It depends several factors. Hitting ability (hits themselves, bunting) and base running (are they smart on the bases: leading off, tagging up, looking for the runner in front of them so they don't get caught in a pickle), stealing (is it allowed, do they know what to look for).

Then...I go for the 'littlest strike zone' lead off hitter. It lets your team get to know the opposing pitcher (since they have to pitch strikes to get the batter out). I also like her to have excellent baserunning skills. Then the next two should be solid players. Heavy hitter at clean up is a staple. And I try to (based on age group) rotate fast with power. Keep in mind you want kids on the bags when someone who is successful at the plate comes up. So I like a solid hitter in the 9 spot and remember that odds are your first three come up more times than any other in a game so their success will be skewed when you look at the stats.

You can always tweak a lineup to see who does well where...some kids just don't take the pressure of lead-off well...

Down the season a bit...I check how the young ladies did against a pitcher and see if things need moved around based on that when we play them again.

If it comes down to it, I sandwich a weaker batter with stronger ones...

I definitely don't like to have the kids set up all strong together and all weak together.

Hope it helps a bit.

Make sure you get some girls that get on base a lot at the bottom of the lineup. The top of the lineup with have opportunities to hit them in.

Coach Bill Mooney

I use our best hitters first because they get the most bats, and sometimes it pays off in the late innings.

fastest first then power hitters and then the good eye batters

Well you need to group your hitters , see how many good contact hitters and power hiters and then the poor hitters. I would pick a hitter that has some speed and makes good contact or can slap as lead off. The two hole would be someone that can move that first hitter . Then you want two pretty good ones at the 3 and 4 spot. i would stager my next 4 and put a deput

1- Fast, with good eye
2- good bunter decent speed
3-Your best hitter
4- most power
5-second most power or second best hitter
6-decent hitter
7-good slapper
8-weakest hiter
9- speed & could be a leadoff hitter

No matter who is at bat, if your pitchers can locate the ball down low, and your defence is played according to the book called "The Batter's Out" the batter should always get out somewhere along the bases with out scoring, therefore creating a shutout.

If you a coaching the New York Yankees, I think Coach Joe's advice is right on the money, If your players are under the age of 14, I think you rotate the order. Every player should get a chance to hit lead-off at least once. Likewise everyone should hit last once. Coaches need to provide an environment that promotes success, and what demonstrates this more than showing every player you have the confidence to put them in the most important batting slots?
Another thing to do is have a contest (who hits the most pitches, who hits the ball the farthest, who fields the best, whatever skill needs working on....) during practice and have the prize be pick your spot in the order. It can really motive the kids to work a little harder.

if youre coaching little league, you should mix up the order and let kids bat at different positions, chances are that at a young age they dont understand the batting order anyway.

I believe that in competitive baseball/softball you have your top 4 or 5 as usual, 1 fastest 2 best OBP 3 best Average 4 Best Slugging 5 most triples or home runs.

onve you get past 5, i would put my worst hitter in, i believe in mixing up the lineup sp that you always have a chance of scoring, then bat my 2nd best hitter 7 and my 3rd best hitter ninth, also if you play a team that does not go by these principles, then your 6-9 batters get to see better pitches, cause every one bats their best first and their worst last, mixing up your best couple of hitters every game between top and bottom of the order can lead to substantially more run production

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You should put your best hitter last. If one of your pitchers or catchers gets on base, you should switch them out so they are not tired. First you should put your best bunter first. second you should put your batter with the best eye,but does not look at pitches.Third you shoud put your best hitter next. Forth you should put your second best hitter. Fitfth and six,you should put your best slappers. Seventh you should put your weakest hitter. Eight,nine and ten you should put your best hitters and the people with the best speed.

Thanks in advance,

Bailey Morris

Coach Miguel Brenes line up

1- Fast, with good eye

(Slapper with speed or the best contact hitter that can always get on and draw walks)

2- Good bunter decent speed (contact hitter with bat control)

3-Your best hitter

4- most power

5-second most power or second best hitter (important hitter so teams won't pitch around your number four batter)

6-decent hitter

7-good slapper (50/50 hitter with speed)

8-weakest hitter

(I like to use a good hitter in this slot look at it like another number 4 in the line up.)

9- Speed & could be a leadoff hitter

Just play around with this formula you will win more games.