Softball season starts to heat up as league races get going

Just for the record So Cal Ringers is a team that has been put together so girls that play High School Softball would have the chance to improve their skills, gaining valuable game time experience and for every player to become better high school players. Any parent who sends Anonymous letters to schools or to blogs should be ignored, period.

It's true we have some very good players, but all of the girls who play on Ringers love to work hard and wanted to get to the level where high school softball would be fun. Wining is fun.

We have 19 girls on the team and the reason why we carry so many players is because we have a lot of concerned parents in the La Canada and La Crescenta Valley area who felt their daughters may not be getting all the coaching they need to compete in High School and someday maybe college. This not a knock on any coach for any of the high schools in the area. When the team was put together we didn't even know who would be coaching at La Canada and that was part of the reason we started the team.

The coaches for the Ringer Team are some of the best in So Cal and I know they get a lot out of the girls they coach.

18 of the 19 girls made great strides and improved very much.

Are we going to develop the girls who need to shave and drink whiskey and smoke Camel non filters cigs.? No. We understand that every team you watch across the country at least 60% of the rosters are from California.

Is So Cal Ringers going to win a National Championship, probably not. Will we have the compassion to bring all the girls in our community who would like the chance to get better and be able to move from J.V. to varsity? Yes, Just like the girls on So Cal Ringers this off season who now compete at the Varsity level this season.

You see sometimes it's okay to give back to girls that have played for local leagues since they were eight. Sometimes players never get the chance to get the coaching they need to get better and sometimes it's a great thing when you have coaches like Randy Kirker, John Cookson, Dave Fox, Tim Dow, Pete Enriquez, Matt Bogust and Brian Ulf, and yours truly who actually give a dam about developing the player and not the label. I do know this, we have the best group of giving and caring parents in travel ball. I wouldn't trade the So Cal Ringer Experience for anything out there. All the coaches donate their time and most coach other teams and still give back to develop all the girls.

I know the ignorance of some of you who write in these blogs who love to hide behind "anonymous," but I also know you are the guys who hide behind the cowardness of "anonymous" when you write to schools to stir the pot even when you know other coaches would be better for the school but not for your daughter because these coaches do what is right for the team and not any individual.

I admire the coaches of High School Softball teams who embrace travel ball coaches and not the ones who run scared behind "anonymous" and pick up the gutless paper and pen just because they are so afraid their little girl will have to earn her way onto the team.

Their is no "coward" in coaching just coward in "anonymous" which equals a coach or parent who is so afraid of the real world he has to try anything to make sure little "Nancy" plays ahead of other more deserving players.

I can't wait to hear all of the things that will be written by the "anonymous" guys. After all they are the true Geniuses of the group.

Bottom line what is so wrong with great coaches trying to help and develop players because they love the game and they love to coach players who will work hard?

Jim M.

New York,
Peace

Is that what this is all about? Jeez you guys are nuts. You should give each other a call

Jackson,

I like your sarcasm. You are almost as much of a smart ass as I am!

I would definitely prefer a team of seniors to a team of freshmen. However, I don't think people should be so quick to point to youth as a huge factor in softball, especially a team that has a bunch of girls playing travel ball.

Jessica Ferri pitches for Flintridge Sacred Heart and Cassie Gogreve catches for South Pasadena

New York,
Okay I give up, it is better to have a team of freshman rather than seniors in baseball and softball. It is better to have 14 YOs playing 17,18 and 19 YOs in softball and baseball because they are more coachable.

What HS team do those ladies play on?

Jackson,
I'm still not clear on your point. My point was simply that I don't think that "youth" is nearly as relevant to softball or baseball as it is to other sports, especially football. Dominance in softball and baseball really doesn't require three years of weight lifting and speed training, nor does it require learning complex schemes and assignments.

I do recognize that senior leadership comes into play in every sport. Perhaps poise under pressure is more common with a senior layden team than one of sophomore and freshmen. That said, I think sophomore and freshmen are sometimes less distracted and more receptive to coaching than are seniors. So in that respect, pick your poison (or strength).

Jessica Ferri and Cassie Gogreve play on Gary Haning's OC Batbusters

Who in the area plays on Batbusters?

New york,
Read again you are miising the point.

How could anyone including genius (Anonymous) think I was comparing so cal ringers with Batbusters. Every time I think it's safe to come into the blog's some tard comes up with a statement like that.

