Pitching speeds at the TCS Showcase

[Screwball]

The announcers only said it a few times, but pitchers in the Elite 12 18U Gold championship game were pitching 55-59mph.

Long discussion on spinning pitchers between Michelle Smith and Jenny Ritter (IIRC). Ritter lamented the lack of good movement on today's up and coming pitchers, but stressed that the one in the final had good movement.

 

[Steve Huff]

Is that an average for all pitches, or top speeds? 58-59 seems viable, but 55 seems awfully slow unless they are pure junk-ballers. I don't think I have ever seen a 18U Gold tournament without a few girls throwing 60-63.

 

[Steve Huff]

(Some people have radar guns that pick up the speed out of the hand so it is a fake speed when they say 60 sometimes.)

Screwball I don't use a gun, don't ask others what the speed is, and don't trust the TV networks guns. Besides, a poorly tuned gun is worth nothing, and some have never broken out the tuning-fork. I trust my eyes and experience, nothing more.

 

[chinamigarden]

Screwball, can you please tell us which guns used by coaches or TV that measure the pitch when it crosses the plate? You talk about cheater guns or fake speed whenever the radar guns are discussed but I am curious which ones are the "correct" ones and which ones create a fake speed?

 

[starsnuffer]

When did this tournament take place?

 

[tojo]

There was a local girl pitching in a showcase tournament and a college scout was present. Not knowing who he was, the father walked over and struck up a conversation with the scout. He told the dad that he was there looking at the pitcher and after watching her he stated the girl was throwing at least 65 mph. The dad told the scout the girl that was pitching was his DD and her top speed so far was 58 mph. Her father shared this story with me.

 

[redhotcoach]

When did this tournament take place?

It was live yesterday on cbs sports. The hurricanes pitcher had some of the most movement on a raise ball I have seen, men or women.
Even in the all star game I didnt see any over powering 60 and up pitchers, though there was a lot of real nice pitchers with lots of movement. I would say the pitching was more impressive then the hitting. Though one girl got a hold of the pitch and crushed it. I am watching it off the dvr right now, when I get to the hit I will give the girl some props.

 

[redhotcoach]

Props go to Elizabeth Birle of the Gold Cold Hurricanes. Hs junior, crushed it over the false fence and hit the 300 foot fence.

 

[bobbyb]

There was a local girl pitching in a showcase tournament and a college scout was present. Not knowing who he was, the father walked over and struck up a conversation with the scout. He told the dad that he was there looking at the pitcher and after watching her he stated the girl was throwing at least 65 mph. The dad told the scout the girl that was pitching was his DD and her top speed so far was 58 mph. Her father shared this story with me.

Haha...thats why I need to learn to just shut up completely!

 

[Steve Huff]

There was a local girl pitching in a showcase tournament and a college scout was present. Not knowing who he was, the father walked over and struck up a conversation with the scout. He told the dad that he was there looking at the pitcher and after watching her he stated the girl was throwing at least 65 mph. The dad told the scout the girl that was pitching was his DD and her top speed so far was 58 mph. Her father shared this story with me.

Good grief, 65 is world class. I think there were 2 or 3 girls that legitimately threw 65 or a little better in the World Cup in Oklahoma City last summer. They were Americans, and Ueno didn't pitch. I saw a lot of bogus speeds, including change-ups that registered 67mph. I don't have an explanation.