In baseball and softball, all nine fielders have defined responsibilities and need to move on every play.
Base hit to right field with a runner on first and second or bases loaded, the play goes to home.
Play:
| Situation: | Runner on first and second or
Bases loaded |
| Offense: | Base hit to right field |
| Defense: | Play goes to home |
Player Responsibilities:
| Pitcher: | Go between third and home to back up catcher if the throw is to home or back up third if the throw is to third |
| Catcher: | Cover home |
| 1st base: | Move across the infield to cutoff throw to home |
| 2nd base: | Move into the outfield to cutoff throw to third. The play becomes third if the ball is hit very deep (see Note 2) |
| 3rd base: | Check that the runner touches third base and cover third base |
| Shortstop: | Check that the runner touches second base and cover second base (see Note 2)
If the ball is hit to deep right field, then the shortstop will need to become the second (of two) cutoff men (double cut) to third |
| Left: | Back up third |
| Center: | Back up right field and then back up second base should the batter attempt to advance to second on a throw to home or third |
| Right: | Fields the ball and throws to home (or third, if the ball is hit deep) |
| Note: | The throw to the cutoff man only if necessary, otherwise throw directly to home |
| Note 2: | Many professional and college teams will have the SS be the cutoff man for the throw from RF to 3B and 2B cover second. They do this since the RF has a good arm and they want the cutoff closer to the thrown at base. In youth sports, typically the RF does not have an exceptional arm and so the recommendation to use 2B as the cutoff. |
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