Jesus how can guys who can't even read get into these blogs.

I just don't get the idiot box entry by Anonymous. How did he get his parents to let him stay up so late and use their computer?

Isn't Ringers-Jim M. related to Ringers-Kylie M.?

Jim M.,

Are you seriously suggesting that the your "Ringer" team is even close to the same level of travel team as the BatBusters?

Jackson,
YOU don't kid yourself. You keep bringing football arguments into a softball discussion.

And then every once in a while you have a Sidd Finch - just a natural:

http://www.strongmemories.com/toppage8.htm

In the higher levels of competitive softball it is not unusual to see elite 15, 16, and 17 year olds playing with elite 18 and 19 year olds. Physical stature has something to do with it, but most girl have developed that physical stature by 15 or 16. Most important is that the kid has skill and that skill is developed. With many girls playing some form of true travel ball at 12, 13, and 14, it is not at all unusual to see a 15 or 16 year old with significantly more developed skill than an 18 year old, especially if that 18 does not play true travel ball. Also, the top D1 college softball teams have almost all of thier scholorship offers made to kids in the fall of their Junior year. Most of the top softball players are already signed in advance of their senior year. If a kid is anticipating a D1 scholorship offer after their senior year high school season, it doesn't happen. Also, college recruiting (D1 or otherwise) seldom happens off of high school play.

All I know about Freshmen or any level in softball is "hard work, works".

You either have "pain in practice or pain in the game" the players choose.

"Pain is temporary and pride is forever". I have yet to find a coach who likes to baby sit.

You have nightmares on softball teams and you have team-mates. The team with the least amount of nightmare players and the most amount of team-mates wins.

The team that has the "IT" factor will generally win.

The "IT" factor is having parents that buy into investing into their daughters and getting them the proper coaches and travel ball experience during the off season to take them to the next level. When players have "it" the team can't help but get better.

Instead of listing what grade all players are in list the travel team they player for.

Catcher of South Pasadena -Batbusters

Kristen (pitcher for LCHS - So Cal Ringers)

LCHS Centerfielder Kylie- So Cal Ringers

and so on.

If they are playing travel ball the are getting game experience. The difference between good players and great players is the level of "Field Awarness" they bring to a high school game.

Why do you think 60% of all Division One Softball Rosters are filled with girls from California.

I think this blog should celebrate the level of play the girls of the Rio Hondo League bring to the game. I'm impressed and I for one love to go to the games.

So Cal Ringers (first year travel team) has a hitting coach named Randy Kirker. He is awesome and his daughter Baillie broke the California High School home run record last year as a freshmen at C.V. High School. He teaches a certin belief that carries over to the game and his rates are best in the area not to mention Randy himself is in the ASA Fastpitch Hall of Fame Member.

Go to Socalringers.com for Randy Kirker's number.

Jim M.

Yes - It does seem impossible that Poly, TC. ALhambra, San Marino and Monrovia could be a team like SF - Yes SF can only be beaten by a team that has a 1-8 record aside from Pasadena's win against mighty SF their only other win was against a 1-7 keppel team. How could any beat such a powerful team full of such stud - let's end the discussion SF is the best team - even if they can't beat the worst team in the weak Pacific League.

NY,
Fewer and fewer are going from HS to the Pros and let's not really call it the pros - call it minor leagues - they are mostly playing against kids their own age or lessor talented older players in the minors. The NFL has a minor league - it is called the NCAA Football - don't kid yourself.

matters more in boys' sports but still matters in girls' - just wait until that catcher is a senior - I don't know if she will be as good as the SP catcher but she will be excellent.

ny,
as you know also, underclassman success has much to do with gender. soph or frosh boys are more rarely on varsity rosters, and have less impact (not to say it doesn't happen). but frosh or soph girls can more easily make varsity rosters and have an impact: shannon gholar, lisa kevorkian, samantha rogers, etc. even "anna", to whom jim m. referred: yikes, a freshman catching for varsity...sounds scary, but it's totally viable, if not common.
you're right: age and thus size seem to matter more in boys' sports, regarding level of play.

Jackson,
I am referring to softball and baseball NOT football. While agree that there differences between seniors and freshmen, those are definitley not as relevent in the sport that are less physical. Why do you think so many baseball players are able to go straight from high school to the pros?

