What constitutes a A,B or C Level Pitcher at the 14/13U Age Group?

JJsqueeze said:

I dunno-it seems if I used your definition then 30% of the pitchers would be A, 65% would be B and only 5% would be C. I never see pitchers at 14s out here that cant hit the broad side of a barn. Everyone I have seen in the circle is either accurate or fast. I have not seen a truly wild pitcher at all. The average 14u girl I see is 55 MPH and is not giving up a lot of walks.

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Broadside of a barn was too much of an exaggeration. A better example would be you see a lot of walks and arcing pitches for 14U C.

We might just be interpreting speeds differently. If you’re talking a max speed reached 59+ would be close for 14U A. I don’t see many 14U girls anywhere near that in their game speed though. The average 14U I saw was more in the low 50’s and the ability to throw a majority of strikes. The good ones could hit corners. The top pitchers could do it in the upper 50 range. Most had a changeup and were working on one or two movement pitches. I probably have a different perspective with an 18U DD. I thought she was pretty good at 14U, but now I see how far she still had to go. Some days her accuracy is still all over the place and she wouldn’t qualify as an A level pitcher.

JJsqueeze said:

I agree. I guess that is what consider to be an A level pitcher-someone who is in the top 10 per cent. Bs would be the next 20 percent and then Cs are everyone else. I've always been a hard grader.

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That makes sense. I think we're just looking at A/B/C differently. I consider C rec ball.

Most "A" level 14u eligible pitchers have moved up to 16u and 18u.

I am amazed at how fast, in some areas, that 13/14U pitchers throw even at the "B" and "C" level. If I wasn't totally confident in the faith and integrity of DFP members (which I am), I would wonder if Radar Grandpa hand a hand in the speed measurements.

MNDad said:

That makes sense. I think we're just looking at A/B/C differently. I consider C rec ball.

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This is how I put my interpretations, rec - through travel.

RetiredCoach said:

I am amazed at how fast, in some areas, that 13/14U pitchers throw even at the "B" and "C" level. If I wasn't totally confident in the faith and integrity of DFP members (which I am), I would wonder if Radar Grandpa hand a hand in the speed measurements.

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I know, if I had not seen these pitchers personally, I would have a hard time believing some of the numbers as well, but having stood behind the backstop and seen them up close and personal I am a believer. There are just a lot of players in a small area out here so its just a numbers thing. I am sure that if there was another area in the nation with 20 Million people living within 2 hours of each other and having year round playable weather then the results would be the same there.

JJsqueeze said:

For my Region:
A = 59+, Fastball, Changeup, great accuracy and at least one good Breaking pitch (drop, curve, rise, etc) OR B but can really bend it
B = 55+, Fastball, Changeup, great accuracy OR A but with just good accuracy
C = 50+, Fastball, good accuracy or A but pretty wild and gets into trouble but strikes her way out of it sometimes or B but with ok accuracy


Basically a top level pitcher has great speed, two good pitches and great accuracy. A second level pitcher has 1 or 2 out of three of these things, the average pitchers have 1 or none of these things

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Two things I would mention - 1) These pitching speeds are probably for an ACE pitcher, and there will be a lot of very good pitchers who are a few MPH slower. 2) Girls are still growing at this age group, so I would expect a first year (13 year old) to be 3-5 MPH slower than a second year (14 year old).

MNDAD and I know a very good pc here in the Midwest and In talking to him b4 we decided to start working with him as our pc stated in his yrs of coaching tb clubs and onto coaching at the college level he himself has only seen 2 girls ever hit that 60mph mark at age eligible 12u level. and in my experience in our area I cant think of one age eligible 12u girl that hits 60 yet.

xygent1 said:

MNDAD and I know a very good pc here in the Midwest and In talking to him b4 we decided to start working with him as our pc stated in his yrs of coaching tb clubs and onto coaching at the college level he himself has only seen 2 girls ever hit that 60mph mark at age eligible 12u level. and in my experience in our area I cant think of one age eligible 12u girl that hits 60 yet.

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Agree- I have only seen one in my time, but I thought this discussion was pretty much all 14u. At 14s I have seen a dozen or so in the current crop. Mostly second year girls, but a smattering of first years as well.

ooops yup your correct yes in our area I know of a handful that are 14u and I believe most are 2nd yr.