1 Pitcher Concept

That's good... whatever they say, do twice as much - especially resting the injury. It's so easy to start using it too soon.

 

There are teams that have more than one pitcher but choose not to use them. Some coaches don't want to upset their main pitcher and they want the main pitcher to set records. But there are games in which a 2nd pitcher could be used but a coach chooses not to.

 

Agree! I know of a HS coach for a 4A school in the Charlotte area, that stayed with only 1 pitcher, who was a senior, all season, just to chase down a 700 k's in a career record. In the meantime, there was a very capable pitcher on the bench that never got to pitch, even though she is an outstanding pitcher, and plays on a very high level, and respected 18U travel team. I know the younger pitcher learned a lot through this life experience, but it was really uncalled for. Is it really gonna matter down the road whether the senior pitcher got 700 k's or just 650, or 600??

 

So glad she is going to be fine, would have loved to seen them win state, as I know you and her both would have. Such a great article in the paper on her. Best of luck to her at Elon, they seem to have a good softball program.

 

Have always been a fan of having more than one pitcher since I got burned by it. Had one pitcher that got most of the innings. Other pitcher threw during practice and some innings in a couple mop up games. Starting pitcher had a death in the family and had to miss the final game of the season. Started second pitcher and lost to the worst team in the league (believe they hadn't won a game) and with it went our conference championship.

Now on the other hand, have also seen two pitchers not work so well either. Two examples...

Team was up big, like 9 - 2, with one inning left so put second pitcher in who could have been a starter on several other teams. Other team lit her up. Before you knew it, it was 8 - 9. Had to bring starter back in to finish it up but that is a very tall order for her to go back in after she had shut it down. Luckily she got the outs and they won.

Started second pitcher against team you are "supposed" to beat. Other team jumped all over her and got out to a lead. Brought regular starting pitcher in but it didn't work out. Still lost the game...

 

Amen.

My dd injured her ankle in PE - 20 minutes before the start of this years first "tryout/practice" day. Hospital told her mild sprain, put her in a soft brace, rest as much as possible, ice often. Can be back on field in three days later.

Three days later, on the field, she can barely move. To our doctor, more tests, MRI - fifth metatarsal is broken, anterior tibularfibular ligament was torn and near complete separation of the perineal tendon from the metatarsal. In a boot for 6 weeks; PT 3x a week for 3 weeks. Made it back on the field in time for conference....but also got same foot stepped on HARD, and it caused a hairline fracture back in that metatarsal and she suffered pretty bad the last 3 weeks of the season.

My new theory: Doctor says 6 weeks, I say 12.

 

Some thoughts on this: Team perspective

I'm not sure how any coach can justify a 'one pitcher' approach. If you only have one girl in your school who can pitch the discussion is moot. However, if there's any other reasonably talented pitcher who wants to play then they should be given innings, especially if the team is good. To do otherwise is basically saying "I'm afraid to pitch anyone else because I don't trust my position players enough to do so". If the position players are good enough then failing to give the confidence that they can play behind anyone but the ace puts them at tremendous risk. What happens if the ace gets injured? If you're a one pitcher team then the season is over. What sense does that make?

 

Some thoughts: Pitcher's Dad Perspective

My DD played for a "one pitcher" travel team for three years (14U-16U). She had great numbers and got lots of attention but by the third year I realized this was not in her best interest. We moved to a travel team with two other quality pitchers. In HS she played with two other quality pitchers. She learned to COMPETE for her playing time. This served her well when she arrived on campus her freshman year and had to COMPETE for playing time for four years with the pitcher from the only east coast team Gold team (Shamrocks) to have ever won the ASA Gold title.

Bottom line is that being the sole ace on a HS team may fun for the girl (and Dad) but unless you're Angela Tincher or Monica Abbott you need to learn to COMPETE for playing time. I've seen lots of HS aces (record holders) spend their college career in the bullpen because they never learned this.

 

Wow! I feel your pain! My daughter was a stand out pitcher in 10, 12, and 14U travel ball. Sometimes we would go watch the highschool team play and had great anticipation to someday walk out in the circle and do her part to win games for her highschool in the county in which she was born and raised. However the coach had different ideas. She pitched all the JV games and threw varsity batting practice for two years while another pitcher who transferred from another county( same age as my daughter) threw every inning of the varsity games no matter what the score.About halfway through her sophmore season she realized that her dreams would never come true and as hard as it was thought it would be best for her to get away from the negative situation and the umbrella of the other pitcher and did not play highschool ball this year. For the last year and a half she has played with an elite 18U showcase team. It was the right move because shortlythereafter she started getting letters and correspondence through her showcase coaches from DI and DII schools that was very interested in her as a pitcher.Even though her coach single handedly kept her off the varsity rubber , she reached her ultimate goal of being recruited to pitch in college. she accepted an offer from the top school on her list ( DI Big South conference). My advice is to play high school ball if you are treated at least somewhat fairly and given the chance to prove yourself. If not , she has found out that there is life beyond school ball! You know what happens when you beat your head against a brick wall for two years? You get a head ache!!! LOL

 

We will not be playing HS softball either, I'm glad things turned out great for your daughter.