What does didactic mean?

Jack reread you didactic comments though glasses other than your own and you will see why they are so annoying to everybody.

New York,
Age matters as it does in every HS sport. Why do you think Clausen was held back for 2 years or John Elway - some kids have a 35% age advantage - 14 for freshman vs. 19 for seniors. I would have love to have been 2 years older as a senior in HS.

How much does age in softball or even baseball really matter? Most of those teens have been playing competitive ball for several years before high school. I'm a Monrovia guy so this may seem a bit loaded, but I am thoroughly impressed with Monrovia softball success, because I really don't know how much access there is for those girls to quality youth softball programs. That means Coach Medina and staff are doing a lot of great coaching.

Just to set the record straight on SP's youth, this has nothing to do with anyone else's youth or experience.
This is not to compare it with LC's youth or any other teams youth it is only to get the record straight. I know that LC is young and they certainly have improved and probably will keep getting better.

Picher - Junior
Catcher - Senior
1B - Junior
2B Sophmore
SS- Freshman
3B- Sophomore
LF-Freshman
RF - Freshman
CF - Junior

BU-
Freshman
Soph
Junior

PS - Because a couple of people have opinions about the nature of travel ball, rankings, and/or are pulling for their team does not make them arrogant, hypocritical, or whatever you want to call them. I went through the postings to see why people are saying so many mean things and I really don't see the justification. This seems to be a forum for pulling for your team and sharing softball information and opinions, but it also seems to erupt into an ugly world of name calling and very ugly behavior. I truly wish it would stop. Imagine yourself face to face with someone who says something you don't agree with, I am sure you would handle the situation with more elegance and you may be able to develop some sort of relationship or conversation with the person you are talking to. But since you can get away with not saying who you are, you all of a sudden have this freedom to be ugly and hurtful. Believe it or not, some players do read this stuff and they are disgusted with the behavior. Now, maybe we can change the tone a little bit and have some fun, opinionated conversations but in the mean time not stoop to levels lower than what you would want your kids to engage in. I, for one, will not again post on this site without putting my name under it.

PSS - I can point out two hits which were a bunt for a single, by Nicole Parada, where the ball did get past the first baseman, but it was way late and she had already crossed first base, and there was a single to right field by Michelle Mun on the play to second when the girl slid into second was called safe, and dislocated her finger, then got off the base and was called out. From what I understand there was another hit earlier but I don't have the book.

PSSS - Very well said Jim.

A wave came over the blog regarding the South Pasadena vs. La Canada game.

I want to set the record straight and yes my daughter plays on La Canada and on this day she played centerfield. She was very active as seven fly balls were hit to her and some were hit hard.

I love the La Canada Catcher (Anna). Only a freshman and getting better everyday. As I told Anna the South Pasadena Catcher is the real deal. Watch her and do everything she does. I just think she is awesome and she has got everything I would love to coach about her. Hell, she even leaned into a pitch to get hit by a fastball. Most girls at this stage would wet their pants before doing that. I'm a very big fan of that catcher and her father who coaches first base as well.

I'm also a very big fan of So. Pasadena softball program. After going up against them year after year in All Stars all I can say is they just love to compete. Their parents care, as to the players and they're very well coached.

I didn't see the three hits like reported, but that isn't important. So Pas is going to have a great year and I believe a deep run into the playoffs.

The Softball God's were with La Canada on Friday. Trust me they haven't been around much lately or since the Duarte Tournament.

One of the important (bad) things to have happen during the game was an injury to one of thier players and I hope she is okay and wish her a speedy recovery.

I also have to admit it was pure joy watching it come together at least for one game for the Lady Spartans. I care deeply for these girls and it was a very good feeling to win again.

I for one wish both
team(s) the best of luck in one of the toughest leagues going.

For me softball season is a blast because of the talent of teams like South Pasadena, Monrovia, San Marino, Temple City and all the ladies of the Rio Hondo Softball teams.

Bottom line, let's hope Friday's game can be the starting point for an awesome season with lots of scholarships for all.

Jim M.

You guys are being really ugly

SP parents needed a dose of humility -- the kids have their heads on straight.

