Why Crystal is So Good..

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''I was talking to the catcher a little bit back there before the at-bat and she said to me: 'I don't understand why everyone is so scared of you.' ''

''I said, 'Well put the ball over the plate and I will show you why they are scared,' and the pitcher throws the ball over the plate . . . I said to the catcher do that again and I'll show you why. The pitcher did it again and I put the ball into the gap. It was a little bit of a challenge, and I love a challenge.'' :yahoo:

http://www.ohio.com/sports/97647694.html

 

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Awesome! Great article

 

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I was at the game last night. I was wondering what was up when after Crystal hit the liner to RC (about went through the fence she hit it so hard) she was standing on 2b pointing with both hands at the catcher(Megan Willis). I could see the two talking between pitches . Good article.

We took our 10u team to the game. Wonderful experience for all.

 

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We were at that game. I can not believe they pitched to her with 1st open. I told my wife that they may not intentional walk her but no way they pitch to her. First pitch across plate for a strike. Told my wife Crystal should have swung cause that is the last strike she will see. Then she lines next one to the fence. Gotta admit I was hoping she would stretch it to 3rd, I think she could have made it. Was a great game and awesome way to end our vacation.

Not to change the subject but Willis has got a friggin cannon for an arm. Kinda catches you by surprise if you know what I mean.

 

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We were at that game. I can not believe they pitched to her with 1st open. I told my wife that they may not intentional walk her but no way they pitch to her. First pitch across plate for a strike. Told my wife Crystal should have swung cause that is the last strike she will see. Then she lines next one to the fence. Gotta admit I was hoping she would stretch it to 3rd, I think she could have made it. Was a great game and awesome way to end our vacation.

Not to change the subject but Willis has got a friggin cannon for an arm. Kinda catches you by surprise if you know what I mean.

Crystl really has not had much to hit for the last four years which is why we practice and teach how to hit a ball 5 to 10 inches off the plate.

The ISF umpires I have seen at the World Cup have a wide strike zone so you better be able to hit anything!

If you notice she moves in the box trying to bait the pitcher/ catcher to throw her something and during the delivery will move to try and put the ball in play based on the defense.

Watch her during batting practice and you will see her hit about four balls straight away and then start placing the balls in the gaps, down the lines , ground balls or long fly balls to score the runner from third or second.

She comes to the plate thinking where is the defense going to give me the greatest opportunity to put the ball in the dirt on the grass or in the parking lot. She never thinks IF I am going to hit the ball but where am I going to hit it.

Her work ethic is amazing especially on the tee. She will start on an inside pitch which is at or below the knees and then takes 5 swings and moves the tee a few inches and repeats while angling the tee towards the outside back corner of the plate.

Then she starts over and raises the tee a little more until finally she has to put the tee on a bucket to get the tee higher. This whole process takes about an hour and a half. She wants to hit a ball every where a pitcher or catcher could possibly throw it.

Another drill she enjoys is holding the bat with the top hand and then holding a ball in the lead hand at arms length and drops it and on the bounce she grabs the bat with both hands and tries to hit the ball into the zone of 51 and 39 inches from 4.5 feet from the net.

This really helps with bat angle adjustments and being able to hit the low pitches.

The next time you see her ask her about the TV commercials work out program she is doing!

 

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I liked the article about the softball and it is quite inspirational for the players. I think one should have energy and game spirit and should be able to handle the situation and accept the challenges. Then only one can become the great player. You need more efforts than only playing the game at the field.



________________
"Going High"
Superbowl Tickets

 

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I personally can't wait to meet her at the Lady Patriots event in late July.

To me, she is like Joe DeMaggio.. a natural hitter.

I'm in awe struck with her personally and can't wait to meet her face to face to tell her thank you for what she has put into the game...hard work... and what it means to the softball world and these girls.

The fact that the whole Racers team is coming to support the 10u girls in our little small tournament just dumbfounds me to no end. We didn't ask.. the ladies of the Racers suggest such themselves. Class act. These 10u kids are just going to be so happy to meet their "heros" of the game. And so am I !!!!

 

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I think the main reason Crystal is so good, is becasue of the years of singing lessons, and the time she has put in to beating the streets to let people hear her sing. She has a gift.........wait....we are talking about Bowersox right?.......

 

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Another drill she enjoys is holding the bat with the top hand and then holding a ball in the lead hand at arms length and drops it and on the bounce she grabs the bat with both hands and tries to hit the ball into the zone of 51 and 39 inches from 4.5 feet from the net.

This really helps with bat angle adjustments and being able to hit the low pitches.

Hitter, Last time I took Ash to her lessons when she was in town she showed that drill to us and it was amazing. The cage itself was probably 60 ft long and she held it (just like you said) down just below her waist (dropped it ) and hit a laser to the back of that cage.... Ash's eyes were as big as sliver dollars....Just plain awsome!!!

 

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Crystl Bustos is a fastpitch freak of nature. Her abilities are beyond amazing.

Len

 

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Confidence and Hard Work are truly Amazing things.


Oh ya topped with athletic ability

 

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Crystl really has not had much to hit for the last four years which is why we practice and teach how to hit a ball 5 to 10 inches off the plate.......

I understand the need to be able to hit an outside pitch and I'll probably get hit upside the head with Howards 2x4 but why would you want your kids swinging at pitches 10inches off the plate? That's a pitcher's pitch. Why not just take the ball or better yet walk and be paitient and wait for your pitch or a mistake. As pitcher don't you want batters chasing balls 10 inches off the plate. Your success rate of hitting that pitch is far below hitting one in the zone.

