District play begins next week, with teams vying to advance. Some have solid pitching, hitting and defense, while others have a little of each.

 

What are the keys, to winning and advancing to the Regionals. The play-in game, could result in some having to win 3 games. Can solid hitting, overcome solid pitching....Is defense and small ball the key, to advancing. Does strategy change, from the regular season. Will the host site field, factor into play on larger or smaller fields.

 

Thoughts and comments....

Give me three solid Pitchers that can shut teams out, and I could play small ball and win.

 

But to be successful in getting out of the region you need 4 things. 1) Good Pitching 2) Good Fielding 3) Clutch Hitting 4) Luck

 

For example: I was calling a game last night and the wind was blowing in from right field. The bases were loaded and a kid hit a ball down the left field line that landed about 2 inches foul. His team lost by one run. If the wind didn't carry that ball foul they would have won. You need a little luck to advance.

You need to throw strikes and make plays. If you do this, you'll be in every game and give yourself a chance to win

You need to throw strikes and make plays. If you do this, you'll be in every game and give yourself a chance to win

 

:thumb: right on hardball. Walks will Haunt you. I've seen it time and time again.

I would actually list Luck higher, particularly in the elimination games....that's baseball!

Probably a real stupid question here, but does only one team advance out of each district?

You need to throw strikes and make plays. If you do this, you'll be in every game and give yourself a chance to win

Amen!!! Also for us...no stupid mental gaffes!

Probably a real stupid question here, but does only one team advance out of each district?

 

64 District winners and 64 runners-up make it to the region.

16 Region winners advance to semi-state.

8 Semi-state winners advance to Applebee's Park.

Not so much in district, but in the regional tournament rain can be a big factor. If a team uses its ace in the first round and then the next day or so gets rain and postponements, that ace could conceivably come back and pitch again.

You need to throw strikes and make plays. If you do this, you'll be in every game and give yourself a chance to win

Very important and more baserunners, will result in attempts to advance, bunt, wild pitches, key hit, advance on groundball.

 

Getting ahead, to set-up the other pitches is critical.

I am going out on a limb here and say score more runs than the opponent.

I am going out on a limb here and say score more runs than the opponent.

....:lol:

Defense and Pitching. You can't lose if the other team doesn't score. A team that has solid pitching but no "D" won't win, but a team with a great "D" can win in these short series. The biggest reason a team loses games during a district/region/state tourney, is walks. Putting men on bases via walks lead to more loses than anything....

 

Good luck to everybody.....

And the simple key to staying away from walks is to get first pitch strikes and put the hitter at a disadvantage.

"What are the keys, to winning and advancing to the Regionals?"

 

I forgot one...Don't be in the 43d District.