Fred, Whatever you do you can not drop SP in the the rankings because yes I know they now have a losing record but blah, blah, 18 gold , blah, blah, played hard teams, blah, has a really good older pitcher, blah, blah, a really good older catcher, blah, blah, travel teams, blah, blah, you don't understand softball, blah, blah, LC is really a bad team because they don't have a coach that knows softball, blah, blah, blah, LC hasn't played anyone, blah, blah, LC doesn't have any 18 gold players. blah, blah......

Yes it is only a sign of personal adult weakness when LC fan points out the youth of its team compared to SP - but not when a SP adult starts it off by pointing out the youth of SP to LC (which isn't true by the way) - what a hypocrite!

Fred,
Houston we have a problem - maybe SP isnt the clear number 2

These SP people are second only to SF in BS arrogance with the backhanded praises "hacking" and so on and excuse making "a young team" and "had an off day" and LC doesn't belong on the field with two 18 Gold or whatever players LC doesn't play any tough teams and SP does - what nonsense. Shut up - you lost with an older team at every position - work to get better and stop making excuses. My guess is that SP beats LC in the next two - but please quit with the somehow these SP childern are softball goddesses that walk the face of the earth. The truth is that any above average female athlete that had a family willing to drive them all over h--- and back would be as good as 90% of the girls playing for the Gold 18 or whatever it is called - today just proved it.

Maybe pitching doesn't matter as much after all.

There isn't a younger than that LC and I think the SP is 18 not like certain other HS seniors who are 17.

I was at a LC fund raiser this evening and was told by 3 different people that the LC pitcher threw a no- hitter - true or not?

Listen, it was a 5-0 loss to LC, there is no getting around it. Some of the personal information about age and so forth is your own personal weakness as an adult calling out all these kids (Did you check their IDs or look them up on the internet). Like I said before, LC gets the credit for coming out and hacking at the ball and putting the ball in play. They took the game. But, SP gave the runs away early after the first two hits with two very uncharacteristic errors. They do have a pitcher who is very experienced and whether you like it or not she had an off day on the mound and got no help from her defense or offense. The only reason I even responded initially was because Jim M. declared the game a no hitter which it wasn't. Their will be two more matchups and I wish you the best of luck.

Let me see if I have this youth thing right:

Bottom of the 1st, 1st batter: first pitch single by 16 year old from LC vs. 18 year old SP pitcher

Bottom of the 1st, 2nd batter: 17 year old from LC is 5 pitch walked by 18 year old SP pitcher

Bottom of the 1st, 3rd batter: single by 16 year old from LC vs. 18 year old SP pitcher

The 3 first LC batters scored in the 1st inning.

Bottom of the 1st, 4th Batter: 17 year old from LC reaches 1st reaches on error by 17 year old SP 1st baseman

The 5 other LC hits off of the 18 year old/3rd year SP pitcher were by two 1st year varsity players: the 16 year old left fielder who was 3 for 3 (she also made a couple of great catches in left field), and the 15 year old freshman catcher who was 2 for 3.

By the way, how did the SP catcher do? Is she one of the youthful ones on the SP team too?

Come on SP, give LC some credit and stop making excuses. Your team is no more youthful than most and youth wasn’t the issue today. Also, almost all high school pitchers, ace or not, have to accept fielding errors by teammates. You simply were beat 5 - 0!

Hopefully, the paper will keep you ranked in the top 10 after your 2 league losses this week, so the rest of us won’t have to all hear your routine weekly barrage complaining about your ranking.

LC came out hacking for sure but 4 out of 5 runs were unearned. SP showed their youth.

Yeah buddy, it was a bad game for SP but it wasn't a no hitter.

wake up there were three hits

Oh my God. I just saw Kristen Oechsel for La Canada Varsity Softball team pitch a no hitter against a very powerful South Pasadena team. The Spartans won 5-0 and and collected nine hits against a very good So. Pas. pitcher Nicole Parada.

The lead off hitter Kylie Mulligan started the game witha base hit to right and the Spartans started the game with a 3-0 lead in the first inning and held on to win 5-0.

This makes the Rio Hondo League very interesting. I feel its a strong league and very competitive with Monrovia leading the way.

Thank you all for your prayers the worked today at LCHS.

Jim M.

