2nd Base? Plus slap hitting updates

[Jordan]

So Dd has had a few practices since I last posted on here asking about slap hitting. She has begun practicing with her coach on how to slap and is really enjoying it. She really likes hitting from the left side and is pretty excited to keep learning. So far her progress has been good. We still need to work on her foot work but she’s been making surprisingly good contact in practice. The other thing that happened over the last few practices was DD was put at 2nd base for a few drills. The coach said he thought she did really good there and now dd is worried he’ll try putting her at 2nd in games. Dd has always been an Of/Ss so she has no experience at 2nd. She also hasn’t heard great things about playing 2nd from her friends. Any feedback would be appreciated!

 

[_MIA_]

So Dd has had a few practices since I last posted on here asking about slap hitting. She has begun practicing with her coach on how to slap and is really enjoying it. She really likes hitting from the left side and is pretty excited to keep learning. So far her progress has been good. We still need to work on her foot work but she’s been making surprisingly good contact in practice. The other thing that happened over the last few practices was DD was put at 2nd base for a few drills. The coach said he thought she did really good there and now dd is worried he’ll try putting her at 2nd in games. Dd has always been an Of/Ss so she has no experience at 2nd. She also hasn’t heard great things about playing 2nd from her friends. Any feedback would be appreciated!

Tell her to get new friends..

All kidding aside, I am not sure how old your DD is but, outside of the usual fielding mechanics stuff, have her work on her DP feeds and turns. Take it from somebody who played SS his whole life and then moved to 2B in college, those are the two hardest things to adjust to. Antonelli baseball/softball on youtube has a number of instructional videos on these topics.

 

[Jordan]

Tell her to get new friends..

All kidding aside, I am not sure how old your DD is but, outside of the usual fielding mechanics stuff, have her work on her DP feeds and turns. Take it from somebody who played SS his whole life and then moved to 2B in college, those are the two hardest things to adjust to. Antonelli baseball/softball on youtube has a number of instructional videos on these topics.

Thanks for the tips. I’m sure 2nd is no where near as bad as dd’s friends are making it out to seem. Also Dd is 18u.

 

[quincy]

DD was unhappy with her school Team because she did not think she had a fair shot to play SS. What did not brother her was she was going to be a rotational player. That lasted the 1st DH, she played every inning after that at 2nd or P. She was better then anyone else at 2nd.

DD hates 2nd, not sure why she is good at it. None of the players or parents gave her grief, they wanted her there too.

DD plays 2nd

She hates it but is good at it Now I need to convince her.. She likes the OF.

www.discussfastpitch.com

 

[mmeece]

So Dd has had a few practices since I last posted on here asking about slap hitting. She has begun practicing with her coach on how to slap and is really enjoying it. She really likes hitting from the left side and is pretty excited to keep learning. So far her progress has been good. We still need to work on her foot work but she’s been making surprisingly good contact in practice. The other thing that happened over the last few practices was DD was put at 2nd base for a few drills. The coach said he thought she did really good there and now dd is worried he’ll try putting her at 2nd in games. Dd has always been an Of/Ss so she has no experience at 2nd. She also hasn’t heard great things about playing 2nd from her friends. Any feedback would be appreciated!

If she considers herself a SS, she needs to be able to play 2B. Makes sense right? As they get older, many coaches group IF into corners and middles and expect that most middles can (at least adequately) play both. She'll definitely get more field time if she is somewhat interchangeable at both spots. I'd argue 2B may be a tougher position than SS in softball and definitely requires a player to be mentally prepared.

 

[Jordan]

If she considers herself a SS, she needs to be able to play 2B. Makes sense right? As they get older, many coaches group IF into corners and middles and expect that most middles can (at least adequately) play both. She'll definitely get more field time if she is somewhat interchangeable at both spots. I'd argue 2B may be a tougher position than SS in softball and definitely requires a player to be mentally prepared.

Dd is more of a Center fielder with Ss as her secondary position. She’s worried that she won’t get to play Cf as much since her team is looking for a 2nd basemen and her and one other girl on the team are the only people that can play it and they’re both Out fielders. Dd is worried that the other girl will get to play Cf since she’s been on the team for longer leaving Dd to be stuck at 2nd. I’ve been trying to convince dd that 2nd isn’t that bad. Plus dd and that other girl would probably swap between 2nd and Cf meaning that dd would still get a lot of CF playing time.

 

[radness]

So Dd has had a few practices since I last posted on here asking about slap hitting. She has begun practicing with her coach on how to slap and is really enjoying it. She really likes hitting from the left side and is pretty excited to keep learning. So far her progress has been good. We still need to work on her foot work but she’s been making surprisingly good contact in practice. The other thing that happened over the last few practices was DD was put at 2nd base for a few drills. The coach said he thought she did really good there and now dd is worried he’ll try putting her at 2nd in games. Dd has always been an Of/Ss so she has no experience at 2nd. She also hasn’t heard great things about playing 2nd from her friends. Any feedback would be appreciated!

May i ask,?
Whats your dd's goals beyond this 18u team with softball?

 

[Lance Steckler]

you know where your DD will play the field in college? anywhere the coach asks her to. Or she can play 'left-out' on the bench. seriously, the more skills players have for positions, the better the chances are that they will play.

 

[Jordan]

May i ask,?
Whats your dd's goals beyond this 18u team with softball?

Dd wants to go to a good college and play softball. I’ve been trying to explain to her that being able to play cf, Ss, and 2nd would just give her a better chance of getting to play in college. Dd has started listening to me and after a long talk she’s decided that playing 2nd wouldn’t be that bad. My goal for Dd is to give her as many ways as possible to get her to play in college. I want her to be able to hit every way and be able to play multiple positions that way she will be able to play more in college.

 

[Strike2]

If you can't play one position extremely well, be able to play multiple positions reasonably well, and show an ability to learn and adapt. However, unless you're a top level pitcher or catcher, hitting is what will bring the interest. I know more than a few kids who are athletic enough and capable defensively to play ball at the highest level, but their hitting holds them back. A player who can really hit stands out immediately. If you can hit, and I mean hit off the best pitching, coaches will form a line at your door. Unless a player is very well suited to slapping and shows some good results with it, trying to add it only detracts from their ability to swing away. I know some who can't get the ball out of the infield swinging normally, and others who can but aren't allowed and are pigeon-holed.