What burned me is the inconsistency of calling the IPs, even at a 16U national level. I had a pitcher that rarely dragged her trailing toe and sometimes would be as much as 6" off the dirt. Sometimes, I would remind her to drag as frequently as every inning especially as the tournaments got bigger, but learned to watch the field ump to see if he/she was even watching (even with no runners on, some didn't). In 2010, she was called for the IP maybe 3 or 4 times (and only at the state level, not nationals), but in 2011, only once (at nationals)! I thought that I read that the umps would be looking out for IPs more in 2011...guess not. Prior to the 2011 travel season, I kept on her to work on keeping that toe down, thinking that she would probably be watched more. Alas, she pretty much had the same problem and frequency of the act and really didn't have to change because they weren't calling it. I thought that she actually pitched better after I reminded her. ALso, I was actually hesitant to mention any pitching problems on the opposing team to the umps, because then my pitcher would be more at risk when she was out there.
In retrospect, I wish that the IPs were called on her more frequently by the book. I think that she would be a much better pitcher by now because of it. There's nothing like the reality of a game to smack you in the face to wake you up.
In retrospect, I wish that the IPs were called on her more frequently by the book. I think that she would be a much better pitcher by now because of it. There's nothing like the reality of a game to smack you in the face to wake you up.