Advice on What to Expect D2 Pitching

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Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
My DD played in the GLVC before your DD did. There was always good pitching on some of the teams. My DD averaged over 7K's per 7 innings with an ERA under 2.00 and BAA of around .190. Her team made it to the conference tournament all 4 years and to the conference finals twice. Unfortunately the team was never strong in all phases of the game. They were almost always last or close to it in the conference in team fielding percentage and middling when it came to hitting. After my DD graduated the team was poor in all phases of the game and became the conference doormats for a while. The latest coach seems to be on the right track turning the program around.

Teams run in cycles. There were a couple of middling to weak teams in the conference when my DD played who later went on to be highly ranked nationally. You never really know from year to year. The addition of pitcher and a couple of power hitters can turn a team around in one season.
I never put that together. Interesting. I think I have it narrowed down to two teams. We both have seen play in one of the better D-II conferences. BTW, Morgan Foley also pitched in the GLVC when my dd played. She has played for the Bandits and Scrap Yard Dawgs. I know she also plays in Italy.
 
Nov 18, 2013
2,255
113
It’s very difficult to compare one division to another or classify the level of play. Your DD will see plenty of D1 caliber pitching at the D2 level. The difference in the divisions is more with #2 & #3 pitchers and bottom halves of the lineups. Don’t get discouraged if your DD starts out slow. She’s used to facing players her own age. Doesn’t matter much if it’s D1, D2 or D3. A senior pitcher is going to make her look silly sometimes. She’ll get accustomed quickly and she’ll do just fine.
 
Aug 18, 2014
57
8
Thank you everyone. For years this has been an abstract thing. A goal we were reaching for and looked at kind of as the finish line. The reality is a whole new race is just beginning. All through travel ball getting committed was the goal. Now it is not just making the roster, but getting on the field. Funny how that little detail escaped me all those years.


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Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
Thank you everyone. For years this has been an abstract thing. A goal we were reaching for and looked at kind of as the finish line. The reality is a whole new race is just beginning. All through travel ball getting committed was the goal. Now it is not just making the roster, but getting on the field. Funny how that little detail escaped me all those years.


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You need to adjust your focus slightly. Your DD's priority needs to be on her grades first then getting on the field. If her grades falter she won't be allowed on the field. Unfortunately, for the greatest majority of softball players there is not a viable livelihood in softball after college. I tell the players I work with their scholarship can be worth millions of dollars over the course of their life time and they get their education paid for playing ball.

My DD finished school with her scholarship saving me more than $80K. She graduated debt free and is doing well in the work place.
 

Ken Krause

Administrator
Admin
May 7, 2008
3,911
113
Mundelein, IL
In looking at pitching speed, I went out to a couple of D2 games this past spring and took my Pocket Radar Ball Coach with me. I took readings on all the pitchers (none of them my students). One girl was consistently around 64-65, and I was told she was coming off an injury. The rest more like 58 to maybe one hitting 61 now and then.

But that said, the overall caliber of play was quite good. My guess is your daughter will adjust just fine. The big adjustment won't be on the field. It will be in the early practices as she gets to know the coaches and they get to know her. Every coach is different, but I find some like to do the old "break them down to build them up" thing. So she should be prepared to not be doing anything "right" for a little while in case the coach wants to find faults just to get her on board with the program.
 
Aug 18, 2014
57
8
In looking at pitching speed, I went out to a couple of D2 games this past spring and took my Pocket Radar Ball Coach with me. I took readings on all the pitchers (none of them my students). One girl was consistently around 64-65, and I was told she was coming off an injury. The rest more like 58 to maybe one hitting 61 now and then.

But that said, the overall caliber of play was quite good. My guess is your daughter will adjust just fine. The big adjustment won't be on the field. It will be in the early practices as she gets to know the coaches and they get to know her. Every coach is different, but I find some like to do the old "break them down to build them up" thing. So she should be prepared to not be doing anything "right" for a little while in case the coach wants to find faults just to get her on board with the program.



Thank you Ken, I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Truthfully, pitching wise that is pretty much what she has been seeing in travel. You will get the D1 commit thrown in here and there but I would say most fall into the second category. I agree about the coaching. I think there is a “good cop, bad cop” thing going on between the HC and the AC. She has had such little contact it’s impossible to know yet. The AC has been great and has kept in contact. I am thinking that D2 is a little less intense than D1 but I’m sure they still pretty much own the players too. Which she is fine with.

20 girls in the roster and only 9 positions so as they say she just has to be one of the top nine or ten players. Incentive to work hard.


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Aug 18, 2014
57
8
You need to adjust your focus slightly. Your DD's priority needs to be on her grades first then getting on the field. If her grades falter she won't be allowed on the field. Unfortunately, for the greatest majority of softball players there is not a viable livelihood in softball after college. I tell the players I work with their scholarship can be worth millions of dollars over the course of their life time and they get their education paid for playing ball.

My DD finished school with her scholarship saving me more than $80K. She graduated debt free and is doing well in the work place.

You are 100% right Sparky. These four years will fly by just like the last four I’m sure. I just want to enjoy it and see her do well softball wise too. The years after age 22 are what’s important no doubt. Softball is the cherry on top but it sure beats her not playing after high school in my eyes


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Ken Krause

Administrator
Admin
May 7, 2008
3,911
113
Mundelein, IL
20 girls in the roster and only 9 positions so as they say she just has to be one of the top nine or ten players. Incentive to work hard.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, that is the key. Doesn't always mean you'll be rewarded for it - people are strange sometimes - but at least she'll know she did everything she could. And more often than not, a can-do attitude will carry the day. If they want you on the field they'll find a place for you.
 

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