Two Strike Drill

By: Scott Moore

EQUIPMENT: Game gear

This is a very simple and easy to do drill, especially at the end of practice. It usually can be completed in 15 to 20 minutes. This drill teaches two strike focus on concentration, and everyone is cheering for each other, plus it's fun for the players and they �create' their own conditioning program. We teach our players with two strikes to shorten up, get closer to the plate, and try to stay alive. This drill reinforces that philosophy. Plus, the players get to watch the coaches run sometimes!

SETUP: Coach throws live arm batting practice. Eight fielders, including a catcher, all in their appropriate playing positions. There should be a coach behind backstop to call balls and strikes.

HOW IT WORKS:

Our team has 11 players, so we use 8 of them in the field, with a coach pitching, an three players ready to hit. Each batter steps up to the plate with a 0-2 count. Each batter gets a chance to reach base successfully by getting a base hit, working a walk, or getting hit by a pitch. Since the count is 0-2, they only get one strike to be successful.

If the batter fouls it off, then they are still hitting. If they swing and miss, or take a called third strike, then they are out. Fielders will also make plays, so when the hitter makes contact he is off to the races. As a player completes his time at bat, then he takes the field and someone else comes in to get ready to hit. No bunting allowed, since there are two strikes.

We make the team run foul poles for every strike out, and half foul poles for every fair or foul ball that results in an out. If a player gets a walk or is hit by a pitch, then we take away a half pole run, and for every successful base hit, we take away a full foul pole run. The entire team runs, regardless of how they did as individuals.

If the team ends at zero or minus, then the coaches run a set of flag poles.