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My dd was 10u this past season. She was picked up as a pitcher for a VERY young 10u team. I believe only 2 were actually 10. We played a tourney where dd pitched her guts out. (brownsfan and jmeutown can back me on this one...) She was pitching against a team who could hit the cover off the ball, so they were hitting her pretty well. A lot of the hits were fieldable, but the fielders weren't handling it. She lost something like 12k's because the catcher couldn't hold the pitch or couldn't make the throw to 1st. She was fielding balls down the 1st and 3rd baselines and in the middle infield holes. I am not knocking her team. It was (I think) their 1st tourney and I think many of them were nervous and inexperienced. However, it does go to show that it doesn't matter how well a pitcher pitches... if there's no fielding behind her, it's all for naught. As the season went on, the team got better and better and they won a 9u tourney at the end of the season (without dd and the other 10yo).
I used to think the pitcher was the most important player. I've made comments on here about how fee reductions made sense given the money the parents put into instruction. However, the longer we are associated with travel, the longer dd pitches, the more I see the absolute necessity of a great catcher, great fielders, great hitters. Everyone has a role, all are important, and ultimately, it's the pitcher and her parent's choice to be a pitcher and spend the extra money.
I used to think the pitcher was the most important player. I've made comments on here about how fee reductions made sense given the money the parents put into instruction. However, the longer we are associated with travel, the longer dd pitches, the more I see the absolute necessity of a great catcher, great fielders, great hitters. Everyone has a role, all are important, and ultimately, it's the pitcher and her parent's choice to be a pitcher and spend the extra money.