FALL SOFTBALL PRACTICE
Tuesday, October 3
CRAZY HOME RUN DERBY: Played by Wolverines this afternoon. An original game created by Head Coach Juli Greep.
Greatly simplified, here’s how it works:
1. There are two teams.
2. Home runs score big, of course, but balls slammed for a base hit or extra bases earn points both for the offense as well as, if the balls are caught, tally a sore for the defense (+ bonus points for diving catches!)
3. All batters, even when balls are caught, must run the bases to be officially tagged out. (Exception is a strikeout.) Almost every out is a pickle!
2. Home runs score big, of course, but balls slammed for a base hit or extra bases earn points both for the offense as well as, if the balls are caught, tally a sore for the defense (+ bonus points for diving catches!)
3. All batters, even when balls are caught, must run the bases to be officially tagged out. (Exception is a strikeout.) Almost every out is a pickle!
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| Wesley Wolverine freshman #4 P/ UT Abbey Mayse (Cecilton, MD) tags out sophomore #23 UT Brooke Retkowski (Baltimore, MD) running far from the base path per the rules of “crazy home run derby”! |
4. Players also score points based on the number of bags touched as she must run in order around the bases, BUT – here’s where it really get fun & skillful for offense and defense -- taking the base paths is OPTIONAL, i.e., a runner crossing first can head to second via the outfield, if she likes, to avoid a tag or, as freshman #24 P/OF Zoee Garis (Lebanon, PA) demonstrated, she can round third and head for home through the dugout!
5. Also, a batter clearing the fence with a home run must be tagged out on the base paths like anyone else – and she can continue running around the diamond racking up points at each bag until the offense has retrieved the ball (yes, behind the fence) and run her down.
6. There’s more to it, but that is the rough basics.
Sounds crazy? It definitely deserves the name “crazy home run derby”. And, it worked amazingly well. The players really enjoyed it, while it took all of their softball skills to get it done.
5. Also, a batter clearing the fence with a home run must be tagged out on the base paths like anyone else – and she can continue running around the diamond racking up points at each bag until the offense has retrieved the ball (yes, behind the fence) and run her down.
6. There’s more to it, but that is the rough basics.
Sounds crazy? It definitely deserves the name “crazy home run derby”. And, it worked amazingly well. The players really enjoyed it, while it took all of their softball skills to get it done.
Note: freshman #17 P/ 1B Juli Neel (Haddon Township, NJ) had TWO home runs and junior #13 UT Ashley Royer (Lititz, PA) had ONE home run.
