good start to fall season for DD behind the plate

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May 6, 2015
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12U, new team for DD, first tourney of fall, one day event. not a great offensive day for DD (lot of contact, no hits though), all the pitchers she faced were very slow, which always throws her out of whack. but she caught 3.5 (out of 4 games) on a very unseasonably hot September day, including both bracket games. team won (beating the team that beat them badly during pool play in championship game), threw out 3 or 4 runners stealing second, and would have had a few more that were mishandled by SS (not pointing fingers, mostly 2008 girls who are not used to C who actually can make throws to get runners out, in just a month together they MIs have made great strides in making these plays), two plays at the plate for outs, called all the pitches when she was back there, very few pitches got by her (5 or 6 total), not certain how they were scored (PB vs WP), only advanced runners twice and one run given up that way.

not certain why coaches kept sending runners, except maybe she does not look impressive on her throwdowns, very economical/efficient, no big windup, no twisting of body around, and most are one hops or skids (but on a rope, her aim point is corner of 2nd base closes to home), and all within about 24 inches of the bag in any direction, most are between corners of bag). but she doesn't mind them keep sending runners;)

coaches really pushed her, she wanted to come out in championship game, but they pushed her to stay in (after checking with us about any health issues), and afterwards, with medal around her neck, she said she is glad she toughed it out.

great win for team t0o, lot of new girls including DD this year on this team, and they pulled out a tough come from behind win in championship, showed heart.
 
Last edited:
May 24, 2013
12,461
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So Cal
I have seen more than a few catchers in her age group have deceptive throws. One of my DD's 12U teammates didn't have as strong an arm as my DD, but had a very quick release, resulting in very comparable pop-times between the two. Her slower throw, however, invited coaches to send their runners. She throw out a lot more than you would expect.

Congrats to your DD for a strong game behind the plate! :)
 
May 6, 2015
2,397
113
I have seen more than a few catchers in her age group have deceptive throws. One of my DD's 12U teammates didn't have as strong an arm as my DD, but had a very quick release, resulting in very comparable pop-times between the two. Her slower throw, however, invited coaches to send their runners. She throw out a lot more than you would expect.

Congrats to your DD for a strong game behind the plate! :)

went to her catching/hitting instructor last night, if she had the pop in games she had during lessons, combined with her arm (not a cannon, but hugely consistent, 9 outta 10 are within 12 inches (all directions) of the corner of second base), told her she would annihilate the oppositions baserunning.
 
May 6, 2015
2,397
113
updates, couple more tournaments under the belt.

still doing really well throwing baserunners, one tournament (one day where they placed second, lost title game (4th of the day) 6-3) they did not even attempt to run on her all day unless it got by (and I would have scored maybe all but one of those a WP, and I apretty harsh on her). again, caught nearly every inning for the 4 games.

getting better at plate as well, very rarely striking out, and getting more power and lift on balls. that one day she had several ong fly balls, one for base hit, one was caught, but scored the runner from third. she is finally getting it that with less than 2 outs, that long fly ball is better than ground ball in most cases.
 
Jan 17, 2015
5
13
updates, couple more tournaments under the belt.

still doing really well throwing baserunners, one tournament (one day where they placed second, lost title game (4th of the day) 6-3) they did not even attempt to run on her all day unless it got by (and I would have scored maybe all but one of those a WP, and I apretty harsh on her). again, caught nearly every inning for the 4 games.

getting better at plate as well, very rarely striking out, and getting more power and lift on balls. that one day she had several ong fly balls, one for base hit, one was caught, but scored the runner from third. she is finally getting it that with less than 2 outs, that long fly ball is better than ground ball in most cases.
Congrats to your DD! As the parent of a catcher, I can appreciate how throwing out a couple of would-be base stealers can really affect a game.

My DD just completed her college career and refers to herself as “softball old.” She already feels the effects of years of catching in her hips and knees. I used to brag that my daughter, when she was younger, would catch 3-4 or sometimes 5 games in a day. However, in hindsight, the number one thing I would do differently is limit the number of games she caught at the 10U-14U level. At 16U-18U the only times she would do that was at national qualifiers or tournaments.
 
May 6, 2015
2,397
113
yeah, DW and I are going to talk to HC. they really need to get her some "rest", even if they want to keep her in the game somewhere else. They also need to develop another C, as team (including all the coaches kids) are 2008, DD is 2007.
 

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