Exciting Way To End A Game

Nice.

I had 2 kids in LL who could and would do that at any time. Neither of them ever were put out.  A couple of other managers would tell me I shouldn't let the players do that because it wouldn't work on the big field.   I would tell them, #1, yes it does, just not so easily, and #2, keep the guys off third and you won't have to worry about it.  

I bet the catcher went home feeling like doo-doo.

He should because this was all his fault.  I teach my catchers....

1.  After the pitch look at the runners to make sure they are heading back to their base

2.  Never throw from knees with runners on base

3.  Never throw rainbows back to pitcher - it doesn't have to be 100 MPH but put it on a line

The third baseman should feel bad too...he stood back and watched it happen...and never alerted anyone.  If he goes to the bag after the pitch, this never happens.

Actually, it could happen a lot more than it does if teams had the guts to do it.  By the 7th inning, the catcher is tired...and unfortunately tired people don't think as well as those who aren't tired....it's a known fact.  You figure the runner is a quarter way home by the time the catcher releases it and breaks on the throw...the pitcher has a second or so to realize what's going on....the catcher has to realize it...then the pitcher has to make a decent throw home and get a tag put on...all in less than 3 seconds.  If you think about it, the odds of being safe are probably pretty good. 

I like it when kids start thinking on their own and come to me with something that they have spotted. (a weakness in the opponents game) and then they try to see how they can take advantage of it. These guys might of detected this flaw in the 1st inning.

Runner never looked at the 3B.  He went on the catcher's inattention and lob throw back to the pitcher.

edit:  That being said, the 3B should have reacted and said something.  Anything.

R3 took a couple of shuffle steps (with his chest to the pitcher) after the C caught the pitch, and broke hard--in a sprinter's lean-- prior to the C releasing the ball.

Got to love the third baseman's body language.

My son doesn't catch a lot anymore but with runners on (especially second and third) his coach likes them to pump a fake throw back to the pitcher in there every once in a while.  Do this while looking at the runner and as suggested earlier a stiff throw back to the pitcher and you pretty much take care of this issue.

Stick it, drop the head and lob.  Oops.  Game over.

That said it all.  For his entire team.

"Grant has done that before (stolen home) and he had the green light to go," said Calvin head coach John Sparks. "He timed it perfectly and made a huge play.  With his speed, he can create a lot of havoc on the basepaths."

The steal of home was Van Putten's 22nd stolen base of the year on 24 attempts. He is currently ranked third nationally in stolen bases per-game. He is one shy of matching his own Calvin single-season record of 23 steals set a year ago. In addition, he is the Calvin career leader in stolen bases with 66.

http://calvinknights.com/sport...eases/20140413j9uctm

How many games does he have left?

Looks like 14 and then the Conference Playoffs

Shoot, he will probably get another dozen by then!

Nice job!

im guessing the pitcher might have been their hot shot closer or something. the infield is used to sitting back on their heels and watching him get a few big K's at the end of the game. If your up against a ground ball pitcher and the players know their fielding is what is going to win the game, they may have been more on their toes for this. Maybe something to think about when considering whether or not to run the play.