My daughter is playing her last year of 10U in 2016. She played for a different club last year where she was the #2 pitcher and saw a lot of innings. She dominates rec and town travel, so she's pretty good, but on her new team she's probably around #3 or #4. She has a more spin on the ball and control compared to the other girls, but they throw it a little harder. She hasn't dedicated herself as much to pitching as they have either.
That being said, she is also a good field player, fast, smart and a very dominant hitter. My thinking is that down the road there is really only one spot for a pitcher in high school, but there wil always be room for someone who can crush the ball, run the bases and play any position on the field. So in switching her to this team, she is getting more of an opportunity to learn the game (and also less of a chance of her burning out on pitching prematurely.)
I've poked around here a little and feel like the general sentiment is that if you aren't the #1 or #2 pitcher, you should look elsewhere. Do you think that still applies to 10U? I am thinking that being a one-game-on-Saturday pitcher is just fine at this age, especially when you consider she would have the opportunity to pitch for her rec and town travel team at the same time. Or do you think by riding the brake on the pitching, I'm holding her back and she is going to miss the opportunity to really develop? Or are the girls throwing the hardest at 10U the same girls dominating at 12U and 14U, and maybe she doesn't really have a chance to move up to #1 or #2 on this team regardless of the time she puts in to improve.
Just looking for a take on this from those who have been through several years of club ball and know how things generally play out over the years. Many thanks!
That being said, she is also a good field player, fast, smart and a very dominant hitter. My thinking is that down the road there is really only one spot for a pitcher in high school, but there wil always be room for someone who can crush the ball, run the bases and play any position on the field. So in switching her to this team, she is getting more of an opportunity to learn the game (and also less of a chance of her burning out on pitching prematurely.)
I've poked around here a little and feel like the general sentiment is that if you aren't the #1 or #2 pitcher, you should look elsewhere. Do you think that still applies to 10U? I am thinking that being a one-game-on-Saturday pitcher is just fine at this age, especially when you consider she would have the opportunity to pitch for her rec and town travel team at the same time. Or do you think by riding the brake on the pitching, I'm holding her back and she is going to miss the opportunity to really develop? Or are the girls throwing the hardest at 10U the same girls dominating at 12U and 14U, and maybe she doesn't really have a chance to move up to #1 or #2 on this team regardless of the time she puts in to improve.
Just looking for a take on this from those who have been through several years of club ball and know how things generally play out over the years. Many thanks!