In baseball and softball, all nine fielders have defined responsibilities and need to move on every play.
Double or triple to the right center gap with bases empty, the play goes to third.
Play:
| Situation: | Bases empty |
| Offense: | Double or triple to the right center gap |
| Defense: | Play goes to third base |
Player Responsibilities:
| Pitcher: | Backup third base |
| Catcher: | Cover home |
| 1st base: | Check that the runner touches first base and trail behind the runner to about halfway between first and second base. |
| 2nd base: | Moves into outfield to cutoff throw to either second or third base (see Note 3) |
| 3rd base: | Cover third base |
| Shortstop: | Cover second base, check that the runner touches second base. If the ball is hit to deep right center field, then the shortstop will need to become the second (of two) cutoff men (double cut) |
| Left: | Back up the throw to third (or second) base |
| Center: | Fields the ball and throws to base in front of the runners current position (or cutoff, if the ball is hit deep) (see Note 2) |
| Right: | Fields the ball and throws to base in front of the runners current position (or cutoff, if the ball is hit deep) (see Note 2) |
| Note 1: | The throw to the cutoff man only if necessary, otherwise throw directly to the base in front of the runner (either second or third base). |
| Note 2: | The center fielder should field any ball that he can get and the right fielder backs up the center fielder. If the center fielder can not get to the ball earlier or at the same time as the right fielder, then the right fielder should field the ball and the center fielder backs up the right fielder. |
| Note 3: | 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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