Travel ball

Based on our experience, I'd say she's ready when you have the following:

1. Can she crush rec ball pitching? Can't hit much in Rec = won't play much in Travel.
2. Ready and willing to practice and play six days a week.
3. Parents and the rest of the family ready to fully commit more money and time. Pitching lessons, Hitting lessons, Weekends away from home, driving time, gas, food, etc.

I am curious about the pitching in TB - we still have some really good pitching in Rec (for some teams). And for the most part, our girls struggle with some and not with others.
Our team could not hit off this one pitcher who was throwing slower pitches. When they put in their faster pitcher, suddenly we started creaming the ball. They practice with the pitching machine at 50-60 so it's like they've gotten used to hitting faster pitches.

nixxy311 said:

I am curious about the pitching in TB - we still have some really good pitching in Rec (for some teams). And for the most part, our girls struggle with some and not with others.
Our team could not hit off this one pitcher who was throwing slower pitches. When they put in their faster pitcher, suddenly we started creaming the ball. They practice with the pitching machine at 50-60 so it's like they've gotten used to hitting faster pitches.

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This is not uncommon...even for good TB teams. Making the adjustment for slower pitching can be a struggle for a lot of players, especially if the slower pitcher is doing a good job with pitch location and movement. In 12U TB, mid-50's over the plate gets hit hard and often.

Eric F said:

This is not uncommon...even for good TB teams. Making the adjustment for slower pitching can be a struggle for a lot of players, especially if the slower pitcher is doing a good job with pitch location and movement. In 12U TB, mid-50's over the plate gets hit hard and often.

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location,location,location and movement...Greg Maddux would agree

From what I've seen (10u) Socal, pitching overall is strong. Seems like most of the Rec ball standouts have moved to TB. The top PGF A level teams have at least a couple if not more pitchers that can bring speed (high 40's, low 50's) and location with consistency. Some have movement as well, but mostly speed and location. Many top 10u Socal TB pitchers also have a CU they can throw when needed.

ajax459 said:

From what I've seen (10u) Socal, pitching overall is strong. Seems like most of the Rec ball standouts have moved to TB. PGF A level teams have at least a couple if not more pitchers that can bring speed (mid to high 40's) and location with consistency. Some have movement as well, but mostly speed and location. Many top 10u Socal TB pitchers also have a CU they can throw when needed.

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In my observations, top 10U PGF teams have pitchers throwing in the 50's pretty regularly, with a few exceptional ones getting close to 60. At 12U, our #1 is in the 56-58 range with her FB, and she's not considered exceptionally fast when compared with what we see. She is most effective when her curve is working well, but I really wish she had a reliable CU.

I often hear she's throwing 50, and it looks like it from the stands, but I've never gunned them to verify. The what I like to call the one percenter's, do appear to throw in the 50's though from the naked eye.

ajax459 said:

I often hear she's throwing 50, and it looks like it from the stands, but I've never gunned them to verify. The what I like to call the one percenter's, do appear to throw in the 50's though from the naked eye.

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Our #1 when our team was 10U was in the 50-52 range (not the same #1 we have now). This was verified on radar multiple times. There were quite a few we faced that were clearly faster.

DD moved to select/travel ball her first year of 10U. She was a top 2 player on every team since t-ball started. Playing in rec she got noticed by a coach that was putting together a team for the spring. I would say around here by 12U most of the girls that take softball a little more seriously than others have moved on to travel teams. We were at the park last summer and watched an inning of 14U rec ball, and it was not pretty. It looked like the girls were having fun and they seemed content with playing rec softball, but that just would not be enough for DD.

IME the pitching at 10U varies a LOT. A lot. You have a handful of really strong pitchers, a bunch who are decent but not super stars (yet), and then a bunch who aren't that great but the team's gotta pitch someone. Some of the A level pitching is very impressive even at this age. I love watching pitchers. Our girls tend to struggle with slower pitching too, especially the first time around the lineup. Then they get them timed and usually start teeing off. My DD had her first strikeout in 5 tournaments on a pitcher throwing maybe 40 mph. Her second at bat she popped out, I think to SS.