Hitting and Hitters Discussion Intentionally hitting a batter?

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My DD's team played in a game today where 2 batters got hit. After the game, the pitcher that hit the girls asked which members of my daughter's team she hit. She went to the two girls to apologize and then hugged them both.

With all the nonsense you read about on here, this is an great example of the good that goes on! Very impressive of this 14u girl and her parents should be proud!

 

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Its not uncommon for it to happen in baseball. Alot of colleges have a rule that when a homerun is hit that means the next batter gets plunked. I don't see why it is any different in softball. Not condoning it but it is part of the game and noone will ever change it.

 

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How about hitting the opposing pitcher at the beginning of the game.....Had this happen to my DD a few weeks back at Past-time park. I was warming up two pitchers, and to be safe they busted both of them in the ribbs to start off the game. The first time I thought maybe an accident till she hits my DD in the same exact spot the very next pitch. My DD is very tough and never shows the pain but could not hold back the tears. The opposing pitcher had great control after that. That was entill my DD got up to bat the next time when she got busted in the leg right above the ankle. All I have to say is these are 12 year old girls. HAVE SOME CLASS. My DD was limping around for a week and half. I DO HOPE TO PLAY YOU SOON.

Mike

 

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The scenario that you just laid out might cause the victim's bat to become very slippery. Perhaps she would like to see how good that opposing pitcher is at skipping out of the way of a Catalyst coming at about 50 MPH knee high. Accidentally, of course. Perhaps the rib shots would cease at that point. Just sayin'...

 

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Tell me if this is fishy. Our #4 hitter crushed the ball the previous two times she was up. She came up to bat with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Coach calls time and says he wants to put her on. We say nope, you must pitch to her. We might get a wild pitch or the pitcher might leave one hang over the plate. Well I bet you can guess what happens. She was the only one that got plunked that game at that at bat.

 

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Sometimes. If you want to hit them so they can't hit and get runs in, you don't have to hit them you can walk them on porpose

 

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Mike,
Be a better person and just have your dd get them out which would be more painful. Even when doing that, tell yours not to even smile and be professional while she is pitching regardless of what she feels... That would hurt ten times more...

Don't stoop to that level is all...

 

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Here is just a little spin on the subject. I was at an 18+ tournamnet this weekend with some very talented colllege players and the discussion with a couple of coaches and players started about being hit by pitches.

Our discussion was how the college players are using the HBP as a offensive weapon. Hitters are crowding the plate in an attempt to take the inside corner away from the pitcher and in turn they are fine with the fact that they may get hit. In fact they give very little effort not to get hit and force the umpire to make the call of not trying to get out of the way or that they may be out over the strike zone. Which they claim happens very seldom.

If the pitcher stays inside they end up giving up multiple base runners and if they start to go away the hitters are prepared to drive the ball.

The next couple of games after our discussion it was quite obvious that the strategy was in play as I saw numerous girls stand in there fearless and 3-4 take one for the team. These were all glancing blows on pitches that were mearly inside and in fact a couple could have been on the corner with not even a thought by the umpires to keep the hitter at the plate.

 

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If the batter is crowding the plate, she had better be ready to listen to some "chin music".

 

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What comes around goes around......if you are going to teach girls to hit girls intentionally then don't complain when the bat slips out of the hand or your pitcher gets hit every time she comes up to bat...and geesh ever seen the size of some of these angry dads walking around...who knows what could happen.

 

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Hilliarddad, I understand what you are trying to say. Let's make this clear I (as a coach) would never call for any of my players to beam oppossing players. As a parent I'm mad as he**. I had to hold her out of practice for a week so she could heal up. My DD already has knee issues. To see her in that much pain and for what A KIDS game where the grown-ups thinks it's the BIGS. In this case I am using the term grown-ups loosely. Like I said before I won't tell my dd to hit anyone, but deep down I wouldn't be mad if she did Like MVV14 said what goes around comes around!!!!

Mike

 

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Is there a rule that says a pitcher can only hit so many batters before they have to be pulled? I saw 3 girls get hit in the same inning & none of them were crowding the plate.

 

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I think it depends on the age group....

Mike

 

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16U & I think 2, if not at all 3, were pitchers.

 

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That's rediculous >

Mike

 

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Intentionally hitting a batter because the batter is the other teams pitcher or because this player has already hit two hard shots to the fence or because the player crowds the plate is WRONG and uncalled for.

but consider this example:

Batter pops up down the first base line... the first baseman comes over (looking up to field the ball) calling out "mine". The batter / runner takes off down the line, lowers a shoulder and takes the first base out... I mean out... girl is laid out. The batter is called out for interference but in no other way reprimanded for the "crime".

Now personally, if I was on the mound, one of two things would have happened. The next girl up would get a fast ball in the back or if the game is in the early stages and I knew I would face this girl that ran over my first baseman again, I would wait and hit her. Right or Wrong... it would happen. Rule one. Protect your own.

After the event above... did it happen. No. I think it requires a girl with a little bit of the "dark side" in them to go out and purposely hit a batter. Obviously the pitcher on the mound did not have the "dark side" in them or maybe they just didn't care about their first baseman (hey! I have others!)

I know... "two wrongs don't make a right"... you don't need to start preaching to me. But consider this...

If the pitcher came back and hits the next girl hard... a STATEMENT pitch. It would simple say... "There is a cost to your actions. You keep it up and I will keep plopping you!"

Just maybe this might avoid a worst injury later in the game. This STATEMENT pitch kept your third baseman from getting cleated on a high slide because the other team understood dirty play receives worst payment in return.

Now clearly if the umpires take over the game (i.e. the girl was ejected) then there was no need to provide a STATEMENT pitch. But if there was no consequences to the action (i.e. the girl was called out but she was going to be out anyways) then it is up to the pitcher to communicate to the other team that this type of actions are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

ONE OTHER THING: NO COACH SHOULD EVER TELL A GIRL TO HIT A GIRL. IT IS UP TO THE GIRL TO FIND THE DARK SIDE. A COACH SHOULD NEVER FORCE A GIRL TO HIT ANOTHER GIRL.

 

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For the most part these are amatuer athletes we are talking about right? The last thing we should be talking about is trying to hurt them. All winter long I read post`s about the dangers of metal cleats, should a girl wear a gameface guard and the composite bats that should be swithched to wood...all safty concerns........JMHO....Let the umps police it... I know there are some out there that won`t but do not try to get revenge on a young lady....The last thing I want see is a young lady get injured and miss what is suppossed to be the time of her life.....