Update to last night's game including good blog entries by Amanda Scarborough

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Aug 26, 2011
1,285
0
Houston, Texas
My DD's first TB HC had a great saying..."control what you can control" and "what was the least important pitch - the last one, what is the most important pitch - the next one"!

I recall DD's first rec ball coach (he is a TB coach now...I think 12U?) saying "What is the least important play? The last one. What is the most important play? The next one!" He is reason DD is still playing softball today. :)
 
Apr 11, 2012
438
0
Soon, no one will be left to play HS softball. They are going to soccer, track, tennis, and lacrosse. If that is what you want, continue with the two levels of respect--all TB good, all non-TB bad.

PS. Ask a young person/former player (under 30) involved in softball about whether they want to post on this forum. Be honest, the answer is No.


agreed....softball is doomed in the US because of 2 opinions about TB.....oh and DP will definitely suffer until people turn 30 or if people continue to read the day to day posts by all the experts.....
 

amandascarborough

where's the chocolate?
Jan 22, 2014
67
6
Everywhere, USA
The truth is that although AS is a great person, commentator and writer, those linked posts repeatedly read in a condescending manner about non-TB players, as if her only audience is TB players. (The players needing her help most in development of skills are probably rec players so if she wants to leave them out of her blog, well...)

In my area, on average, about 2-6 players on each team here are TB players. In one case, a coach is running off the non-TB players because after years of getting a lot of them, the district does not have them anymore, so her schtick speech (about only wanting the best from TB) does not work anymore. Guess what? The team has to cancel games due to lack of players.

Soon, no one will be left to play HS softball. They are going to soccer, track, tennis, and lacrosse. If that is what you want, continue with the two levels of respect--all TB good, all non-TB bad.

Remember your DD may be good at softball, like my kids are good at baseball, but the other kids may be going to MIT and CEO jobs. So keep it all in perspective.


PS. Ask a young person/former player (under 30) involved in softball about whether they want to post on this forum. Be honest, the answer is No.



Hi!! I HATE to hear that someone would think my articles are condescending, and that actually really bothers me. In any of my articles I don't think I have mentioned "travel ball" specifically in any of them. I have played at every level......rec ball, rec ball all stars, a travel team that didn't win a game, a travel team at the B level, a travel team at the Gold level, being the #2 pitcher in high school, being the #1 pitcher in high school, competing for a national championship, being hurt and not being on the field. A little insight - get probably 10-20 messages/emails a day from parents and/or players who reach out to me and tell me how my blog has inspired them and probably 10% of them are from "travel ball" families.

Someone hit the nail on the head above when I try to write about a no excuses mentality. That's how I have always been. If you know me personally, I am the person who sees the bright/positive side to almost any situation. I think excuses are an easy way out and also the way that is more negative, and I choose the be positive!

My personal goal is to reach as many players and families as I can and offer some helpful advice in the whole big picture of the sport. I have read the above comments and I THANK you guys for your support, y'all are awesome. Why I haven't posted is NOT because someone was "mean" to me! Haha, nope! I just have been really busy moving, calling games and traveling coaching before the college season started! I know I can't please everyone, but my goal is always inform, share a different view and share my own personal experiences and things I have learned along the way - on the air when I am calling games and through writing. I love both of those and I am truly lucky I get a chance to do this for a living!

Hope each and every one of you out there at discussfastpitch are doing well! I get notifications whenever a website asks to share my website, and I saw discussfastpitch wanted to share it, so it made me pop in here and check it out!
 
Oct 3, 2009
372
18
Hi!! I HATE to hear that someone would think my articles are condescending, and that actually really bothers me. In any of my articles I don't think I have mentioned "travel ball" specifically in any of them. I have played at every level......rec ball, rec ball all stars, a travel team that didn't win a game, a travel team at the B level, a travel team at the Gold level, being the #2 pitcher in high school, being the #1 pitcher in high school, competing for a national championship, being hurt and not being on the field. A little insight - get probably 10-20 messages/emails a day from parents and/or players who reach out to me and tell me how my blog has inspired them and probably 10% of them are from "travel ball" families.

