Hollowell's Pitching Clinic

The answer is simple

Limit the number of innings any pitcher could pitch. Then you would offense increase dramatically. In baseball physical limitations of male pitchers (those wimps) essentially take care of this. In fact, there simply is not enough pitching to go around hence UNCW wins a regional game 21-19. College baseball is really "arena baseball" because of artificial bats and the lack of pitching. If softballers want to see more runs limit innings pitched. How much different would the NC state championships have been if pitchers could have only thrown 10 innings (just to pick #) in one day? You'd have seen some different state champions and a lot more runs. Same in college. UA, UT, NW, tu (Texas to us aggies) all have good second pitchers but only NW used one. Why not require their use? You'd see more runs, more strategy and more pitchers developed.

Of course the complaint is "our program doesn't have the luxury of two pitchers. Tough luck. Develop them. Most every girl on my DD D1 team was a pitcher at one time in her career. There are plenty of pitchers @ 10U but they go away as the opportunities to pitch dwindle. You go to Central Cabarrus where only two girls pitch in 8 years meanwhile a pitcher capable of earning a college scholarship can't get on the field. If the rules were changed schools would adjust, more girls would pitch and really good pitchers would still dominate but more runs would be scored as #2 and #3 pitchers would be put in play.

 

Way too serious..

As that poster, let me break it down in terms that even you can understand: I was refering only to her ability; Ashton has the talent level that will allow her to be compared to Jenny Finch. Nothing else was meant by it, no sexist implications, no hidden agendas, etc.
For the record, I think Monica Abbott is a great pitcher and has a very unique delivery style and is catching up with Cat's strikeout record and will probably exceed it next year...outstanding:229031_ha
So in the future, don't try to interprept my intentions without even knowing who or what you are talking about. Any further comments can be sent to my private message file... and just chill out

 

Ouch!

Sorry . . of course you're correct. Shouldn't make assumptions. I guess I just couldn't figure why someone who is UT bound wouldn't aspire to be Abbott. Ultimately any UT pitcher will have to cope with the inevitable comparisons. Would have preferred to have been admonished a little differently but I've heard and seen worse!

 

Admonishment

Apology accepted....sorry it was a rough comeback, must be that Catholic school upbringing: nun's rapping your knuckles with rulers, 10 Our Father's after confessions, etc We're cooleacemanm

 

Thanks. Again, I shouldn't have assumed your motives. As a longterm softball Dad I'm pretty defensive about the stereotypes that our DD deal with. As I stated, I've become especially fascinated by Monica A. Even the announcers seem to give her a bad rap constantly questioning her mental toughness! How can anyone question the toughness of a young lady who has done what she's done over the last two years? I'm not a UT fan and don't like the way the Weakly's do things so becoming an Abbott fan was slow process. Hopefully, Ashton Ward (who I think is wonderful prospect) and anyone else who decides to go to UT will get a fair shake on a team that starts as many CA kids as UCLA!

 

let me add one thing to bigham's suggestions.. move the center field fence back fifty feet; make it more like a baseball park. Despite what it may look like on the surface this would increase runs because of the ground that would have to be covered by the outfield. This will probably never happen beacuse of the costs involved but it would make the game much more enjoyable to watch.

 

yes

& it would also stop some girls (well maybe) from swinging for the fences / (home runs) a majority of the time.

 

Can't see this increasing scoring

Look at the number of runs scored in the WCWS on HR's. If you want to increase scoring move the fences to 190' then you'll see more scoring. My pitcher daughter loves her home field. 200' down the lines and 215' to center with and 8' fence. Gave up 8 HR's this season; all on the road. There are really on two offensive that pay off in FP: power or speed. Its virtually impossible to score if you have neither and have to put together three and four hit innings.

 

but I think bothsportsdad makes a good point in that the closer in the fence is the less area that outfielders have to cover & can play more shallow taking away the short game to an extent. & on short fences the OF can play closer to the fence resulting in long outs by power hitters. I bet if you were to ask outfielders which they would prefer, they would say the short fences because with fences at 225+ feet there's more of a concern with ball getting by them & rolling on & on. but also as stated the fences won't be moved back due to expense.