The pitcher is Lexi Blevins. I haven't found any information about her condition, however she was able to walk off the field after a few minutes. I hope she's ok.
I just got back home from travel this week and watching the replay now. Thanks for the heads up and while I haven't seen it yet, I certainly hope she is ok as well.
1.Make the ball bright yellow with red seams so hitters can see the spin. 2. Use $300 bat to hit $8 ball. 3. Squeeze down the strike zone and not give the edges. Surprised it doesn't happen more often.
Just want to say upfront I am a mask proponent. But I am also realistic on what they can and cant do.
They do help most direct hits to face area and prevent more structure damage to the face and skull.
They more often than not keep a player in the game vs needing to go ot with a loose tooth, broken nose, laceration etc.
The do not prevent concussions as that is inside the skull trauma but they can reduce the impact and severity of the concussion by absorbing some of the energy transfer from the ball to skull, in most cases.
In the GIF above, the player turns her head and in this instance, a mask may have not been much benefit.
My 11y DD got hit in the helmet in a game Tuesday night and when she got to first, I as well as others could see she was a little woozy. If she had not had a helmet and mask on, she would have been in the ER.
Im not saying they are the end all, be all, but they absolutely reduce risk and injury and Im okay with mandating them to reduce the stigma of playing with them on. I dont disagree that they can be somewhat of a possible distraction, but to me, it well worth the trade off. I get college players not wanting to wear them but I also believe if there was a rule, there would not be huge pushback except for maybe a few vocal old schoolers.
Added:
I would like to know the number of reported head injuries in baseball vs softball. Youth and HS. Just for curiousity's sake.
You could have the same result with a great pitch and a lucky swing. I realize that a pitcher's best defense is good pitches, but at the end of the day, they are still 35 feet downrange from the batter when they complete their pitch.