Someone hit the nail on the head above when I try to write about a no excuses mentality. That's how I have always been. If you know me personally, I am the person who sees the bright/positive side to almost any situation. I think excuses are an easy way out and also the way that is more negative, and I choose the be positive!

My personal goal is to reach as many players and families as I can and offer some helpful advice in the whole big picture of the sport. I have read the above comments and I THANK you guys for your support, y'all are awesome. Why I haven't posted is NOT because someone was "mean" to me! Haha, nope! I just have been really busy moving, calling games and traveling coaching before the college season started! I know I can't please everyone, but my goal is always inform, share a different view and share my own personal experiences and things I have learned along the way - on the air when I am calling games and through writing. I love both of those and I am truly lucky I get a chance to do this for a living!

Hope each and every one of you out there at discussfastpitch are doing well! I get notifications whenever a website asks to share my website, and I saw discussfastpitch wanted to share it, so it made me pop in here and check it out!

Great post! Thanks for taking the time!
 
Apr 11, 2012
438
0
Hi!! I HATE to hear that someone would think my articles are condescending, and that actually really bothers me. In any of my articles I don't think I have mentioned "travel ball" specifically in any of them.

LOL....at this point, I really think the dude in the outfield is just a bored regular guy, who is actually intelligent, just sitting around stirring the pot some....
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
Hi!! I HATE to hear that someone would think my articles are condescending, and that actually really bothers me. In any of my articles I don't think I have mentioned "travel ball" specifically in any of them. I have played at every level......rec ball, rec ball all stars, a travel team that didn't win a game, a travel team at the B level, a travel team at the Gold level, being the #2 pitcher in high school, being the #1 pitcher in high school, competing for a national championship, being hurt and not being on the field. A little insight - get probably 10-20 messages/emails a day from parents and/or players who reach out to me and tell me how my blog has inspired them and probably 10% of them are from "travel ball" families.

Someone hit the nail on the head above when I try to write about a no excuses mentality. That's how I have always been. If you know me personally, I am the person who sees the bright/positive side to almost any situation. I think excuses are an easy way out and also the way that is more negative, and I choose the be positive!

My personal goal is to reach as many players and families as I can and offer some helpful advice in the whole big picture of the sport. I have read the above comments and I THANK you guys for your support, y'all are awesome. Why I haven't posted is NOT because someone was "mean" to me! Haha, nope! I just have been really busy moving, calling games and traveling coaching before the college season started! I know I can't please everyone, but my goal is always inform, share a different view and share my own personal experiences and things I have learned along the way - on the air when I am calling games and through writing. I love both of those and I am truly lucky I get a chance to do this for a living!

Hope each and every one of you out there at discussfastpitch are doing well! I get notifications whenever a website asks to share my website, and I saw discussfastpitch wanted to share it, so it made me pop in here and check it out!
Don't sweat it she tends to write a contrarian reply to just about every post on here.
 
Apr 1, 2010
1,675
0
Whenever I'm watching softball on TV, as soon as I hear Amanda's voice I know it's going to be a good telecast. She is articulate, has great insight into the game, and is almost always spot on with her comments and observations. She is in a league of her own in my book.

I agree completely. Not that I don't like Jessica, Michele or the other women covering fastpitch games, but Amanda has rocketed to the top as far as I'm concerned. She's even-handed, enthusiastic, intelligent and really brings a lot to the table. It makes me reluctant to turn the sound down even when the high-pitched yells are hurting my ears. :)

What I don't like is when networks bring in baseball guys (or worse -- just talking head guys) who don't have a clue about softball.
 
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amandascarborough

where's the chocolate?
Jan 22, 2014
67
6
Everywhere, USA
I agree completely. Not that I don't like Jessica, Michele or the other women covering fastpitch games, but Amanda has rocketed to the top as far as I'm concerned. She's even-handed, enthusiastic, intelligent and really brings a lot to the table. It makes me reluctant to turn the sound down even when the high-pitched yells are hurting my ears. :)

What I don't like is when networks bring in baseball guys (or worse -- just talking head guys) who don't have a clue about softball.

appreciate this! Thank you! Will mention to the sound guys to lower the "atmosphere"
 

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