Unfortunately there are also parents involved on the other side that can influence a coaches decision. (Sometimes those parents are the coach).
This happened during one of our HS seasons, little Suzie was a stud pitcher and was working for the league lead in strike outs, Ws, ERA, WHIP she could also crush the ball.
The coach did not pitch her vs. four weak teams during the first two weeks of the season where she could rack up numbers. The coach also sat a couple key starters that were leaders on offense. All games were won but the team played down to their competition and the games were much closer than they should have been.
The other teams in the league pitched and played their studs "every game" some, did make changes in the fifth inning after the run rule was in hand. If no run rule but a good lead, the starters played the whole contest. These teams pounded these weaker teams and their ladies built numbers that made the state record book.
The pitchers dad called a meeting with the AD and the coach. (This coach was young late 20s but she was a good coach with a big heart for the kids). To make a long story short after the meeting the coach played every game to win and did not let up. Naturally; this change in philosophy now had her at odds with three of four parents that seen their DDs contributions drop to pinch running maybe a defensive change in the last inning or two but it did result in a sweet 16 D1 run.
I also know of a small rural program in 2011 that was loaded in talent and had a strong coach. They would score as many as they could while their pitcher (one of the tops in the state)mowed down hitters on there playoff run. This teams coach told the other pitcher she needed to learn to play first base because his DD was getting every inning of every game on her quest for the state record book. (She made it).
These are just a couple examples, Look at some of the state records in one sided routs. 3 hits in an inning, 8 hits in a game, 13RBI in a game, 21Ks in a game...Almost all of these numbers were not put up vs. good competition and honestly most were not even close games when you look at the box scores for those that keep them.
http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/records/sbrecrd.htm#HI
Situations like what the OP is facing I see down here in SW Ohio as well. We have over 20 programs that cannot field a competitive fastpitch program that gets routed in just about every game.
These schools need to have a slow pitch option. Some of these teams do not even have windmill pitching, their lady will just cock back the arm take a step forward and let it go arch and all.....
So...The only bright spot may be that your team is helping others make it to the record books....