Another young pitcher hurt by a ball

MsDinosaur · Apr 20, 2015

riseball said:
Not saying this is the case in the example cited. But I have often wondered why it is acceptable in HS softball to have 14 year old rec players players on the same field as 18 year old women who are signed to college programs?

But what would you do? Some HS softball programs are very strong and some are quite weak. Do you make the umpires ascertain whether the skill levels are close enough for a game to be allowed?

There's one team in DD's conference that comes from a poorer, largely minority area. They have enough girls to field one team; they only play varsity against the other schools in the conference and naturally, their team is extremely weak. I wish they could be allowed to play JV, but then the rules wouldn't let their seniors play. That team went 0-14 this fall, but in three of the games, they scored a run. Yes, they struggle, but they show up and play. I don't think it would be fair to take that away from them.

I know DD's coach uses those games to give the benchwarmers playing time and to let pitchers other than the number one and two pitch. I suspect a lot of the other coaches do the same. I see only one game that went 0-31, the others were lost by only about 15-16 runs, e. g. folks didn't go crazy scoring, just worked up to the run rule amount by the third inning.

wafastpitch · Apr 20, 2015

My dd now wears a mask if she plays infield after taking a line drive to the face that knocked her to the ground. She was 13 playing against an 18u team. She was really lucky that the ball just flattened her cheek bone some and fractured her sinus. We had the option of surgery but opted against it. Getting back on the mound after was really tough, but she's doing great now. She won't go onto the infield without a mask now though. It shook her big time!

MsDinosaur · Apr 20, 2015

Cowdogz said:
You should be just as, if not more worried, about concussions. No mask can stop a kid's brain from crashing against the inside of her skull, which can happen a) when her head snaps backwards from getting hit with the ball, and b) when her head hits the ground after being knocked over by a line drive. My niece had a concussion at the end of last year, and missed three months of school. A co-worker has post-concussion syndrome; we have to dim the lights in the office, and she has to write everything down or else she'll forget it tomorrow.

Concussions are bad news. DD's trying to recover from one now--all 3 have been on foul tips back to her head while she was catching. If she's still able to play softball, she'll definitely be wearing her face mask if she's not catching. I want her to have that inch? half-inch? of foam on her forehead. Masks and helmets can help, but sadly, they can't guarantee that a kid won't get a concussion.

Something that maybe doesn't get mentioned enough...concussions are cumulative. The damage adds up. And if you've had a concussion, it's easier to get another one, your symptoms will be worse, your recovery will be longer and at some point, your brain may not ever recover.

So maybe you wear a facemask and never even need it. Or maybe you wear it and take a few hits that seem fairly mild, but would have given you a concussion without it. If a face mask prevents that first concussion, you are way ahead of the game. JMO.

Sweet Lou · Apr 20, 2015

riseball said:
Even with a mask she had no business in the circle.

Do you have additional knowledge of this girl we are unaware of or did you deduce that some how from the initial article? The game was 1-0 in the 4th so assuming she had been pitching the whole time she must have been doing something right in the circle.

riseball · Apr 20, 2015

Sweet Lou said:
Do you have additional knowledge of this girl we are unaware of or did you deduce that some how from the initial article? The game was 1-0 in the 4th so assuming she had been pitching the whole time she must have been doing something right in the circle.

My mistake. I thought this was the one that took to the circle with an active neurological issue.

MandM · Apr 20, 2015

riseball said:
My mistake. I thought this was the one that took to the circle with an active neurological issue.

Thank you - I was about to call you out on this as well as she is a 2017 grad and TB pitcher so not a fair statement at all.

cuzmail · Apr 21, 2015

bucket pinata said:
Ok, we played this team One week ago, almost took the pitchers head off then,missed her by about a foot. Serving up meatballs to a national level team getting crushed wearing no mask. I do feel for the parents and that poor girl, But I also feel sorry for her teammates and the opposing players and fans, I feel sorry for the kid that hit the ball, I feel sorry for all that had to witness it. I've always stated the whole " It only affects them" argument is garbage. I hate all the straw man arguments about they are in more danger driving to the Game. Why Because more Kids are injured in car wrecks? well Duh, How many kids pitch per capita then drive in cars. Look I'm no mask Nazi, But Don't try to convince me that your choice to risk my daughter and my family watching along with everyone else attending having to watch your DD getting her faced caved in only affects you and I am not entitled to be angry having to deal with it.I'm pretty sure I'm not for mandating them but when tragedy strikes own it,don't come up with a bunch philosophical arguments trying to convince others it was ok she was not wearing one.

Much better!
For the record. I am and always have been pro choice here and not in favor of a mask mandate. It is a player/family decision. Should something bad happen the decision to wear or not wear a mask should be taken into consideration when assigning risk and fault.

My DD wears a mask in the circle.

cuzmail · Apr 21, 2015

Maybe I am a simple man (just opened the door there for the good members of this forum to fire away), but why can't we simply judge the player based on her game performance regardless of mask, no mask, or position?

If she is a stud with a mask who cares?
If she is far from a stud without a mask, then does she get extra brownie points?

Another young pitcher hurt by a ball

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