Greenmonsters
Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Working to be the fastest runner on a team of turtles only encourages you to be the fastest turtle. If this is something you are serious about, consider the larger pond or ocean and set the bar higher.
A lot of colleges and hence TB teams have gone to more of a pitching staff approach vs. riding one pitcher. Therefore there could be more of a 1A and 1B vs. 1 and 2. If it really bothers you I would pay attention to which pitcher starts against the tougher opponents and which pitcher starts the championship game on Sunday. This is usually your #1.
It is when they are forced to pitch because that is what someone else wants is when they don't make much progress. At this age, it should be fun. They should enjoy pitching no matter if they are the #1, #2, #3 or #4.
There was one father on DD1's team last season who insisted the #1 pitcher should start the first game on both Saturday and Sunday. I didn't see how that made sense. But that is a side note.
It really depends on the type of tournament and what the goals of the team are. In general, you want to play your best players as much as possible if you are looking to be competitive in the tournament and get as far as you can, if for no other reason than to get the opportunity as a team to play more games which benefits all players. For example, if pool play determines seeding on Sunday, pool play games are not necessarily throw away games but are important to get a high seed with a better draw, especially if the tournament is a qualifier.
If its the "off-season", you might want to get all the players an equal opportunity to play, especially if its friendlies, scrimmages, showcase, local tournament, etc. where its more developmental or in the case of showcases, the opportunity to be seen by college coaches.
My DD wants to become the #1 pitcher on her team. How would she know if she is #1 or #2? Is there really a way for a parent to recognize that distinction, without directly asking the HC?
Team first - play for the name on the front, not the back.
I have 3 very good pitchers. Each has a different look and brings something to the table that the others do not have. I could not say who is #1, #2, #3. It all depends on what we are facing and who is on for that day. It was the same at SC for Jake when she pitched alongside Nickie Blue. Unlike most SEC teams they often split games. Who started and who closed depended on what they saw in the videos, the instincts of Coach Bev and even the weather. Strong gusty wind blowing straight out to CF is not the time to throw riseballs so Jake was not a #1 choice. They would go with Nickie and her heavy drop ball. On the flip side if the wind was blowing in it is a great time to throw riseballs so Jake would start. All things equal typically Jake would start and Nickie would close, because like Bill Hillhouse has often said, in a close game you do not throw a pitch that will leave the park (riseball) in the late innings. I am also a big proponent of not throwing the kid the opposition has seen before. Last season SC beat #1 (at the time) FSU. Beat them bad. They undoubtedly prepared to face Seniors Jake or Nickie. So SC threw their freshman Kayla Drotar who threw the game of her life.
You do know that will not have any effect on pitching innings. That is ONLY for a favorite number.