How tall are softball players?

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Oct 15, 2013
727
63
Seattle, WA
No, the size issue isn't entirely part of our imagination. One of the reasons I looked into height and started this thread was because the coach of my DD's first year 14U team passed on what I and all the other ACs thought was a decent pitcher because she was short. He instead took a tall, "athletic" pitcher who wasn't as good, but he thought she had a higher ceiling. A little more than two years later and the shorter pitcher has put in a lot of work and is really strong. Just missed having a perfect game (granted,only four innings) this past weekend, while the taller pitcher works on her game some but continues to struggle for another team. Coach in question also told a girl she had no future catching because she was a lefty.
 
Jan 5, 2018
385
63
PNW
No, the size issue isn't entirely part of our imagination. One of the reasons I looked into height and started this thread was because the coach of my DD's first year 14U team passed on what I and all the other ACs thought was a decent pitcher because she was short. He instead took a tall, "athletic" pitcher who wasn't as good, but he thought she had a higher ceiling. A little more than two years later and the shorter pitcher has put in a lot of work and is really strong. Just missed having a perfect game (granted,only four innings) this past weekend, while the taller pitcher works on her game some but continues to struggle for another team. Coach in question also told a girl she had no future catching because she was a lefty.

Coach in question...clearly hasn't heard of Michelle Venturella 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist LEFT handed catcher. If you have relationship with this player you might share Michelle's name and encourage her as a roll model. BTW If you ever get the chance to hear Michelle speak or talk with her...it's worth your time.
 
Oct 15, 2013
727
63
Seattle, WA
Coach in question...clearly hasn't heard of Michelle Venturella 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist LEFT handed catcher. If you have relationship with this player you might share Michelle's name and encourage her as a roll model. BTW If you ever get the chance to hear Michelle speak or talk with her...it's worth your time.

Yeah, this was two years ago. The coach, who is a friend of mine, squashed this girls ambition and confidence to catch. The girl, one of my favorite players among all my favorites, despite stealing my doughnuts one time, plays 1st base and outfield now.

And no, he probably never heard of Michelle Veturella. I tried to tell him lefty catchers are more common place these days, but he was a much more experienced coach and I'm a relative newbie, so he pretty much brushed me off.
 
Last edited:
Jan 5, 2018
385
63
PNW
Yeah, this was two years ago. The coach, who is a friend of mine, squashed this girls ambition and confidence to catch. The girl, one of my favorite players among all my favorites, despite stealing my doughnuts one time, plays 1st base and outfield now.

And no, he probably never heard of Michelle Veturella. I tried to tell him lefty catchers are more common place these days, but he was a much more experienced coach and I'm a relative newbie, so he pretty much brushed me off.

That's a REAL bummer, coaches who squash kids early on drive me nuts. You never know how girls will develop or their passions. our hardest working and best catcher is also the smallest in stature but biggest in heart/hustle/effort.

Someone mentioned in this thread or another about 12u vs 14 to 16u pitchers. That 12u beast may not be pitching by 16. The girl that works hard often is. We saw this with our DS in baseball...by HS only 2 from his 12yo All Star team were still in the game.

You may have missed out on having a stud catcher. Around our parts quality Pitchers and Catchers are always in high demand. IF a player wants to put in the work, really put in the work, I'd never turn them down from trying a position.
 
Apr 20, 2018
4,581
113
SoCal
Yeah, this was two years ago. The coach, who is a friend of mine, squashed this girls ambition and confidence to catch. The girl, one of my favorite players among all my favorites, despite stealing my doughnuts one time, plays 1st base and outfield now.

And no, he probably never heard of Michelle Veturella. I tried to tell him lefty catchers are more common place these days, but he was a much more experienced coach and I'm a relative newbie, so he pretty much brushed me off.
This coach is an idiot. Old school, stick in the mud, know it all that should go the way of the buggy whip. Bye Coach, you really always sucked.
 

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