My DD can hit!

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JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
My DD was a "pitch-and-sit" in 16U and 18U TB after she joined a marquee organization team. Her coaches carried 16+ players on the roster and it was just easier to keep more players/parents happy by not letting the pitchers hit except on a few rare occasions when the coaches could bat the entire lineup. Therefore, DD and I did not spend the time, effort, or money on private batting lessons or hitting multiple times a week after she was 14. When we went for pitching lessons she would still bring her bat and we would spend 20-30 minutes in the cage doing some tee work and side/front toss, but that was more about having fun and shooting the bull before we got down to business during her pitching lesson. DD was recruited as a pitcher, and to be honest I do not think her college coaches ever saw her swing a bat - she hit in HS, but college coaches were never there to see it.

In the fall DD's college team struggled to score runs and we lost several tight ballgames 1-0, 2-1 with several players batting below .200...so I told my DD she needed to pickup a bat and tell the coaches she wanted to hit. She worked hard in the cages and at being more selective at the plate. Having two college coaches who were highly decorated college pitchers throwing BP also helps ALOT, especially when one of them still pitches in the NPF! DD worked hard, and while she did not get to bat during their first tournament there were still a couple of players struggling at the plate. So this weekend the coaches agreed to let DD hit for herself and they would DP/Flex for another position. I know some of the DFP fans have already seen the game on WatchESPN, but here is the "Dad perspective" video of the first home run in Duke softball history...

After my DD's success at the plate during the game she was pitching, the coaches decided to make her the DP for the duration of the tournament, and the rest as they say "is history". Below are her hitting stats for the weekend...I realize that there is no way that she will keep up this pace, but I cannot tell you how proud I am of my DD for putting in the extra work to help herself (win games pitching) and her team.

Player avg gp-gs ab r h 2b 3b hr rbi tb slg% bb hbp so gdp ob%
Katherine Huey .583 6-6 12 3 7 1 0 2 8 14 1.167 2 0 3 0 .643


She was also named the B1G/ACC Challenge MVP for the Durham site...and did it all with a torn labrum in her hip!

 
Last edited:
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
AWESOME!! and here I was hoping she could just get by and hang in there and make it through the season so she could rest/or recover (after surgery if needed) after the season was over and come back strong next season
 
Last edited:

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
I also got a laugh thinking about how many bets I could have won with her old TB coaches that DD would be a DP in college! LOL
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
This is an excellent story all the way around. Your DD has become a great role model for many other young players out there. Thanks for sharing!
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
JAD - It's so very awesome to see your DD having such great success so early in her college career. Go, Kat. Go!!

(The FB video links aren't working for me. :( )
 
Apr 24, 2017
203
28
Georgia
JAD She looked great this weekend! She is so composed and looked like an upperclassman on the mound, especially when defense wasn't working behind her. I kept thinking to myself that if she looks like this with a painful injury, I can't IMAGINE what she can do without an injury! Congratulations on a fantastic weekend for her.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
JAD - It's so very awesome to see your DD having such great success so early in her college career. Go, Kat. Go!!

(The FB video links aren't working for me. :( )

I wonder if the video only works for people I am friends with on FB. Let me see if I can upload them to YouTube.
 

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