For those girls who THINK they want to play D1 ball

I thought I'd how summarize how my D1 pitcher spent her Spring Break. I thought it might make good reading for girls who THINK they want to play college ball.

While her classmates were on beaches in Mexico and Florida here’s how my daughter spent her spring break.

Thursday before break: class in morning, practice at noon, bus two hours to airport, fly non-stop from Washington to San Diego. Check in at hotel at 11 PM pacific time (2 AM east coast time).

Friday: Rise at 8:45 (5:45 EDT) eat and go to San Diego U for 11 AM game. Pitch seven innings versus Central Michigan (4 hitter, 6-1 win) then watch as the team plays poorly vs #4 UCLA. Jelly Selden throws a one-hitter and team gets run-ruled 8-0. Back to hotel, clean up and go to our SS home (whose from San Diego) for a cookout. It’s cold but team has fun with karaoke. Back to hotel and bed.

Saturday: Only one game at noon. She doesn’t pitch and we beat CSU-Bakersfield 6-2. Back to hotel and then to a park for a cookout hosted by the family of sisters (again from San Diego) who played at our school. Its very cold but the team has fun with volleyball.

Sunday: Rise at 6:45 and go to fields at San Diego State for two games. The stadium is beautiful and the sun is warm. We fall behind Oregon early and She throws three shutout innings of relief but we lose 7-0. She has a sub for lunch and then plays #22 Fresno State. She throws 8 1/3 shutout innings and leaves the game after two IF errors in the ninth. The next batter doubles and we lose 3-0. Team then showers and goes to old town San Diego. She has dinner with mom and dad. The team then goes to airport and takes the “Red Eye” to Washington arriving at 6 AM.

Monday: The team busses two hours back to campus. She crashes for a few hours and then heads for the training room for treatment. Does some reading and goes bed.

Tuesday: Sleeps in, then cleans the apartment. Goes for treatment and then to a four hour practice. Dinner, reading bed.

Wednesday: Gets up and have a brief practice before getting on the bus @ 11 AM to go the Maryland. Pitches the first game but strains a quad fielding a bunt in fourth inning and has to be removed from the game. Its very cold and we lose both games. She’s back in the apartment and in bed around midnight.

Thursday: Gets up around nine and goes for treatment. The leg feels OK. Practices, grabs lunch and gets on the bus for Chapel Hill, NC. Arrives around 11 PM and goes to bed.

Friday: Gets up at 6:45 and gets breakfast and dressed but it’s pouring rain. We’re supposed to play two games but both are cancelled. Shes’s a NC girl so she suggests that the team goes to Southpoint Mall. They return to hotel, change and have lunch and shop at Southpoint. She calls a good friend who plays for UNC and they shop together. Back to hotel, read some and bed.

Saturday: Gets up around 8:00 and finally plays first game at 2:30. She’s not pitching as the coaches seem to indicate they want to save her for UNC tomorrow. We lead 5-2 but wheels come off in the top of seventh. She’s warm but the coaches decide to stick with our starter. The #4 batter hits a grand slam and she enters the game with team trailing 7-5. She gets a K and GO but we don’t score in the bottom of seven (she makes the second out swinging at rise ball). The coaches then tell her she’s starting the next game. She likes pitching at night and is really on. Records 14 K’s and gives up only two hits. We beat Princeton 3-0. The coach announces on the bus that she has become the career strikeout leader at out the school and gives her the game ball.

Sunday: We have one game versus UNC. She starts and gives a run in the first. The UNC girls know her pitching style (she’s taken lessons from the UNC pitching coach for eight years) and are very aggressive. In the third the girl she went shopping with homers (the first one she surrendered this season). The pitching area is really bad and two batters latter she feels something pop in her knee. She’s facing an old travelball teammate who she K’d in the first inning but having a tough time as she feels like she’s going to fall on each pitch. The coach comes out and asks if she can get one more out (there are two) and she tells her yes. The count goes to 3-2 and she throws a fat pitch that her friend lines right back at her. Fortunately, it hits her on a “meaty part”. At that point the coach removes her. Her teammate pitches great the remainder of the game but we K 16 times and lose 3-0. She’s disappointed about her injury as she had 5 K’s thru three innings and wanted to finish. She says hi to some of her good friends on the UNC team and get on the bus. They arrive back on campus at 11 PM.

Monday: Class from 8 – 11. Her knee hurts but the bruise where she got hit hurts worse. To training room for evaluation then some studying at the academic center and to the Ortho doc at 5 PM. He doesn’t think it’s too bad but since she had surgery on it as a freshman he wants an MRI; She’s not sure if she’ll be ready for Wednesday’s game. Back home, cook dinner, studying and bed.

Bottom line; if you don't love the game (she does) think twice about making the commitment.

 

Hey ----Look At The Positive !!!

She gets to see the country FREE !!! Think about all the $1,000.00 she will save in gas and food. And all the college dollars that you have saved !! There is always a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. You DD is really fortunate, she is well talented and LOVES THE GAME !!! And it sounds like you are able to see her play!!! Not many parents get to see their daughter's play, I know I want. I have (2) more years and I'm finished, it will be the college that accepts her to complete the mold!! Have A Great Day !!!


Guru

 

Yeah....but

The UNC softball team is in Hawaii for 7 days over spring break.

 

Oh; It is "all good"

Nothing negative here as we're getting exactly what she signed on for and enjoying every minute of it . . . . playing in a D1 program at a really good school and making a difference.

 

Yea We All Know !!!

We have been reading about her !! You are very fortunate !!!


Guru

 

Yes

She and we are very blessed and absolutely recognize that fact. Had the good fortune of a great TB experience with Jeff McPhail and the Wildcats. She played with great girls, most of whom have gone on to have solid careers.

 

thanks

Thanks so much for sharing!

 

sub

obviously an informative post.
Duke, any comment on star HS players that go to D1 and suddenly are not the big cheese and must possibly learn as a "sub" the first year or so?

 

Star turned sub?

I can't imagine any player at the D1 level not being a 'big cheese' in HS. There is certainly a learning curve for most kids, especially in D1. That said, my experience suggests that if a girl is not getting significant playing time by the middle of her sophomore year then it's not likely to happen. This is especially true of pitchers. There are exceptions but coaches are always trying to recruit better players. I've seen almost no evidence of softball coaches giving deference to juniors or seniors. My daughter shared the #1 pitcher role from day one due to an unfortunate illness to the presumed senior starter so I don't know how she would have reacted to not playing. Players and parents need to be very careful when choosing a school, studying the roster carefully.