Lefty Issue

[_MIA_]

12U

 

[WagonPuller]

12U

Great! That barehanded double play is pretty awesome! "And a southpaw shortstop worked out just fine!" Thanks for this!

 

[adm793]

I’m sure it’s been said. But turn her into a pitcher and don’t look back. My daughter is a Lefty. She doesn’t throw as hard as many of the girls on her 16a team, but has always been a 1/2 option in the rotation. The movement is completely different and an advantage. never too late to learn.

 

[WagonPuller]

I’m sure it’s been said. But turn her into a pitcher and don’t look back. My daughter is a Lefty. She doesn’t throw as hard as many of the girls on her 16a team, but has always been a 1/2 option in the rotation. The movement is completely different and an advantage. never too late to learn.

She's already pitching -- but is not one of the "Chosen Few." She has some ground to gain in the speed department but she's doing well throwing strikes having just moved this season from an 11" ball at 30 ft to a 12" ball at 40ft. She just needs the coaches to take notice that at this level, sometimes slower strikes are better than faster balls and they should give her a shot (they put her in out of desperation in the last inning of the last of four games this weekend as the "Chosen Few" were walking everyone around the bases. DD's surprise call to pitch actually worked out well as she threw more strikes and less balls than the others did. Hopefully they'll keep that in mind as she continues to work on her skills). Thanks for the encouragement!

 

[Strike2]

It's a viewpoint rooted in outdated thinking. I played ball with some excellent LH infielders who could make pretty much any play they tried.

There's no reason a lefty can't play in a FP infield. There are some things that are harder, but others that they will naturally do better. That said, the only way to change a stubborn coach's mindset is to not only get better than everyone else, but threaten to walk to a team with more enlightened thinking, or simply a greater need.

In the meantime, get really good at 1B. By "good", I mean learn how to dig out bad throws and turn errors by the coach's kid at SS into outs. The previous advice about the outfield is also completely valid. Good outfielders don't spend much time on the bench.

 

[Strike2]

I’m sure it’s been said. But turn her into a pitcher and don’t look back. My daughter is a Lefty. She doesn’t throw as hard as many of the girls on her 16a team, but has always been a 1/2 option in the rotation. The movement is completely different and an advantage. never too late to learn.

Yeah...the attitude towards lefties in the infield suddenly changes when they can pitch. All of a sudden, the extra footwork required for a throw to 1B doesn't matter.

 

[625ender]

There always comes a time in sports when someone tells you that you cant do something and there's always an opportunity to show them they're wrong. I love nothing more than shoving something like this up a coaches !@#

In 1978, Michael Jordan was just another kid in the gym, along with 50 or so of his classmates, trying out for the Emsley A. Laney High School varsity basketball team. There were 15 roster spots. Jordan—then a 15-year-old sophomore who was only 5'10" and could not yet dunk a basketball—did not get one. His close friend, 6'7'' sophomore Leroy Smith, did. The team was in need of his length. "It was embarrassing not making the team," Jordan later said. He went home, locked himself in his room and cried.

Then he picked himself up and turned the cut into motivation. "Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I'd close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it," Jordan would explain. "That usually got me going again."

Jordan, using that sizable chip on his shoulder to his advantage, spent his sophomore year as the star of the junior varsity team. He put up multiple 40-point games and attracted crowds that were unprecedented for a JV affair.

The summer leading into his junior year, Jordan began to morph. In 1979 he grew 4 inches and worked out constantly. That year he made the varsity squad and instantly became Laney High's best player, averaging more than 20 points a game. Despite having secured his spot on the team, Jordan's work ethic didn't drop off. His senior year he averaged a triple-double and led Laney High to a 19-4 record. Jordan capped off his high school career in style, being named a McDonald's All-American. He wasn't yet His Airness, but he was well on his way

 

[whiporee]

If you're in Colorado and you're playing fall ball, I'd look for another option for the spring. Multiple coaches' daughters pitching is a bad sign. Sitting a girl for most of a tourney is a bad sign.

Out here at 12, just being a lefty is going to be enough for 2-3 Ks a game. Girls freak out. But get her working on speed and power as soon as you can, even if you forgo some accuracy for a while. if she starts out throwing accurately, she has a good idea of release point. So get her working on speed. While I don't wish being a pitcher's parent on anyone, if she's got a foundational understanding of release point and she can then work on her leg drive and spin, she wold be a valuable asset to anyone.

And frankly, everyone is looking for pitchers, even after tryouts. So look around -- contact some local organizations and see what other options are out there. It's hard to get past parental pride and love when it comes to playing time

 

[Sweet Lou]

As others have said, lefties that play 2B, SS or 3B beyond a rec level are the exception rather than the rule and they tend to be extremely gifted athletes - if that's not your daughter then...
Lefties do make excellent 1Bs though but if you have to beat out 4 other girls for the position you that can be rough.
Lefty catchers are fine but you may bet some blow back if the head coach is from baseball background where lefty catchers are a rarity...but given the number of successful left handed catchers at the D1 level you'd think most SB coaches would come around to lefty catchers being just fine in SB
As others have said P is a option for sure, but it is a totally different skill set and practice routine all it's own.
And from 14U on (even some good 12U teams) a good outfield can win you a ton of games...or at least not lose them like I've seen "girls who were stuck in the outfield becuase we had to put them somewhere"

 

[Blueriverdrivers]

It's a viewpoint rooted in outdated thinking. I played ball with some excellent LH infielders who could make pretty much any play they tried.

There's no reason a lefty can't play in a FP infield. There are some things that are harder, but others that they will naturally do better. That said, the only way to change a stubborn coach's mindset is to not only get better than everyone else, but threaten to walk to a team with more enlightened thinking, or simply a greater need.

In the meantime, get really good at 1B. By "good", I mean learn how to dig out bad throws and turn errors by the coach's kid at SS into outs. The previous advice about the outfield is also completely valid. Good outfielders don't spend much time on the bench.

Don’t ever make threats, it doesn’t ever end well.