How long did your dd practice before pitching in a game?

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Jul 19, 2014
2,390
48
Madison, WI
The local LL had coach pitch for 10u for the first 2/3 of the season, then a girl would pitch, with the coach taking over after 4 balls.

For DD #3's first year in 10U, she decided to pitch a few times in the spring. She played up in 12U in the fall, and they let her pitch a few innings. That winter she got a pitching coach. She played up in 12U in the spring, and in a 10U all-star team in the summer. By this spring, 12U for real, she was pitching a lot more, and also TB.

Her PC wants her to pitch in rec league for practice. I think it helps her a lot. This spring she was able to get a lot of practice, greatly improve her strike: ball ratio, and work on her changeup. She is pitching rec league this fall. Her first game was rained out, but her next game is Friday.
 
Jan 31, 2014
292
28
North Carolina
About 2 weeks before first 10u rec game. It was brutal. With a 10 batter limit per innings, she walked 7 and hit 3. And she was the best we had. Started lessons about a month after.

A full year before she pitched for her travel team.

Now, a little over two years later, she's really starting to rise above many other pitchers in the area. Requirements: Good PC, padded bucket, lots of patience, lots of encouragement, about 2 dozen softballs, a bownet, and some nice walking shoes. for a while, DD couldn't hit the broad side of a bownet, and I did a lot of collecting! Have fun!
 
Last edited:
Mar 23, 2011
492
18
Noblseville, IN
DD got the pitching bug and we started working on stuff and going to a PC late in her 2nd year of 10u.

12u-1: A few innings in rec
12u-2: Maybe 12 innings across 60 TB games (we went to PC coach all year)
14u-1: Maybe 10 innings in the first 2/3's of the TB season. Pitched in maybe 4 games late in the season.
14u-2: (this year) She pitched a game a couple weeks ago and will likely pitch one or two on Saturday. Things are starting to come together (thanks to the help of javasource!!!).

There were a lot of mechanical resets with learning IR and changing things. DD just threw too hard and wild. Once teams realized they didn't have to swing and could take a walk, they'd do that and let past balls score runs... We just couldn't take the hit for the team, and she didn't get to pitch much. Plus, she's a lefty so her only other place to play has been in the outfield (BTW, I'm HC)... She's learned to love OF though.

Not being relied upon to throw strikes and carry teams has been a blessing in disguise. Despite all the pain of lack of reps and poor performances, DD and I have had the freedom to continue to explore mechanical changes, get stronger, and pick up speed. There were many times when I thought, "it's too late..." She can't possibly learn all the nuances and responsibilities of pitching. Even if she starts pitching well, inexperience will keep her off of the plate...

I know now that was not true. I'm thankful that we continued to persevere. Now with the help of java, DD is really starting to come together. I hope by the end of this season, DD will be an elite pitcher in our area.
 
Apr 22, 2013
20
0
Same as others: 10U rec league: "who wants to pitch" she never got a chance during the season, threw in the yard a few times. Got a chance right before the playoffs: She pitched around the edges of the plate and was the pitcher from that point forward.. Moved with that coach to 12U and has been there for 3 years moving to Travel league this last year 12U.
Not a whole lot of lessons, does all the local clinics: Luckily got the local HS pitching coach helping now.
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
Approximately 6 years ago I volunteered to coach DDs rec team. At the first practice I asked if anyone ever pitched. No one raised their hands. I asked if anyone wanted to try it. Three raised their hands including my DD. We worked with them for approximately 3 weeks before the first game. But I use the phrase "worked with them" very loosely because I didn't know anything about windmill pitching at the time. All three did fine at that level, throwing more strikes than balls. But at that time, none of them had any interest in pitching full time, taking lessons, or playing travel ball. It wasn't until after the second full season of play that DD decided she wanted to be a pitcher. It was then that we decided to start her with a pitching instructor.
 

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