Who are the staes best pitchers this year?

Agree with all this. In fact, my view is the optimum velocity for most breaking ball pitchers is 62-64 mph. If you watched Cat Osterman (IMO the best breaking ball pitcher ever) she threw almost all her pitches in this range. Surprisingly, she didn't change speeds a great deal. I'm no engineer but I suspect this has to do with achievable spin rates. I think once a pitch goes much above 65 mph it becomes difficult to spin it fast enough to overcome the straight-line velocity. Hence the reason many breaking ball pitchers, especially drop ballers are better later in games (fatigue). Having said all that, I think there's a rather steep decline in effectiveness of all pitches (except the change, of course) below 60 mph. I've only seen one elite pitcher (Schmidt from LSU several years ago) be able to get top level D1 batters out consistently while throwing 55-58 mph.

And, yes. This is probably a conversation for another thread.

My broader view is that I admire any girl who is willing to to play what, in my estimation, is the most pressure-packed position in any team sport.

 

Well

Just poking some fun. If I wanted to talk some trash it would be worded differently.

 

An Asideitchers Dads are different

I had the pleasure this past weekend to sit with Ken Harrell, father of former Greenville Rose and ECU pitching star Keli Harrell, and watch ECU defeat Tulsa 1-0 in 10 innings. Some fans may have been bored. We (pitchers Dads) thought it was great game

 

My favorite pitcher of all time to watch

"I've only seen one elite pitcher (Schmidt from LSU several years ago) be able to get top level D1 batters out consistently while throwing 55-58 mph."

 

When is 60 mph really 60 mph? Another Aside

I'll always remember the first conversation I had with my dear friend Beverly Smith. It was actually in the last century! My DD was attending her first pitching clinic an UNC and I was quizzing Beverly (as I did whenever I had the opportunity for the next dozen years) about the "magic" of 60 mph.

She said "I rarely meet a pitcher's Dad whose daughter doesn't throw 60"

think about it.

 

Ditto

She was amazing. I have no idea how she did what she did.

 

That is so true

Beverly is so wise! The All-American pitcher I mentioned as one of few that did not tell me she could throw over 60. I love this game.

 

Threading the needle

The only pitcher I ever though threw it exactly where she wanted when she wanted. As good as that kid was there aren't many big conference schools that would give her a long look today. She would make some small school hard to beat.

 

There was a very successful HS . . .

pitcher in the state some years back whose style reminded a lot of Kristen Schmidt (I'll not mention her name as I got in trouble the last time I did on this site). Unfortunately, her success did not translate to the next level. I never understood why although I think the adjustment to 43' was part of it. The assumption than "spin" pitchers have an easier adjustment than "power" pitchers is dead wrong. But that's for another thread too.

 

For the Record.....

I don't really want to keep this going, but for the record, the Lady Blues 18U played the Gold bracket at the Southern Star this year and were undefeated. Here was our schedule:

Sat 11/20/10 LB vs Streamline Gold 18U Gold
Sat 11/20/10 LB vs GA Mayhem 18U Gold
Sat 11/20/10 LB vs CV Storm 18U A
Sun 11/21/10 LB vs Central Fl Hurricanes 18U Gold
Sun 11/21/10 LB vs GA Impact 18U Gold

I also don't believe anyone was putting down the Carolina Gators. I'm sure you are a very good team.