Why Pitchers get all the credit
A great pitcher can keep you in most games - where one good offensive player can be pitched around and be made relatively harmless. In fastpitch a pitcher can pitch much more frequently than in baseball so she is able to dominate repeatedly. But it's a team game. Without a catcher calling the game, fielders making plays and an offense to outscore the opposition a game can never be won ... so there should be a better balance.
It is unfair to focus ALL of the attention on the pitcher, but the pitcher without a doubt has the largest influence on the outcome of a game.
I would suggest that tournaments and leagues should have awards for best pitcher and for best player - just as MLB has an MVP and a Cy Yound Award. A pitcher could win both - but should have to contribute offensively and defensively to be considered for best player. Many college conferences have pitcher of the week/year and player of the week/year awards - lower level organizations should follow suit.
When the game of softball becomes more offensive minded (and it's headed in that direction today) the focus of attention on pitchers will logically diminish.
My DD was a SS and (in the estimation of others) was the best softball player in our state in her junior and senior years, but a pitcher from a lower HS division got the Gatorade POY award both years. When she had an opportunity to face this pitcher in summer ball, she hit this pitcher pretty hard. The pitcher got a full ride to a lower level DI program. My DD was not recruited - but walked on at a mid-level DI school in Georgia (they played 5 to 10 games against top 25 teams every year), made the team, and eventually received a 50% ride for her last 2 years, played in their conference championship game 3 straight years and in an NCAA regional.
A great pitcher can keep you in most games - where one good offensive player can be pitched around and be made relatively harmless. In fastpitch a pitcher can pitch much more frequently than in baseball so she is able to dominate repeatedly. But it's a team game. Without a catcher calling the game, fielders making plays and an offense to outscore the opposition a game can never be won ... so there should be a better balance.
It is unfair to focus ALL of the attention on the pitcher, but the pitcher without a doubt has the largest influence on the outcome of a game.
I would suggest that tournaments and leagues should have awards for best pitcher and for best player - just as MLB has an MVP and a Cy Yound Award. A pitcher could win both - but should have to contribute offensively and defensively to be considered for best player. Many college conferences have pitcher of the week/year and player of the week/year awards - lower level organizations should follow suit.
When the game of softball becomes more offensive minded (and it's headed in that direction today) the focus of attention on pitchers will logically diminish.
My DD was a SS and (in the estimation of others) was the best softball player in our state in her junior and senior years, but a pitcher from a lower HS division got the Gatorade POY award both years. When she had an opportunity to face this pitcher in summer ball, she hit this pitcher pretty hard. The pitcher got a full ride to a lower level DI program. My DD was not recruited - but walked on at a mid-level DI school in Georgia (they played 5 to 10 games against top 25 teams every year), made the team, and eventually received a 50% ride for her last 2 years, played in their conference championship game 3 straight years and in an NCAA regional.
