men's fastpitch live on Youtube

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Aug 21, 2008
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For those interested, the ISC men's world championship is showing games on their YouTube channel (free). The games will get better during the week (it's a 8 day tournament). But for those who've never seen a men's FP game, it's a neat opportunity. Hill United Chiefs are ranked #1, with Adam Folkard on the rubber. He is the best pitcher in the world, also the fastest, topping speeds at 86 MPH or so. My former team, NY Gremlins are #2. Several 2nd place finishes over the years (mostly losing to Hill United), the Gremlins are trying to make this year the one. They have the team to do it, having won the National Championship last weekend.

A couple things you'll all notice: most of the men have severe crow hops. Despite what gets written, it's not "legal" in men's fastpitch. It's that nobody cares. "Let them throw" is the mantra. More on that another time. 2nd.. you'll notice men still use a white ball, specifically made for men's FP by Worth.

I thought some of you may wanna see this. As I said, the games will get better as the week goes on.

Bill
 
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
Other things I should mention as I watch the game currently on: You'll see no "screwballs" or even hear it mentioned. :) Rise, drops, and change ups. You'll also see a lot of "low riseballs" which aren't common (yet) in the women's game.

B. All hitters will stand at the FAR back of the box. Very rare will you see anyone anywhere else.

C. Nearly all pitchers will have the Gorilla Gold rag in their back pocket. It's the only sticky substance LEGAL in ASA, ISC, NCAA, etc. When I show this to girls at clinics, most go crazy for it and can't believe they're allowed to use it... but it's legal, says so right in the ASA rulebook. It does not discolor the ball like Pinetar does.

D. This tournament is in Kitchener Ontario this year.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
Just watched an umpire take a Folkard pitch off the top of his head in the Chiefs v Bandits game. Ouch - he ducked his head slightly on a foul tip and it missed his mask and got him straight. Cut him through his cap and I am sure he had his bell rung good. He had to be replaced - hope he is OK.

Hills United are stacked. Fcing Folkard is tough enough as a pitcher without having to face their line up. The Australian 3rd base Nick Shales (sp) batting 4th has a viscous looking swing - and he bats after Carill who blasted the ball about 290.

Interesting to watch Kilpatrick on Gremlins who doesn't have the exaggerated leap and crow hop as the other pitchers.

Voldemere Turkelson (sp?) on the Pueblo Bandits has the best name ever.
 
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
Marriard... why umpires don't wear the hockey style masks is beyond me! I know it'd be hotter but, from a protection stand point it seems like a no-brainer.

Yes, Hill U is loaded. So are the Gremlins, who beat Hill U (and Folkard) last weekend at Nationals. There is quite a rivalry between those 2 teams. My least year with the Gremlins, we lost to Hill United 1-0 in 9 innings in the final. It was my 3rd finish at 2nd place... never won the championship. I have a few National championships under my belt but, never won the ISC World tournament. <sigh>

Shailes is considered by most to be the best hitter in the world. Like Folkard, Shailes is from Australia... and for about 3 years both of them stayed with me during the summer at my house even though I was playing for the Gremlins and they on our arch rival. Shailes just got an "endorsement" of somekind from a batting glove company (Lumberjack is the name, I think) and he has his own "style" of batting gloves. That's a pretty big deal for a men's fastpitch guy who is known EVERYWHERE in the men's FP world but, is anonymous to everyone else. He is also really good at working with young hitters, I had set him up with a few lessons while he was at my house.

Kirkpatrick spends a HUGE amount of time playing in Japan. Japan does not follow the WBSC rules which allow pitchers to leap, in both male and female softball. So, he has to stay grounded to maintain being legal by Japanese rules. The other thing about him is, he won't use the Gorilla Gold rag or any grip enhancer. Again, pitchers in Japan are not allowed to use anything so, he doesn't want to get used to using Gorilla Gold or anything then get back to Japan where he can't use it. Once in a while you'll see him dip his hand on the ground to get dirt soaking up sweat, but that's the extent of his "foreign substances".

Terkelson is one of the better utility players, overall. He can do anything: catch, outfield and isn't a bad pitcher!! He's from Denmark and plays for the Danish National team, and their top club team. His brother stayed at my house for several years when he was coming to the USA and playing, but he doesn't come over anymore.

Its hard to get a feel for how fast these guys are throwing the ball, how tight the ball is spinning, etc. Pitching distance in men's FP is 46 ft. But, when you see the leaping guys, most are landing a good 3 feet in front of the rubber. So, they are technically throwing from 43 feet. Most of the guys are throwing in the 70's for MPH. A few get into the 80's. I'm not a math major but, factor in an 80mph pitch from 43 feet or closer.

