Baseball Fundamentals

Sasi Karuparti
2012 Summer Baseball Camp with Coach Dick Birmingham June 4-8, 2012

Hitting: Hitting Position

Hitting Position: Chin pointing toward pitcher Weight on back foot; back knee bent Stride: short, straight, same, soft Shoulder falls into natural slot Front foot aligned to middle corner of home plate, wide but comfortable stance

Hitting: Striding Position

Striding Position: Stride: short, straight, same, soft Stride serves as a timing mechanism Weight stays on back foot, do not come forward Hands cocked

Hitting: Contact Point Position

Contact Point Position: Bat level Head on or behind back knee Back leg folded, front leg straight Bat drives forward Head follows ball Square-up, not a circular movement

Hitting: Follow Through Position

Follow Through Position: Similar to Contact Point Position Head on or behind back knee Back leg folded, front leg straight Bat drives forward Head follows ball Bat follows the ball After Follow Through Position, release

Fielding: Ready Position

Ready Position: Weight on the balls of the feet Be ready to move in 10 directions: forward, shallow left, left, deep left, shallow right, right, deep right, down, backwards, up Hands facing each other Waist slightly bend Chin up, facing batter Ready to act if ball is hit Creep into position, two steps, feet somewhat outside shoulders

Fielding: Fielding Position

Fielding Position: Wide base Two explosive steps, plant foot and spread foot, get wide Glove down moment spread foot hits the ground Big pocket facing the ball Other hand on top of glove so ball does not jump out Secure glove, ready to throw Weight on front feet Charge the ball if it is traveling slowly

Fielding: Throwing Position

Throwing Position: Weight on back foot Thumb to the thigh, fingers to the sky Control the V, goes straight to the target Stride-test the ice, then throw Back foot pivots

Pitching Positions

Signal Position: Hands together, waiting for signal from catcher

Rocker Step/Pivot: Rocker step is a small step to the side, then pivot front foot away from body

Balance Position: Front knee lifted, leg below knee; knee level or above the hip level; hit position, not go through it

Striding Position: Front foot goes down then forward, hands go past thigh to the sky (see throwing position); ball is thrown

Follow Through Position: Back foot to sky, back flat, facing catcher, go into ready position

Ready Position

Sliding Position

Sliding Position: One leg bent, forming a four Head and hands up Fall and slide toward base

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Base Running

Base Running: Hands pump up: hip to lip Run past first base, break down quickly, go if bad throw to first Second and third, run to bag Curve a few steps away from second/third then turn to align to next bag Run to home from third in foul territory, run back to third in fair territory Charge the bag, make baseman get off bag Run past home

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