15u question

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Explosion Fastpitch in Portage County has a 14U team that is moving up.

 

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Mike - My DD's team played primarily an ASA schedule, with the intent of college exposure. There were three showcase tournaments that nearly every NCAA and NIAA college coach in Ohio and surrounding states regularly attended. In the interest of college recruiting, there was no need to split the first year 16s into a 15u age group at these tournaments. As a matter of fact, a 15 year old kid playing a competitive schedule with a mix of 16s is far more impressive to a college coach. They want to see their potential recruits tested. IMO, the even numbered age divisions have worked very well for this purpose. While a few powerhouse teams do play up, it's usually at less competitive tournaments.

U-Trip for baseball is another story. 15u is very common in baseball, but there are FAR more teams in travel baseball, and the talent spread is much closer than in fastpitch softball.

I applaud you for providing a venue for girl's fastpitch. It's a TON of work, and the more outlets there are for the girls to be involved keeps them from straying to the "dark side".

I feel ya Sammy!! I know that ASA is the venue for teams looking for the top shelf National and college exposure tournaments. Not all organizations have teams looking for that tournament experience. We are just trying to provide good, well-ran tournaments for teams that desire to play something other than those type of tournaments.

I would like to see some of our tournaments at the high school age groups have college exposure, but I am one person and would need significant help on that kind of undertaking.

 

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just as in H.S. a first year pitcher or catcher will take back seat to a 2nd year player, esp if that player (2nd year) has been w/ the org or the coach 2-3 years. so my thinking is a 15u, first year 16u team would be a better fit. and yes play 16u or 18u tournaments, move up together and work on getting better.fr

 

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Yeah once you get to 16u you might as well start playing either 16 or 18u.If your going to play high school ball.

 

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just as in H.S. a first year pitcher or catcher will take back seat to a 2nd year player, esp if that player (2nd year) has been w/ the org or the coach 2-3 years. so my thinking is a 15u, first year 16u team would be a better fit. and yes play 16u or 18u tournaments, move up together and work on getting better.fr

At 16U, most teams carry three primary pitchers that work a rotation. So it doesn't matter if the girl is a 15U or 16U, if she made the team as a pitcher, then she will pitch.

At this level, a pitcher working a whole game against good teams is rare. It is not uncommon to see the #1 and #2 and sometimes the #3 pitcher during the game. Usually the 2nd time thru the order and the hitters are onto the pitcher.

16U is a totally different mentality than 14U.

 

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At 16U, most teams carry three primary pitchers that work a rotation...

At this level, a pitcher working a whole game against good teams is rare. It is not uncommon to see the #1 and #2 and sometimes the #3 pitcher during the game. Usually the 2nd time thru the order and the hitters are onto the pitcher...

IMO, a team finding 3 quality pitchers at the 16u level through the college level is extremely rare, if not impossible. I'm talking about pitchers who can keep you in the game at high level, competitive tournament (Stingrays, Compuware, Best of Best, etc.). Most teams I've ever witnessed have one workhorse pitcher that throws 90% or more innings, with a single backup pitcher. Although typical college teams may carry 3 or 4 pitchers on the roster, usually #1 is the workhorse, #2 gets a few innings in blowout games, and the rest are either utility or watch from the bench. That formula is also common on west coast travel teams. Also, giving batters a "different look" doesn't always work in high level fastpitch - against great hitters - an example being OSU this year in the NCAA tourney.

Good pitching is VERY hard to find (ask any travel coach), and with the explosion of Ohio "travel" teams, coaches are pressed ever harder to lure the talented ones to their team. With the competition for athletic scholarships in Ohio, it's tough to convince a fairly talented pitcher on a college path to be #2 on your team. They're looking for a #1 workhorse spot so they can showcase their talent. On the surface that seems self centered and selfish, but tell that to the coaches who land those #1 pitchers. At the end of the day, they help their team by keeping them in the tournament until Sunday.

Sorry for the off-topic hijack!