Bill
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
Marriard... why umpires don't wear the hockey style masks is beyond me! I know it'd be hotter but, from a protection stand point it seems like a no-brainer.

Yes, Hill U is loaded. So are the Gremlins, who beat Hill U (and Folkard) last weekend at Nationals. There is quite a rivalry between those 2 teams. My least year with the Gremlins, we lost to Hill United 1-0 in 9 innings in the final. It was my 3rd finish at 2nd place... never won the championship. I have a few National championships under my belt but, never won the ISC World tournament. <sigh>

Shailes is considered by most to be the best hitter in the world. Like Folkard, Shailes is from Australia... and for about 3 years both of them stayed with me during the summer at my house even though I was playing for the Gremlins and they on our arch rival. Shailes just got an "endorsement" of somekind from a batting glove company (Lumberjack is the name, I think) and he has his own "style" of batting gloves. That's a pretty big deal for a men's fastpitch guy who is known EVERYWHERE in the men's FP world but, is anonymous to everyone else. He is also really good at working with young hitters, I had set him up with a few lessons while he was at my house.

Kirkpatrick spends a HUGE amount of time playing in Japan. Japan does not follow the WBSC rules which allow pitchers to leap, in both male and female softball. So, he has to stay grounded to maintain being legal by Japanese rules. The other thing about him is, he won't use the Gorilla Gold rag or any grip enhancer. Again, pitchers in Japan are not allowed to use anything so, he doesn't want to get used to using Gorilla Gold or anything then get back to Japan where he can't use it. Once in a while you'll see him dip his hand on the ground to get dirt soaking up sweat, but that's the extent of his "foreign substances".

Terkelson is one of the better utility players, overall. He can do anything: catch, outfield and isn't a bad pitcher!! He's from Denmark and plays for the Danish National team, and their top club team. His brother stayed at my house for several years when he was coming to the USA and playing, but he doesn't come over anymore.

Its hard to get a feel for how fast these guys are throwing the ball, how tight the ball is spinning, etc. Pitching distance in men's FP is 46 ft. But, when you see the leaping guys, most are landing a good 3 feet in front of the rubber. So, they are technically throwing from 43 feet. Most of the guys are throwing in the 70's for MPH. A few get into the 80's. I'm not a math major but, factor in an 80mph pitch from 43 feet or closer.

Thanks Bill... going to have these games going on in the background all week. Interesting to hear more about something we don't generally get a lot of insight into. I am going to be watching some games live in Orlando in January - looking forward to it.

Hockey helmets for umps... I tried it and the heat is one issue but not the main one. What really kills you is that you take your mask/helmet on and off so often and mechanics demand you hold it in one hand (your left) while making various calls. Also when you go to your lineup card to make changes or even to just clean the plate it is just really awkward. If I was just doing one game a night I would think about going back to it, but multiple games a day is already tiring enough without adding in additional annoyances.
 
Sep 28, 2015
150
18
Other things I should mention as I watch the game currently on: You'll see no "screwballs" or even hear it mentioned. :) Rise, drops, and change ups. You'll also see a lot of "low riseballs" which aren't common (yet) in the women's game. .

Bill,
I am sitting here thinking out all of the “why” of how the low riseball would/could be successful in women’s FP vs men’s?

I hope that I can explain what I am thinking...

In the speeds the men are hitting how much of a difference in movement (or perceived) is there between a low RB and low FB? Is part of the effectiveness the lack of a FB used and the expectation of opposite movement of a DB? Is there an offspeed aspect to the effectiveness?
I am trying to rationalize why use a low RB instead of a CU?

As you can see the answers to these relate to the women’s game. What criteria and combination of pitches would a pitcher need to be successful with throwing a low RB?

I hope that ramble makes sense!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Aug 21, 2008
2,359
113
FP Dad

The only pitch harder to throw than a riseball is the low rise.

The low rise is not an "either or" pitch with the change up, it serves an entirely different purpose. Strategically, the most effective low rise is when the pitcher has a great drop ball. The idea is to get the hitters fishing for the drop and when they stop fishing, the low rise sneaks in at the knees and makes the hitter go nuts that he/she didn't swing at that one. The low rise is not to be thrown above the knees. Yes, you can get away with it down the middle but, not very often. But as I said, it's most effectiveness is when used in combo with the dropball. As I eluded to, it can be a very dangerous pitch because it can creep too far into the zone instead of staying at the bottom.

Bill
 

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