Pitching Strategy against good hitters

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Jun 19, 2016
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The first thing is to consider whether they level of competition is appropriate. Depending on your area they might have level C in USSSA or USA. Level 12B and above is generally going to require good location of the fastball and an effective change up or another good secondary pitch.
 
Oct 4, 2018
4,611
113
The first thing is to consider whether they level of competition is appropriate. Depending on your area they might have level C in USSSA or USA. Level 12B and above is generally going to require good location of the fastball and an effective change up or another good secondary pitch.

Yeah, I agree.

At 12U, most teams we've been on and have played against have pitcher who can locate their fastball reliably and have a change-up. Often they're working on their third pitch.

If it seems like every team has better pitchers than you do, you might consider backing down one level. Not necessarily, but it's an idea. I'm all about playing tough competition and hate winning games in blowouts. But I also like having a chance in most games.
 
Jun 19, 2016
858
63
If you can't go down a level then maybe you should consider picking up a pitcher. You are not getting any better if you are playing the minimum amount of games in a tournament.
 
May 23, 2018
93
18
for 12 U ball, What should I have my pitchers do when the other teams' batters are hitting my their fastballs other than throw a faster fastball?! LOL
My pitchers cannot throw anything but fastballs at this time, we are working on change ups etc.
Does it make sense for my pitchers to throw slower to the batters like an Arc pitch? I'm wondering if the other teams' batters are using the speed of our fastballs to their advantage....
Every pitch should be thrown with a purpose. Does your pitcher have good control? If she can throw around the plate and get batters to chase, she might be okay. At 12u she should already have a drop and a change up. I always rail and rant against parents that claim their dd throws 10 different pitches - and then wonder why their dd is getting lit up. Please, I’m not saying that’s the case with your daughter, but she has to be able to throw a good change up and a drop. I teach pitching and I’ve constantly run into “the big girl syndrome “. At 10u and at 12u some girls are so physically developed that they only need to throw fastballs. When they move up to 14u they are physically equal to other 14u girls. They gotten by because they were more developed than girls their age. At 14u girls aren’t afraid of the ball like their younger cohorts. At 10u you have maybe two girls that are consistently good hitters on a team. At 12u, you maybe have four girls that consistently hit. At 14u you have six or seven girls that can hit.
When I work with my younger pitchers I teach the mechanics of the fastball, including a consistent grip. In conjunction with that, I teach the peel drop, which is easier to to teach than the turnover drop. Girls become so adept at it that teams that scout the girl knows it’s coming but can’t get it out of the infield. Once their mechanics are set, I move right to the change up. The test is whether they can feel comfortable enough to throw it on a 3 and 2 pitch. One of the biggest sources of irritation is a coach that only calls two changes a game. Or, when it’s called only when the count is 0-2 or 1-2. Or, when there is an incredibly poor batter hitting 8 or 9. My belief is that it should be thrown 20 - 30 percent of the time.
My unsolicited advice is to work drop and change incessantly until your dd masters both of them. Personally, I’m not a big fan of pitches that stay in the same plane, such as curveballs and screwballs.
 
Jun 19, 2016
858
63
What
Every pitch should be thrown with a purpose. Does your pitcher have good control? If she can throw around the plate and get batters to chase, she might be okay. At 12u she should already have a drop and a change up. I always rail and rant against parents that claim their dd throws 10 different pitches - and then wonder why their dd is getting lit up. Please, I’m not saying that’s the case with your daughter, but she has to be able to throw a good change up and a drop. I teach pitching and I’ve constantly run into “the big girl syndrome “. At 10u and at 12u some girls are so physically developed that they only need to throw fastballs. When they move up to 14u they are physically equal to other 14u girls. They gotten by because they were more developed than girls their age. At 14u girls aren’t afraid of the ball like their younger cohorts. At 10u you have maybe two girls that are consistently good hitters on a team. At 12u, you maybe have four girls that consistently hit. At 14u you have six or seven girls that can hit.
When I work with my younger pitchers I teach the mechanics of the fastball, including a consistent grip. In conjunction with that, I teach the peel drop, which is easier to to teach than the turnover drop. Girls become so adept at it that teams that scout the girl knows it’s coming but can’t get it out of the infield. Once their mechanics are set, I move right to the change up. The test is whether they can feel comfortable enough to throw it on a 3 and 2 pitch. One of the biggest sources of irritation is a coach that only calls two changes a game. Or, when it’s called only when the count is 0-2 or 1-2. Or, when there is an incredibly poor batter hitting 8 or 9. My belief is that it should be thrown 20 - 30 percent of the time.
My unsolicited advice is to work drop and change incessantly until your dd masters both of them. Personally, I’m not a big fan of pitches that stay in the same plane, such as curveballs and screwballs.
What about a scrise or a script? Not be confused with crise or a crop.
 
Apr 2, 2015
1,198
113
Woodstock, man
If this is your own DD, then they need to learn every grip/pitch from the start. Only coaches want you to learn only the fastball. Don't listen to that stuff.

Learn 5/6 pitches, and throw the 2 that work that day. The success of those 5 or 6 will wax and wane as you progress.

It's critical they learn (early) the strategy of where and when to throw each pitch, and which pitch to follow depending on result. This is the most exciting part of pitching.
 
Sep 29, 2020
13
3
The first thing is to consider whether they level of competition is appropriate. Depending on your area they might have level C in USSSA or USA. Level 12B and above is generally going to require good location of the fastball and an effective change up or another good secondary pitch.
Thanks!
I should clarify: This isn't happening every game.
My DD smoked the batters with her FB in our other games, so I think we are ok.
I'm just asking for thoughts on what to do when the fastball is not working....
 
Sep 29, 2020
13
3
Every pitch should be thrown with a purpose. Does your pitcher have good control? If she can throw around the plate and get batters to chase, she might be okay. At 12u she should already have a drop and a change up. I always rail and rant against parents that claim their dd throws 10 different pitches - and then wonder why their dd is getting lit up. Please, I’m not saying that’s the case with your daughter, but she has to be able to throw a good change up and a drop. I teach pitching and I’ve constantly run into “the big girl syndrome “. At 10u and at 12u some girls are so physically developed that they only need to throw fastballs. When they move up to 14u they are physically equal to other 14u girls. They gotten by because they were more developed than girls their age. At 14u girls aren’t afraid of the ball like their younger cohorts. At 10u you have maybe two girls that are consistently good hitters on a team. At 12u, you maybe have four girls that consistently hit. At 14u you have six or seven girls that can hit.
When I work with my younger pitchers I teach the mechanics of the fastball, including a consistent grip. In conjunction with that, I teach the peel drop, which is easier to to teach than the turnover drop. Girls become so adept at it that teams that scout the girl knows it’s coming but can’t get it out of the infield. Once their mechanics are set, I move right to the change up. The test is whether they can feel comfortable enough to throw it on a 3 and 2 pitch. One of the biggest sources of irritation is a coach that only calls two changes a game. Or, when it’s called only when the count is 0-2 or 1-2. Or, when there is an incredibly poor batter hitting 8 or 9. My belief is that it should be thrown 20 - 30 percent of the time.
My unsolicited advice is to work drop and change incessantly until your dd masters both of them. Personally, I’m not a big fan of pitches that stay in the same plane, such as curveballs and screwballs.
Great advice!
We are now starting to work on these pitches.
 

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