Interesting comments by Holly Rowe & National Champion Pitcher Danielle Lawrie

[WWolff]

Interesting statements made by ESPN commentating crew of Holly Rowe & National Champion Pitcher Danielle Lawrie yesterday while covering Missouri vs. UCLA Super Regional Game 1. Comments were made during the 1st inning in the bottom half. Iowa native Paige Lowary was pitching for Mizzou. Comments were triggered by Lawrie evaluating Paige's mechanics. "Lowary did not play travel ball, she only played Iowa High School ball. They(referring to Mizzou's coaches) have had to literally day by day teach her new pitches and new fundamentals. That's what can be difficult when you are just playing High school ball and not travel ball. Travel Ball allows you to play with much better players and coached by better coaches that will push you...its a disadvantage not taking the opportunity to play Club Ball" Now all of us in Iowa circles know Paige played travel ball, and has taken private instruction from some very accomplished and well known coaches. However, what I believe is important to note is the overall motivation of the statement. Many can gather Danielle Lawrie, one of the greatest names in our games history, was more than likely conveying that the best players in today's game play and commit to high level travel ball, which better prepares them for the next level. Im going to reserve my own comments on the issue..... however, I found it very interesting and profound of the reference to the benefits of Club Softball, in comparison to strictly playing High School ball, from such a high profile figure in today's Fastpitch game. I don't disagree with any of her statements as it pertained to the Club vs. High School comparison. What I will say is that she probably should have her facts better aligned when making the statements in regards to Paige. Paige DID play travel ball.... and DID get instruction from very good coaches prior to arriving to Mizzou.



****** This is a post off another forum just found it iteresting******

 

[daboss]

The message I got from what was said is the girl's mechanics and form she was using wasn't to their standard and they have put a lot of work into fixing these problems. Give credit to the kid for being open-minded enough to listen and learn the techniques and being able to overcome whatever issues plagued her. Some times that can be difficult after years of repetitive training. The message included a pat on the back to travel ball but I still didn't take it to slam high school ball, merely that travel ball normally offers more opportunity.

FYI, just because somebody gets private instruction and has coaching from travel ball it doesn't mean they are getting proper instruction in the eyes of others. In this case meaning Mizzuu.

There are instructors that have been teaching girls how to pitch incorectly for years. Time doesn't make it right. While I agree there are more ways to skin a cat, there's always the issue of longevity, how healthy will the young lady stay healthy if she continues to throw with certain variables to the windmill pitch. It takes a keen eye to see it and a smart coach to catch and fix it. In Mizzuu's eyes they believe they have this kid on the right track now. Good for her cause it looked pretty good to me most of her pitches.

 

[Ron]

daboss,
Very accurate post..
Ron Poole

 

[CarMad]

A little confused. She was being bashed for bad mechanics for not playing high level travel but it turns out she did and her mechanics were still bad?

 

[manitoudan]

D Lawrie should stick to playing and shut the hole.

 

[mike_dyer]

This is just one of the many reasons why I love this time of the year.

Without fail some chuckle head hears a mistake and lets everyone know how stupid the women who played fastpitch are. It makes me smile every time it happens.

Last year some brainiac posted something about how Hutch needs to pay attention to former baseball players like Mike Candrea, Mike White, and Tim Walton if she ever wants to be relevant again.

Tim Walton was indeed a baseball guy. Mike White, and several other male coaches, definitely played fastpitch though. With this here new fangle interweb machine there is all sorts of photographic and video evidence of it that anyone can find and view for their self if they so choose.

I'm not so sure what Mike Candrea's background is and I'm not really interested in looking into it. What I do know is that he's watched the WCWS from his house for the last 5 years or so unless, of course, he bought himself a ticket and made his own travel arrangements.

Parents, this is the sort of thing you need to keep in mind when choosing a team for your daughter to play on. There are plenty of coaches out there who can't wait for them to grow up and head off into the world so they can pop up here and post about how they need to know their role and shut their ignorant hole. It makes you wonder what their motivation is.

 

[DynastyFastpitch]

Candrea also came from a baseball background.