Reading the bases in summer collegiate ball

Baserunning is the part of the game most overlooked by casual fans, yet it decides more summer games than the box score. Instinctive runners manufacture runs out of nothing.

Picking up a pitcher's timing is where elite baserunners distinguish themselves. The best runners get the jump with their reads as much as their speed.

Stretching a single is a skill that pressures every defense. It forces throws, and throws are where breakdowns creep in.

Proper leads subtly shift the odds on every pitch. A runner who times the delivery well is effectively in scoring position before the ball is put in play.

Staffs drill baserunning daily because it requires no physical talent, only discipline. A slow runner with smart instincts can beat a more gifted one who loses focus.

Mistakes hurt the most because they are so avoidable. Little deflates a rally like a runner thrown out trying to do too much.