Intentional beaning

BEANING..

As a coach , I've never preached "beaning" someone. The gradifaction of striking the batter out should be rewarding enough....However, if a player is leaning in or eating the plate and theirs no gain in "beaning" her...Well lets say my philosophy is "she best limp to 1st because I don't want her stealing 2nd"...LOL! Thats part of the game.
HIT-N-RUN


http://carolinahitnrun.googlepages.com/

 

There is a difference in throwing a strike when a batter is in the strike zone and beaning someone!!!! My DD's freshman year we were playing the eventual state champs. Conference title on the line. We were ahead in the top of the 6th 2-0, dd was 3 for 3 and was pitching a shutout. Next at bat pitcher threw at her head (63mph +) and instinctively she put her hand up to deflect the pitch and broke her pitching hand. We lost. SEASON OVER . This was intentional as both pitcher and catcher were bragging about it after the game. This was brought to the coaches attention and nothing was done about it , not even an apology. Was the coach in on it??? The coach did call all pitches. Thankfully dd recovered and pitched us to Walnut Creek 2 of the next 3 years. In all the years she pitched she never, never intentionally hit someone. I will ask her this weekend if her college coach resorts to this tactic

 

It's tough enough seeing through my bi-focals; the net just makes it even more difficult. But I've learned (learning)--the hard way! You don't think they hit me intentionally, do you?

 

BEANING...

There's alot of times "the bean ball" comes from the catcher, grant the pitcher is involved and the coach is basically left out of the picture. For example , several years ago I had a couple of "HIT-N-RUN" alumni over and at the time , all the girls were still playing college ball - after reminiscing for awhile , they got on the same subject. So I started to dig alittle deeper - come to find out , not only did they have a sign for a "bean ball" but they also had one for the the umpire behind the plate.
HIT-N-RUN

http://carolinahitnrun.googlepages.com/

 

take the armor away... then only the bravest (or dumbest) will overly crowd the plate. Umpires can help here by not calling pitches 4 to 6 inches off the plate outside a strike!

Pitches at the head should lead to pitcher AND head coach being ejected, if the umpire deems that it was intentional... they're gone!

There are times when hitting a batter can come into play and a fastball to the hip, thigh or ribs, will deliver the message...

As mentioned above... overcrowding the plate.

Stealing signs, giving signs by a runner at 2nd or coaches/players giving pitch locations.

Protecting teammate(s) This can be a retaliation for a intentionally hit batter, an obvious high slide, intentional spiking (metal spikes make this more of a hazard) or any other attempt by the opponent to physically intimidate or injure a pitcher's teammate.

As softball becomes more competitive, there will probably be an increase in hit batters. Umpires will have to be more in control with things like warnings to both dugouts and such. Sometimes though, they'll just need to let it be worked out amongst the players on the field. That's where the game is being played.

 

wouldnt that be nice

 

Just wanted to let everyone know, the sign for the pitcher to hit the batter is the middle finger pointed down, watch out for it, I saw it last year playing against a team that is known for dirty ball.

Coach Tammy

 

it happens .... trust me

It happens all the time for one reason or the other. I know a certain pitcher that has only done it once intentionally but it was really the opposing coaches fault. He thought he was really something and as the batter headed up to the plate he yelled to her, "I recruited you because you hit homeruns so hit one now." Hmmm, where do you think that next pitch was??? I had to laugh and so did the pitcher when she heard him yell that. I can tell you this because he was NOT local, it was a Georgia team.

 

My dd played on a travel ball team with a girl who hit a couple on purpose. One was because everytime this team we were playing got a runner on second that person would lift her left or right hand to show where the catcher was sitting up. Our catcher went out and told our pitcher about it. The next pitch was dead center of the batters hip and the pitcher let her know why. They quit doing it.