Stolen Bases in opening Game in Cape League

The Cotuit Kettleers had a wonderful crowd on opening day at beautiful Lowell Park and won vs. Orleans 4-2. The Orleans team are always so well coached by Kelly Nicholson so very enjoyable to play the Firebirds.

We were able to pull a “pre-set” double steal that helped us go ahead. With men on 1^st and 3^rd, left handed pitcher on the mound, the runner on 1^st base took off on 1^st movement by the pitcher, the runner on 3^rd base casually takes steps down the line to see if the LH pitcher will pick behind the runner leaving 1^st base. The pitcher did throw behind the runner at 1^st base and the runner at 3^rd read the ball (what I call “white out”) out of the 1^st baseman’s hand throwing to the SS at 2B and began his run toward home.  The runner at 1^st continued a straight steal into 2^nd base, did not stop half way, which is the best way to draw a throw from the 1^st baseman. As the runner slid into 2^nd base safely the runner from third was 2/3 of the way home and did not even draw a throw from the SS as he crossed home plate.

It is always fun to work on base stealing each day in practice and figure out different ways to move runners up a base and possibly score a run. I encourage coaches to practice base stealing as often as they give their team batting practice.