Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Baby pitcher

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Member

• Apr 30, 2010

• #1

I don't know if anyone remembers the travails I related last spring and summer as my then 12u dd spent her 1st summer as a pitcher. I remember one piece of advice from Kat, I believe, that I cherished as the ball kept flying over the heads of the catcher and the ump, batters walking, walking, walking. The advice was, "Just hang in there, you won't believe the difference a year makes."

Kat -- you were right on. This spring, our dd's school, finally, started a middle school team, and as a 7th grader the dd is the primary pitcher. She still has miles and miles to go before she's as polished as she will become, but she's 4-1 with 5 complete games and on Thursday night tossed a 2-hit shutout. She looks like she knew it was going to be like that all the time.

It is sweet and more sugar is coming.

 

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• Apr 30, 2010

• #2

Glad u posted this my dd is 9 went threw the same thing last summer balls flying everwhere. But after finding a good pitching coach and hard work this summer she is starting to turn the corner.

 

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• Apr 30, 2010

• #3

As a parent of an infielder, those years are hard for us too. The "walkathon years". But they sure do grow out of it fast, and it's so worth it in the end to watch the real skill develop and develop and develop more...

You hopefully have some videos that you can look back on, because soon it all becomes a faint memory. I can't even remember when my DDs friend was a baby pitcher, but I have the team photo to prove it!

 

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• Apr 30, 2010

• #4

I won't forget them years. I still have the stats from my dd's first year of pitching to now. She had just turned 9. My dd and I looked at those stats, and we both were impressed (even though at hte same time my dd will upset of the walks). She's a perfectionist.

For those parents who are going through those tough years, hang in there with your dd's. It can be frustrating, but worth it.

 

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• Apr 30, 2010

• #5

Thankfully I have video of my DD pitching in rec. league when she was my "baby pitcher", which seems like it was just yesterday! In a week or so, she will be pitching her last college career game!

All I can say is ENJOY every moment, and don't get too upset with your DD about her mistakes... They are a necessary part of the learning process.

 

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• Apr 30, 2010

• #6

Phil---I'm so glad the advice helped.

It was literally painful that first year she started...you die a thousand deaths in the bleachers as you hear the sighs and grumbling from the other parents on your own team. "Why can't she get it anywhere near the zone", "Another one over the backstop", lol.

But something happens over the winter between her first season pitching and the next...the change in ability and especially her confidence is just astounding. I was there right with her during the practices and didn't see it until she first stepped out on the rubber that first game next season.

Had another player's dad try to give her some support before the first pitch, said something like "just relax and try and get it in there", and you should have seen the look she gave him...such disdain, lol. She was already on the rubber and ready for her first pitch and she turned and looked him dead in the eye (she's 12 at the time) and says "Oh...believe me, I know what I'm doing" (for those who know her, a typical Kat statement, lol) and proceeded to show him just that. Took my breath away with her composure.

Like you said...so much sugar ahead for you. Enjoy the sweetness.

 

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• Apr 30, 2010

• #7

like I said before that is outstanding Philbob

 

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• Apr 30, 2010

• #8

You are exactly right Kat, it is the first winter after that first year and they just all the sudden get it.

 

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• Apr 30, 2010

• #9

Oh, for the rest of the baby pitchers out there, and the parents, there is one thing I didn't mention: It takes work and dedication.

Our dd made the decision to be a pitcher in August '08 and started taking lessons and practicing on her own. In the 19-some months since, she's taken maybe a month off, total.

It's because she, like all pitchers, worked at it.

Like her pitching coach, Marie Shaver, told her, "Pitchers go to all the practices everybody else does on the team, then they go home and practice their pitching -- and the ones that want to be the best, work at it the hardest."

She's learned a lot, about pitching, and believing in herself, and her mom and I have had the fun of watching and helping when we can.

 

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• May 1, 2010

• #10

The first pitch our DD made in a real game went over the backstop. She went on to start varsity all four years of high school and to pitch a year in college before deciding to explore other activities. Glad to hear yours is making her move, philbob.

 

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• May 1, 2010

• #11

Update on my earlier post. My dd pitch 2 games today had 21 ks and 8 walks hopefully were getting there. First win for her lost the second one 5-4

 

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• May 2, 2010

• #12

cgs said:

The first pitch our DD made in a real game went over the backstop. She went on to start varsity all four years of high school and to pitch a year in college before deciding to explore other activities. Glad to hear yours is making her move, philbob.

Click to expand...

Those and the ones that go behind them are my favorites. My sister threw one behind her once that hit the shortstop. Gotta love new pitchers!!!