Pitching & Hitting In College

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Mar 24, 2014
450
18
DD has her wish list of a few D2 schools and she has been attending all of their camps & clinics for the past two years. She plays P/1B and is a power hitter. Her pitching is a good mix of speed and movement. She also has a big bat. The coaches have commented on her development as a pitcher and hitter. As her camp past week, the college pitchers asked why she was attending the hitting session as the pitchers only pitch, do not hit.

My DD wants to play as much as possible during college and trains just as much hitting as pitching. HC mentioned inviting DD to a football game and meet the team possibly in November. My question is "what happens if they are considering making her an offer but they say she can only pitch and not hit?" My DD has been bummed out that one of her top schools is interested in her but only for pitching. Any suggestions on how to respond?
 
Jul 5, 2016
652
63
Perhaps they didn't see the 2015 WCWS where, at one point, Lauren Haeger was pitching lights out AND had accounted for something like 1/3 of the team's hits.
 
Last edited:
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113
A pitcher that can hit is a very valuable team member. Opens up a lot of other options.
 
Jul 5, 2016
652
63
That can't be right. Obviously, if you can pitch well, you have a spot on the team even if you don't know what a bat is. On the other hand, if a good pitcher is also among the top 5 or 6 hitters on the team, I have to believe that most coaches would put that pitcher in the lineup. Am I wrong?
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
DD has her wish list of a few D2 schools and she has been attending all of their camps & clinics for the past two years. She plays P/1B and is a power hitter. Her pitching is a good mix of speed and movement. She also has a big bat. The coaches have commented on her development as a pitcher and hitter. As her camp past week, the college pitchers asked why she was attending the hitting session as the pitchers only pitch, do not hit.

My DD wants to play as much as possible during college and trains just as much hitting as pitching. HC mentioned inviting DD to a football game and meet the team possibly in November. My question is "what happens if they are considering making her an offer but they say she can only pitch and not hit?" My DD has been bummed out that one of her top schools is interested in her but only for pitching. Any suggestions on how to respond?

You need to ask why? Is it because they do not feel she can hit at that level? Or is she too valuable as an asset in the circle to have her step into the box? Bottom line is that she will be a better pitcher if she does not hit in college. So what is more important? Even while in JUCO coaches were adamant that my DD would not set foot in the box, even for casual BP.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Perhaps they didn't see the 2015 WCWS where, at one point, Lauren Haeger was pitching lights out AND had accounted for something like 1/3 of the team's hits.

Most players are not Lauren Haeger. Typically pitchers will not hit in college unless the team has limited talent. It makes little sense to send one of your top pitchers to the plate and have them hit in the bottom or even middle of the order. You lose a top pitcher and your season may be over. In the case of the 2015 Gators, without Haeger in the order they had no season.
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
You need to ask why? Is it because they do not feel she can hit at that level? Or is she too valuable as an asset in the circle to have her step into the box? Bottom line is that she will be a better pitcher if she does not hit in college. So what is more important? Even while in JUCO coaches were adamant that my DD would not set foot in the box, even for casual BP.

The opposite holds just as true!

OP simply needs to ask the question. If it's that important to her, modify the list of potential schools accordingly.
 
Nov 18, 2013
2,255
113
Fernandez, Finch, Ricketts, Traina ...

People who say pitchers in softball shouldnt hit are typically pitchers who can't hit.

I think most pitchers want to hit. It's the coaches who make the decisions and there's many factors beyond being able to hit. Can she run? Can she pitch well enough to give up practicing time for hitting practice? Is her hitting a significant improvement over a non pitcher? DD could probably hit well enough to be in the lineup, but the answer to those other three questions is a resounding no so why risk it.
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,481
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top