can a Player be recruited on Hitting alone?

Just a question looking for opinions, if a players batting average, say .750 is better than her fielding percentage throughout high school and travel what are the odds of being her recruited? Do Colleges focus more on position play or skill sets?

 

3 important things

throwing, catching and hitting..........

A kid that can "hit" that well. Likely a place on the field can be found for them to play. But college SB does have the DH. HS can use it also....
If I have a ball player that can only shoot 3's. Then a good defender can put a stop on him.
If I face a girl that can only hit and do-it that well. She may see a good pitch, but likely not. She will have to earn it.

 

Offense is Key

Through the years of working with girls and college coaches in the recruiting process, the most important aspect is offense. Good fielding position players are a dime a dozen, but colleges want the players who can change the game offensively for them. Makes sense because games are won and lost on runs scored.
Parents will pay lots of money for their daughter to take pitching lessons because that is where they think most of the college dollars go, but they won't pay for their daughters to take hitting lessons. Hitting is an art just like pitching, and a crucial part of the game. If you want to be recruited by the best, then you have to hit like the best and probably learn from the best.

 

as info.......

College softball does not have a DH...it has a DP ( Designated Player)
It is paired with the (Flex) which the 2 basically share the batting position in the lineup...

One plays offense / the other defense....They can also reverse roles..
A coach that has a good understanding of the DP / Flex rule can utilize offense and defensive strengths...

To answer your question... if you can hit... we can find someone to play defense

 

OK DP....whatever

 

Good clarification Charlie. Great rule.

 

like I said, Softball is like church....

Coaching softball and not understanding the differences between the baseball DH rule and the softball DP/Flex rule reduces many opportunities to better utilize your roster and player utilization.

Can you treat it like the baseball dh rule....sure, but when you understand the added benifits,
You have so many more options..

According to NCAA, National High School Federation, ASA, and International Softball Federation rules, leagues may utilize a position known as DP, or designated player. The DP may bat for any designated player in the lineup, not just the pitcher. Like the designated hitter in baseball, the DP does not play defense. Coaches may substitute players for the DP, with the original DP allowed to return to the lineup once each game like any other starter. If teams use a DP, they must also use a flex player, who never bats and only plays defense. The flex serves as a designated fielder, allowing the coach to employ the best possible defense. Because of their roles, the DP and flex players provide unique substitution opportunities. The flex player may hit for the DP, accounting for the DP's one legal substitution, and then slide back to the flex position when the DP reenters the game--without surrendering fielding duties. The DP may also substitute for the flex in the field without counting as the DP's legal substitution. The true advantage, though, comes in having the DP substitute for other fielders on defense to give players a needed breather. Since the DP and the replaced fielder were in the starting lineup, such defensive switches do not count as official substitutions.

 

knowledge

Your wealth of knowledge is so deep. Oh my I feel so overwhelmed.

 

Back to the question. sure a kid can get recruited if they hit well enough. Understand though it will be the college coach who decides what well enough is. Most likely it will have little to do with a stats in HS or even travel ball. The best coaches can watch a kid in a handleful of at bats against some respectable pitching and determine how much that particular kid might be able to help their team
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