Totally Confused

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As a TB coach for the past 7 years, I thought that I had a pretty good idea about this game. Well after today, I'm totally confused. I thought it would be a good idea to place my DD in a winter hitting league at an indoor facility. This gives her 4 days per week with work this winter. Two practices with our team, one with pitching instructor, and one at hitting league. Good work for a 12u DD. Anyway her league started today and when we arrived, there was a B Level or Rec All Star team having BP. As I was watching this 12u team, I heard one of their coaches say that a 11u girl was throwing in the 60s. He then preceeded to say that maybe we can get by with that but I would like to see her in the 70s when she is 12. I just thought to myself, really, and just chuckled under my breath....But the story gets even more interesting. When the league started an instructor asked me to run the pitching machine. So after she informed me three times how to do it, man I've been pitching with arm circles so long my shoulder hurts constantly, I had to just chuckle again. Well the teams are divided into 3 girls and each gets 6 pitches (strikes or swings) per inning for 7 innings. Each team is then scored accordingly to how many hits and where they go. The first time my DD was up I had her bat righty. The next had her slap lefty. The instructor then said ,"You can't do that cause colleges won't like it. So the next time she was up, I had her hit lefty for power, then righty power, lefty drag, etc. After the game was over she approached me and said that we needed to make a decision on how she is going to bat cause colleges won't like it. Now she did play DIII ball so she does have a resume but to me having an array of an arsenal is more deadly. Different situations during the game cause for different strategies. She never recongnized that my DD led the league with 37 out of 42 hits today. Am I missing something. How can being a switch hitter be a bad thing. When a 12u DD can do whatever needed at the plate should be a blessing not a burden. This day has made me totally confused.

 

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'Not sure if you're looking for commentary, or just venting. But just remember - Tunnel Vision is everywhere....

 

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At 12u you can't short change your daughters development. The next couple of years she will grow, get stronger, get slower or faster, etc. In time it will be helpful to focus on what she does best. If her speed is GREAT - slapping is awesome. If not work on hitting from the side where she has the most success.

But above all - you are the parent. No one can or should tell you what to do with your daughter. Educate yourself and make your own decisions.

 

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Keep doing what you are doing. Being a switch hitter is only a bad thing in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to use it. I assure you, colleges LOVE versitile players...regardless of what she said.

 

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The more versatile she can be the better for her. Now if she is 4.0 from home to first there is no sense in her slapping, work on her as a right handed hitter. But if she is relatively fast let her do both.

Sounds like these coaches have a lot to learn. Throwing 60 hoping for 70 that there is funny! lol

 

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My only comment would be that if your kid can slap/drag and hit for power from the left side what compelling argument can you give for putting her on the right side. All things being the same I would rather have the kid closer to 1st base.

 

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JMO, but here is my recommendation....

Go to a college sponsored hitting clinic (or get on-campus somehow). Then, since you are on campus, you can ask the college coach questions. Ask the college coach about this issue. Get the info straight from the coach.

 

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I was just lamenting the fact that none of my 12u pitchers are hitting 70.......:lmao::lmao::lmao:

 

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I was just lamenting the fact that none of my 12u pitchers are hitting 70.......:lmao::lmao::lmao:

Yeah I have some work to do as well. lol

 

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My 5 y/o WAS throwing 70, but I took her to an instructor to teach her to throw slower, because I heard college coaches really don't want pitchers to throw that fast...I'm not even kidding!!!

 

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Well, my daughter has been throwing 70 since she was 9, but we had to tone it down because pitching nothing but perfect games at 18u Gold as a 12yo gets kinda boring... :lmao:

 

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She may pitch 70, but how much spin does she have?

 

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The colleges are looking at 12U's? Tell that "instructor" that your daughter isn't interested in playing D-III this year, although she'd probably be good enough.

 

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JMHO...and I am no college coach...yet, but I just don't see switch hitting as a big factor in college ball or travel for that matter. If she has great speed and can handle the bat well then put her on the left side and leave her there..if she can learn to power slap and eventually swing away with some consistency bigger plus.

But I don't see the value at any age in switching them back and forth and being mediocre at both...maybe not now at 12U, but eventually the pitching is going to catch up with her and not focusing on one or the other will be a stumbling block. Pick one and be the very best you can be at it. Until you are batting 1.000 there is room for improvement.

 

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If my oldest wanted to go to college, hitting both ways would be her ticket. She has great bat control and plays what the defense gives her. She can hit both way for some power, bunt both ways, and can slap both ways. She was encouraged to do that and was 4th in hitting and like 3 with OBP for her JV team. She practices hitting both ways every other day.

My youngest, she can throw a mean 75mph. Her change-up is an astonishing 5 mph. ;& :lmao:

 

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had the gun on multiple throwers in Chattanooga this weekend. Personally saw nothing above 61 . Was a good enough showcase to have most SEC schools present. MD

 

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I've noticed this in softball and Joe A might have seen it even more. For some strange reason people feel that just because a girl played softball in college that automatically makes her a great coach.

 

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I really appreciate all of the support on this thread. My DD runs a 3.5 first base, not blazing but effective. Hopefully as she matures she will get quicker. The reason I have her switch is because she is right eye dominate. Therefor she sees the ball better from the left. She has more power from the right though. So depending on the pitcher and game situation determines how I decide to have her bat. It has been very effective for 3 years now. I guess this former D-III player never saw a 12u so versitile before. You should've saw her reaction to her pitching too. After the league was done we got a tunnel and pitched for a while. Even though my DD only hits 50 (unlike some 12u's that hit 70,lol) , she can place it pretty much where she wants it. With a curve,rise,screw,drop and a very nasty change, it kinda got the instructor's attention. I wonder if she saw this in D-III? To be honest with you, I really hope my DD can accomplish more than that.

 

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Well....my DD's change up is in the 70's but I have no idea what her fast ball does. The speed gun doesn't register triple digits. Cheap piece of cr**!

 

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Just as an aside, think about how revered the 70MPH figure seems in all fastpitch discussions these days. Now consider that most CHANGEUPS in the Major Leagues are in the mid-80s! Pitchers throwing mid-90s fastballs generally have 84 to 88MPH CHANGEUPS!

The skill and fearlessness of big league hitters can't be overrated. Consider also that as fast as it seems that Monica Abbott and other power pitchers in the women's game are throwing, their fastest pitches are the same speed as the top male pitchers' CHANGEUPS!

There were a number of hitters in the women's pro league this season who hit over .300. Hitting over .400 is not considered highly unusual. Against the top male pitchers, anyone who hits over .250 is Hall of Fame material. It is that difficult.