When I played--baseball--I typically picked a pitch and location for the first pitch. Sort of the same thought process I like hitters to take at 2-0 or 3-1. If it was there--hit it. If not, let it go. Something that I notice (esp the younger ages) is that kids don't seem to approach at-bats with the attitude that they're going to hit every pitch until they determine it's not a strike.