Northland pitcher hit in the face with a line drive

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The pitcher from Northland will be OK, thankfully no serious damage as a result of what could have been a horrible injury.

 

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My dd is a freshman this year and plays 3rd base. Came to her first scrimmage and noticed she wasn't wearing her game face, which I insist she wears, and during travel season she always wears. I asked her what was going on and she said girls on the team tend to look down on you if you wear it. She is not usually one to let those things bother her but seems to be this time! I feel like they should just make it mandatory for infielders. That way nobody can feel pressured not to wear one.

Golfnut
So....I guess your dd's were able to play HS softball after all???

Sorry for the hijack.

Len

 

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I think you have to remember the skill level of some of these teams, especially City League teams here in Columbus (no offense meant). Bexley is not a real strong team, but they have a good coach who is new there and thay are improving. With this in mind, you put them up against a city team that can't compete at their level, which means you have big mismatches. I don't see how you can't consider making it mandatory to wear these masks if you are OHSAA. The pitchers and the corners anyways. It is very easy to sit back play the "choice" thing over and over. But, when you consider the disparity in talent with respect to "school" ball, I think you have to protect the best interest of the "student-athlete". Especially when you consider mixing in some of the upper level travel kids.......if your Northland and you draw even a mediocre OCC team when tournament time arrives, there is a huge difference in experience and ability.....and bad things can happen............it doesn't matter what the odds are. Then you can add into that the huge disparity at the junior high level.........I'm sorry, it scares me to death to tell a player to crash on bunt coverage at that level when they don't have much (if any) experience playing softball without a mask and they are going up against experienced, even upper level travel players. To me, thats like facing Atilla the Hun and crew with a pocket knife. I disagree completely with Daboss and Ultraclas............those masks are necessary for school ball and the sooner they make them mandatory the better.

You are right bambam. The skill level is totally different for the City League teams. With the exception of 2 of those high schools, the others know the very basics and sometimes less than that even. I would think that the coaches alone would want as much protection as possible. The other issue then in the City League, as I mentioned before, is they can't afford it. If the girls own their own equipment they are few and far between except for 2 high schools for sure.

I am so glad that the Northland girl will be OK. Northland was really improving their softball skills and it would be a shame if that couldn't continue for her.

 

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I've seen this happen and hear about every year. We make 1st, 3rd, and pitcher wear them its mandatory. My daughter has played with one for years at these spots and it has saved us countless of $ from a few head shots, not to mention a beautiful face, and the mental trauma. Forty bucks is well worth it. For all those who make fun of her we tell her to say this " well my parents must love me cause they don't want to see my beautiful face disfigured" have her wink and walk away, that pretty much ends the discussion.;&

 

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Happy to hear the young lady is doing fine.

 

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Heard she was in school this week, with a swollen eye, but doing well. Hopefully she'll be back in the game soon.

 

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Great news. Wishing her all the best.