Maddie's Middle School Softball Tryouts

Rocketech1 · Mar 15, 2017

FP26 said:
DD plays varsity and we still look at it as "pre-season". High school ball is fun, and all. But it just isn't the same.

It really depends on the schools and whether its JV or V. Yesterday I was able to watch DD JV game and V at the same time. DD's JV team won 25-0 (4 innings). The V game was a better watch as the pitchers were future BIG10 vs. Pac12. The game was tied 0-0 late and a batter for the home team was robbed of a 2-run homer caught by a leaping left fielder at the fence line. Next inning, runner on 1st and 2nd, 2 outs and a single up the middle scored a run and the throw from CF was cut-off by the pitcher who fired to 3rd to get the baserunner but ended up throwing it by the 3rd baseman into left field, another two runs scored. The game ended 3-0.

YOCOACH · Mar 15, 2017

Eric F said:
This afternoon is the tryout for Maddie's MS team. She's one of just two TB players in the school, with the other also being a catcher with a big bat. The rest of the team will be players from the local rec league, and possibly a couple of first-timers.

Honestly, I think the team is going to be pretty challenged. The prospects for pitching are fairly limited. HC's DD can pitch, but doesn't love it. The other girls with pitching experience are pretty raw.

The HC was Maddie's coach on a couple of all-star/select teams in 8U and 10U rec ball, and her DD played on Maddie's TB team for a few months at the end of 10U. She's a good rec ball level coach, and I trust her to not mess with Maddie's mechanics.

Although the HC asked me to be an AC for the team, I don't have the time available, so - for the first time - Maddie will be on her own. I think this aspect will be good for her.

Maddie's limitation right now is that she hasn't been able to throw overhand for about a month due to a nerve irritation issue. She's working with a physical therapist, and things are getting better, but it will probably be a couple more weeks until she is back to throwing. HC is aware of the issue, and will work around it. She wants Maddie's bat, for sure.

It's been 2 years since Maddie has played rec ball, and I'm curious to see how she adapts to being in the mix with rec-level players again.

Honestly, I would be very surprised that unless some. if not all of those players are close friends, she'll hate it.

YOCOACH · Mar 15, 2017

Rocketech1 said:
IMO, there is something special about playing for your schools team. They are in the school newspaper, there are PA announcements to the student body, wearing the school colors and playing with old friends from rec leagues and travel ball. DD is playing JV and the level of play is very mixed. In pre-season, some teams they faced seemed to be worse than "C" level rec. teams but once league play starts this coming week, the teams should be a lot more competitive. School ball will never be the same as a strong PGF type travel ball team but that's ok because it's a different experience and can be very fun and entertaining.

It's even better because it provides many Tb'ers the experience of what to expect in College Ball if they're fortunate enough to make it.

Eric F · Apr 13, 2017

Welll...today is Maddie's first MS game.

She still can't throw 100%, so won't be playing C, but there are other options behind the plate, including the only other TB player. Even with her limited (75-80%) arm, she has been getting practice time mostly at SS, which she hasn't played at all since 10U, and it's never been a primary position for her. It will be good for her to get another point of view on the field and expand her game smarts.

For the first time since Maddie started playing, I will truly be just a parent. No coaching, no warm-up help, no scorebook. I'm going to sit with my wife and enjoy watching our kid play the game she loves.

softgabby · Apr 13, 2017

Eric F said:
Welll...today is Maddie's first MS game.

She still can't throw 100%, so won't be playing C, but there are other options behind the plate, including the only other TB player. Even with her limited (75-80%) arm, she has been getting practice time mostly at SS, which she hasn't played at all since 10U, and it's never been a primary position for her. It will be good for her to get another point of view on the field and expand her game smarts.

For the first time since Maddie started playing, I will truly be just a parent. No coaching, no warm-up help, no scorebook. I'm going to sit with my wife and enjoy watching our kid play the game she loves.

Sending good luck in your daughter's season opener, Eric. Hoping she has fun. I'm having my own issues with an injury so I know her struggles. Were just getting back into the swing of things post-spring break.

Sent from my RCT6873W42 using Tapatalk

knightsb · Apr 13, 2017

Good luck Maddie, and have fun.

WARRIORMIKE · Apr 13, 2017

Eric F said:
For the first time since Maddie started playing, I will truly be just a parent. No coaching, no warm-up help, no scorebook. I'm going to sit with my wife and enjoy watching our kid play the game she loves.

Bout time!!!

Good luck to Maddie F!

_MIA_ · Apr 13, 2017

Eric F said:
Welll...today is Maddie's first MS game.

She still can't throw 100%, so won't be playing C, but there are other options behind the plate, including the only other TB player. Even with her limited (75-80%) arm, she has been getting practice time mostly at SS, which she hasn't played at all since 10U, and it's never been a primary position for her. It will be good for her to get another point of view on the field and expand her game smarts.

For the first time since Maddie started playing, I will truly be just a parent. No coaching, no warm-up help, no scorebook. I'm going to sit with my wife and enjoy watching our kid play the game she loves.

So she has to "settle" for SS..poor thing

Eric F · Apr 14, 2017

First game report:

Good stuff...
- Team came back to tie the game in the top of the last inning.
- Maddie went 2-for-2, with a single and a triple, against a decent 14U TB pitcher.
- Maddie played 1B for the entire game (a good choice for her arm situation, and it's a position she has experience with).
- Maddie had a lot of fun playing with her school friends.
- After dad offered a piece of hitting advice through the dugout fence after her first at-bat, Maddie told dad "If you want to coach, you need to be in the dugout". Dad returned to his seat. I was that dad. She was right.
- Maddie was reminded of the reasons she loves playing TB (level of competition, skill level of teammates, etc.)
- Other than being pressed into service to help warm-up the starting pitcher before the game, I really enjoyed watching the game as a parent. I truly love coaching, but this was a very nice change of pace.

Not as good stuff...
- Walk-off winning run for the other team was scored on a fly ball that bounced off LF's glove.
- As expected, pitching will be the team's weakness.

Observation...
- TB players - on both teams - were very evident. They move differently, and talk to their teammates differently - more efficient, more confident, more swag.

MoparFin · Apr 14, 2017

I am in the same boat as you, first season my DD2 has ever played that I am not coaching her. She's fine with it. I am the one struggling. Went from coaching her rec ball and TB team last season to nothing this spring. I was even an AC on her travel ball team in fall, but she decided she didn't want to play with that team. TB team we are with now had coaches set already.

Its good she is having fun with her friends from school. Kids need the fun part in addition to the competitive side of TB.

Maddie's Middle School Softball Tryouts

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