the official “our High School Coach doesn’t have a clue about coaching” thread

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Apr 28, 2014
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We may be the exception but DD's freshman season was great for her and the team. They played well, gelled together and made it to semis of states. They lost 3 seniors who were decent but are being replaced by 3 stud freshman. Our coach has been in the game for 25+ years and pitched in his 20's. Our HS is very large and we get a ton of kids trying out but the core group is travel players who work hard. What I like most about it is that there are 3 D1 commits and a few "b" or "c" level travel players but you would never know it. The girls all respect each other and what they bring to the table. First pitch in 40 days. Looking forward to it.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
Mixing up a drop ball/rise ball when you can actually throw both well is very effective and makes a huge difference.

Yes, it sure would. But, there are only a handful pitchers that can...and I'm including D1 pitchers, professional pitchers, and Team USA pitchers.

It always amazes me that poor Mariano Rivera had two pitches, and only one of those was a breaking pitch. Yet, every softball pitcher has got three or four.
 
Last edited:

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,855
113
Yes, it sure would. But, there are only a handful pitchers that can...and I'm including D1 pitchers, professional pitchers, and Team USA pitchers.

It always amazes me that poor Mariano Rivera had two pitches, and only one of those was a breaking pitch. Yet, every softball pitcher has got three or four.

You all know I'm not a pitching expert. Well, heck I'm not an expert at anything but eating hamburgers grilling brats. Anyway, there is much to be said for slugger's post. I have yet to see a young lady pitching in HS actually be able to command all of the pitches she says she throws. In fact, I'll go further. I'd say that two and three pitches some of these players say that they throw are not strikes nor close more than half of the time. My dd threw hard and had naturally drop to her ball. She threw that 90% of the time. She had a curve that was decent. She had a change up that most likely would bounce. She went 29-1 in a serious good area for HS softball and didn't pitch all four years. She only pitched against our top area teams and for regional and conference championships. She pitched as her TB #1 for many years and they played all over this country. So, there is that.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
[MENTION=938]Cannonball[/MENTION]...

You've seen a lot more HS baseball and softball than me (which is saying something)...

But, how good are HS batters (boys and girls) at hitting low inside and low outside pitching? If a pitcher could throw low inside strikes and low outside strikes all day long. how successful he or she be in HS?
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
During a first-to-second-to-third throwing drill the coach had the girls at second spin around counterclockwise, so they turned towards right field, and their back on third base, before they threw.
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,855
113
[MENTION=938]Cannonball[/MENTION]...

You've seen a lot more HS baseball and softball than me (which is saying something)...

But, how good are HS batters (boys and girls) at hitting low inside and low outside pitching? If a pitcher could throw low inside strikes and low outside strikes all day long. how successful he or she be in HS?

IMO, they would be very successful! I always say that a pitcher's ability to control the inside and outside portions of the plate is the key to pitching. If that same pitcher can then throw a change, for many hitters in HS, it is over.
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
During a first-to-second-to-third throwing drill the coach had the girls at second spin around counterclockwise, so they turned towards right field, and their back on third base, before they threw.

We do something similar as a drill. We want the girls to be able to turn in either direction depending what side the throw is on. It has come in handy at times. I remember one time DD was playing first base. Catcher made a snap throw to first, but the runner took off. The throw was towards the first base side. DD is a righty so catching it on her glove side made a counter clockwise spin easier to get a good throw off to second. Resulted in an easy out.

I played 3b as a youngster. I would often do a spin move on hard grounders to the 5/6 hole. I felt I could get into a strong throwing position quicker by spinning counter clockwise rather than throwing across my body.
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
We do something similar as a drill. We want the girls to be able to turn in either direction depending what side the throw is on. It has come in handy at times. I remember one time DD was playing first base. Catcher made a snap throw to first, but the runner took off. The throw was towards the first base side. DD is a righty so catching it on her glove side made a counter clockwise spin easier to get a good throw off to second. Resulted in an easy out.

I played 3b as a youngster. I would often do a spin move on hard grounders to the 5/6 hole. I felt I could get into a strong throwing position quicker by spinning counter clockwise rather than throwing across my body.

I should have set the scene to fully explain it. This was during a tryout. Only 6 of the 21 girls trying out play TB, the rest of them only play school ball, and many don't have many basic skills down. DD thought it was odd for girls who do not know fundamentals to do a drill like this.

If this is a valid drill during a tryout, then that is good to know.
 
May 27, 2013
2,353
113
Completely opposite of this thread title - but I’m very happy with what our coaches are doing this year. They had 3 pitchers tryout for varsity and actually evaluated them all on two different days so far and will get a 3rd read next week. Looking at speed (actually clocking them), accuracy, and movement. They also are only keeping 12 on varsity this year. Very excited for the season to start. First game this coming Thursday!
 

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