 

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I understand the need to be able to hit an outside pitch and I'll probably get hit upside the head with Howards 2x4 but why would you want your kids swinging at pitches 10inches off the plate? That's a pitcher's pitch. Why not just take the ball or better yet walk and be paitient and wait for your pitch or a mistake. As pitcher don't you want batters chasing balls 10 inches off the plate. Your success rate of hitting that pitch is far below hitting one in the zone.

We feel it is the hitters job to determine what they can hit and the only thing we want the umpire to do is call safe or out.

We have seen our share of strike zones and it changes with everyone of them. If it is that close hit it and if you are teaching them at a young age to walk then good luck teaching them how to become more aggressive when they get older. Besides at 9 to 12 years old how many pitchers can get it over the plate that often :lmao:

Sometimes the mis hit is the game winner or advances the runner that wins the game. When they get more experienced you may be surprised what they will be able to do.

 

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Ask a pitcher who they fear the most: A hitter who can hit a pitch 5 to 10 inches off the plate, or a batter who waits for a "good pitch" in their own special zone.

No such thing as nibbling the corners with a great hitter, but for the kid who's waiting on her special pitch - that low curve at the knees just might be a looking strike three.

There's a huge difference between just telling kids to swing at "close pitches", and actually spending many hours practicing how to do it. Expanding your hitting zone takes LOTS of proper practice. But in the end, you'll have a fearsome hitter!

 

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Sammy-you are so right about this! Can't tell you how many times my own DD was in the situation where the batter behind her was having an off day and they decided to walk mine, and she was able to go for the one they thought she couldn't hit and the winning run scored. Love listening to the parents say "why didn't you walk her" and the catcher say "we were why do you think we threw it so far outside" then the mom say "well you didn't throw it far enough outside!"

They actually were trying to pitch outside so she couldn't hit it, but after the game we were talking to her and she said " it didn't matter where we threw it, Bustos was going to hit it anyway"

And from the strike zone that umpire had that night there was no telling where he was going to call a strike! lol

Ask a pitcher who they fear the most: A hitter who can hit a pitch 5 to 10 inches off the plate, or a batter who waits for a "good pitch" in their own special zone.

No such thing as nibbling the corners with a great hitter, but for the kid who's waiting on her special pitch - that low curve at the knees just might be a looking strike three.

There's a huge difference between just telling kids to swing at "close pitches", and actually spending many hours practicing how to do it. Expanding your hitting zone takes LOTS of proper practice. But in the end, you'll have a fearsome hitter!

 

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Crystl really has not had much to hit for the last four years

I can believe that. Her first 2 at bats they walked her twice with total of 8 pitches. Her next AB she hit a blooper down right field line that appeared to be pretty far outside and may have even went off the end of her bat.

 

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And from the strike zone that umpire had that night there was no telling where he was going to call a strike! lol

I actually did not think he did too bad, although there were a few that were questionable. How about when he called Pride girl out at 2nd after base ump clearly called her safe? Play was close enough could have went either way but my question is WTH was the base ump doing on the 1st base line, between home annd 1st when there was a runner on 1st previously? Should she not have been standing by 2nd? And then the makeup call by the third ump after that when Racer was safe at 2nd by a mile and he called her out? Guess even the professional umps miss calls every now and then. Oh well had a great time and Racers still won. Can't complain.

 

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Believe it! My DD was pitching a college game to one of "Howard's Girls". The pitch call was for a basic "chin music" VERY high inside pitch - WELL off of the plate. It was so far inside that it should have hit the batter! Long story short - the ball wound up sailing over the left field fence. DD couldn't believe ANYONE could hit that pitch...

Sammy-you are so right about this! Can't tell you how many times my own DD was in the situation where the batter behind her was having an off day and they decided to walk mine, and she was able to go for the one they thought she couldn't hit and the winning run scored. Love listening to the parents say "why didn't you walk her" and the catcher say "we were why do you think we threw it so far outside" then the mom say "well you didn't throw it far enough outside!"

They actually were trying to pitch outside so she couldn't hit it, but after the game we were talking to her and she said " it didn't matter where we threw it, Bustos was going to hit it anyway"

And from the strike zone that umpire had that night there was no telling where he was going to call a strike! lol

 

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I understand the need to be able to hit an outside pitch and I'll probably get hit upside the head with Howards 2x4 but why would you want your kids swinging at pitches 10inches off the plate? That's a pitcher's pitch. Why not just take the ball or better yet walk and be paitient and wait for your pitch or a mistake. As pitcher don't you want batters chasing balls 10 inches off the plate. Your success rate of hitting that pitch is far below hitting one in the zone.

Not necessarily swinging at the pitches 10 inches off the plate, but able to hit it if you have to/can. Sometimes you can't wait around, you have to go after the ball. The curve is my best pitch, and I can't tell you how many backwards k's I've gotten on curve balls 7-10 inches off the plate. The umps can see that it moves a ton and is a good pitch and will ring a girl up for it even if it's not a strike. Pitches like that may not be perfect, but are wayy too close to watch. Being able to hit that is a great skill. A skill I wish I had..I can't hit the broad side of a barn =P
Also, I remember this spring throwing a GREAT drop ball that probably would've hit the ground before reaching the catcher...if the girl hadn't smoked it over the fence first!
I say broaden your range of pitches you can hit, even the bad ones...just have discipline in the box and know when to swing at those and when to leave the bat on your shoulder...

 

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Sorry, a pitch 7-10 inches off the plate is in the other box. There are VERY few umps that call that. Maybe, I'm wrong. Are there any umps out there that consistently call pitches 7-10 inches off the plate strikes? As a pitcher, don't you want players swinging at that pitch??? I certainly would, it's a pitcher's pitch. I still say, as a batter let it go and it will be called a ball, then you are ahead and then they have to groove you one.