Dilemma

Quick update. DD chose team A. I asked her why....she said that it's the program/team that she likes the best and that she believes in herself that she can win the job. She went on to say something like if she doesn't win the 1 or 2 job, she will push them and make them better....therefore the team is better.

Lastly, she said that she likes pitching. But, she wants to play at an elite level and play college ball. She said there might be better pitchers than her by then. So, she wants to play other positions and become a softball player...not just a pitcher. And I quote "by high school, I plan on being the best CF in the state." She's 12, but she thinks out everything.

cbullard said:

Quick update. DD chose team A. I asked her why....she said that it's the program/team that she likes the best and that she believes in herself that she can win the job. She went on to say something like if she doesn't win the 1 or 2 job, she will push them and make them better....therefore the team is better.

Lastly, she said that she likes pitching. But, she wants to play at an elite level and play college ball. She said there might be better pitchers than her by then. So, she wants to play other positions and become a softball player...not just a pitcher. And I quote "by high school, I plan on being the best CF in the state." She's 12, but she thinks out everything.

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I want you to think about this for a minute. It is your money. It is both of your time. You are the adult. Choose what is best for your daughter. Team A is the absolute wrong choice. She will not be a pitcher by this time next year. I promise you. They are taking her for a warm body, not a pitcher.

If your daughter wants to pitch, then she has to PITCH. She won't here. I promise.

Do me a favor, call the parents of pitcher #3. Find out how many innings they threw this past year. Then figure that if your DD is as good as #3, they will split those innings at best at 50%. If she is worse than #3, she will get between 0%-20% of the innings that #3 got. Think about it, coach isn't going to give away his two Aces innings so that the #4 can develop.

Nope, this is too important of a year in your daughter's development if she wants to be a pitcher. You can't allow this.

You are the decision maker not her. You wouldn't let your DD stop going to school her sophomore year just because its her decision would you(that's legal year in our state)? No, because it is a poor choice, and you know what is right for your DD. Don't leave this decision to her.

I appreciate the feedback JJS. I really really do.

We talked about it for days. And went to multiple games to watch when #1 and 2 were pitching. She looked at me during the game and said "I can beat the #1 pitcher out". I talked to a parent on the team that I know from a while back. He said pitcher 1 is good but erratic at times. Misses games due to her back. #2 is consistent. Throws hard straight down the middle. Said #3 pitched against one of the top teams in the state because she looked best in warm ups. Lastly, he said the coach will pitch the best pitcher. He won't hesitate. My DD told the coach "I want to learn to play other positions." He said "You will...but you're definitely pitching too"

Oh and at her tryout she pitched to their catcher. The catcher said you're just as a good as any of the girls we have.

cbullard said:

Oh and at her tryout she pitched to their catcher. The catcher said you're just as a good as any of the girls we have.

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Well, I hope her the best then. The original post made it sound as if she was way behind the other 2 at least, and maybe the third.

Another thing to check out is are the other pitchers coaches DDs or friends of the coaches DDs? This may be the biggest determinant, yet!

Your DD may still be motivated to play with her friend. There doesn't seem to be any other reason to select A over B, which seems to be the sure thing.

If she really likes playing other positions, then fantastic. As to pitching, I suspect she is in for a very difficult struggle getting mound time.


Each kid is different. My DD#1 never really want to do anything other than pitch...even batting was 2nd to pitching. DD#3 didn't enjoy pitching. She would have preferred to play 1B and bat, but everyone (including me) wanted her to pitch.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that 1 and 2 were better. Just that they're really good. Sorry for the confusion.

Sluggers....she just loves softball. She really enjoys pitching. But, she wants to learn to play other positions too. Her team from last season pitched her into the ground. She never really played anything else. She's a really athletic kid. She plays basketball too. So, she's thinking long term I think

I asked her again this morning. She said that she believes in herself and she's going get the 1 or 2 spot. And that she's not going to run from competition....we're on vacation right now and she's outside pitching into a wall. So, she's preparing. Haha