.

CF · Center field

Back up the throw to second.

RF · Right field

Move behind CF, ready if the pickoff gets through the backup.

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

bravara.com/softball-plays/wheel-fake-second