Batting in the 5 hole

Better than 6-9. Not as good as 1-4.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

The #1 hitter is usually a contact hitter with speed. #2 is usually a hitter who does everything good. He should be able to bunt or hit the ball to the right side if there's a runner on second. The #3 should have some power and be able to drive in runs. #4 should have the most power. 5-9 goes in order from best to worst, with the 9 hitter being the worst

Gimages....congratulations to your son on his first JV game....must have been exciting....for all of you.....at #5 in the order.....safe to say his coach considers him a good hitter......but one thing we learned early on.....prior to Varsity ball.....the beginning of the season lineup.....seldom finishes the season in the same order.....changes will be made...

#4 is your power guy, #2 handles the bat well enough to move runners and your #3 and #5 are usually interchangeable guys who hit for avg, drive in runs and have some pop. Your #5 guy is a solid offensive player...#9 should be the best baserunner of the #7 and #8 guys....He may be on base when the better hitters are up..
So I have to disagree with a few of the previous posts..

I want a five hole guy that can mash. He is usually going to get alot of rbi opportunities. Most quality teams will pitch around or really tough to the four hole guy. I like a guy in the five hole that is alot like my #3 guy. The bottom line is 3 4 5 are always our best hitters. #1 might not be a very good hitter but has a really good eye for the ball draws walks can bunt and can run. #2 is alot like #1. Every coach has different opinions on this thats fine. The last thing I want is my #4 never getting to swing at good pitches because the guy behind him can not protect him. You have to have a dangerous bat behind #4. It does not work like this. #1 is best and then you go on to #2 then #3 and on down the line where 5 thru 9 are weaker. Sometimes my second best lead off hitter will be in the 9 hole. Sometimes I will hit a great fb hitter in the 8 hole hoping that he will get some because he is down in the order. It is generally considered that your best overall hitter will be #3 and your best power hitter #4. But that is not always the case.

Coaches all think different. Some load their best hitters in the top order and some spread them out. It depends on the coach of what kind of spot the number batter is in.

My son's JV year he started the year in the 2-hole, moved to 7 or 8, then ended up batting clean-up the last half of the season. The others are right, the line-up may change on a game by game basis until the coach gets the placement figured out.

Thanks everyone! Learn something everyday.

Well, our leadoff hitter is the guy with the best on-base percentage, and someone who can really run the bases well. #1 has to be a run scoring machine. Our #2 has to be able to consistently put the ball in play, hit to the right side, be an excellent bunter and somebody who can also run well. #3 is simply the best hitter on the team, hits for high average, power and drives in runs. #4 is a big power guy, and someone who will drive in runs consistently. #5 hitter is a lot like #4 but usually a bit slower runner. #5 has to be able to protect the #4 guy. #6 hitter, I want someone who gets on base consistently, has some ability to drive the ball and is a good baserunner, sorta similar another #1 or 2 guy. #7 & #8 are usually filled by hitters who aren't the best option at one of the other lineup spots and my #9 hitter might as well be another #1. I will frequently put the slower runner at #7 and the faster runner at #8 to not be as likely to clog the basepaths for #9 & #1. #9 has to get on base with regularity and run very well.

The #5 hitter is one of the main run producers on the team. On our 18u team the last two years, the usual #5 hitter was a 6'4" kid who played in the Area Code Games, so that'll tell you what we think of the #5 hole.

i myself hit 8th on varsity at the beginning of the year. then ended up hitting 2nd. imagine a 6'0 200lb catcher with no speed hitting second lol anyways...the lineup almost always changes. the only spots that might not change are the 3 4 spots becuase going into the season you usually know who has the most power.

Excellent post 06CatchersDad I like the way you think.

For us it is all about the make up of your team--Ideally we like a # 5 guy who can mash and have decent speed