I admire anyone that can stay awake for an entire softball game.

what i think is rediculous, is how all of you parents are talking about how this needs to change, and they arnt as good as our team. ITS STUPID dont you get it? its just high school sports! LET IT BE! stop saying all of this, "oh shes better" crap and let the teams play. get over yourselves. and whoever wins, wins. got over the "ranking" and the "rules" about pitching, and let it be, and see how the season plays out. Let the teams have fun, and enjoy watching your children play what they enjoy.

Haha. That's a good point, anonymous. I think that restrictions on playing time should be implemented only to protect the kids from over extending themselves. But that does not seem to be the case.

Sounds like Kirker is a dominant hitter ... anyone want to suggest that dominant hitters can only bat every other at bat in order to give the average pitcher a better chance of being competitve?

Kirker is a good athlete and she plays a good 3rd and short. She is a very good hitter. She pitched decent pre-high school because she is a good athlete but it's her hitting and fielding that makes her valuable to her current teams. Like pretty much any good athlete, pre-high school they play everywhere. At the high School and higher levels of travel ball good athletes start to focus on their primary strengths, and the position where there future lies. Not sure but my guess is if she was willing to focus on pitching she'd probably do fine, however, but the necessary focus it takes to be a high school or high level travel ball pitcher would take away from the other parts of the game she enjoys more.

why hasnt Kirker pitched in HS?

I meant that Samantha turned in that performance two years ago.

If your the worlds second best catcher in the world, we may never know your name.

Limit the innings pitched? They throw under-hanned so it is not as stressful on their shoulders.

Anyway, Samantha Rogers pitched 20 innings against Pomona Catholic in the playoffs last year. I don't think an innings pitched restriction should be implemented.

The great pitcher doesn't automatically wake up in the morning with the ability to pitch. Good pitching starts with talent but is only true realized through an individual's year-round daily practice, extremely hard work, and commitment.

Why would you ever begrudge an athlete who is willing to work that hard and is that committed to developing their skill by handycapping their team with rules that minimize that individual's developed skills.

Instread of creating rules to minimize developed talent, and lowering the bar for everyone, wouldn't it be better to create opportunities that would motivate others to develop their skills!

The other Anonymous,

You have finally convinced me, softball is a terrible game with such great pitching. I say we put the ball on the tee and let the players really hit the ball. Then everybody will have fair and competitive games.

Oddly enough, the feeling that pitching is a "problem" in the game of softball seems to only apply to teams that have no pitching.Hmm.

Anonymous,

It is big of you to admit that Parada is that much better than Bateson, I agree.

Why are you trying to make it out to be a drubbing when it wasn't. Monrovia only had five hits and three of them never got out of the infield and they were all hit by the top four batters. You can look at life through green colored glasses if you want, but the bottom of the Monrovia line up didn't get near first base. It was an excellent game that was well pitched on both sides and can go either way next time. Just a hint, I am not sure if it is a good idea to underestimate SP's batters.

Kirker is a very good player but hasn't pitched in at least 2 years and not in high school.

sorry Jim M this is not the Glendale New Press blog. CV is not covered here. If Baillie went to La Canada she could be consider but she doesn't. The New Press abandoned La Canada and stuck with CV - PSN has always stuck with La Canda - let's not dilute by bringing in CV and Burbank or Glendale. BTW Baillie is excellent and if she were at La Canada they would be Number 1 - which is the problem with softnball - one pitcher on a decent not great team (like La Canda) makes then the number 1 team.

If the SP pitcher was pitching to the SP lineup rather than the Monrovia lineup, she would have had at least twice as many K's.

SP's bats were no more anemic than Monrovia's bats. 5 hits to 3 and Parada struck out eight compared to Bateson's six. It was an evenly matched game that can go either way next time. Their were hard hit balls by both teams all day and most of the plays were made by both teams. I agree with the person who said that South Pas is young and will improve throughout the season.

Fred,

Hi, I just wanted to point out to you, that when you do your rankings of teams like Alverno and San Marino, and are wowed by their winning percentage. Take look at their schedule from last year and see how they pounded their weak competition but when they played better teams they got beat. The song remains the same.

Fred,

Here is a question for you, Fred, if, in a limited pitching scenario, a team has two pitchers and one of the pitchers gets injured and the team does not have another pitcher of reasonable quality. Does that mean the team is out of luck and has to pitch a kid that can't compete as pitcher on this level?

You are right, there was not two errors, there was a lead off walk and then an error on a bunt with the out in a collision taking place on third. There was a nice piece of hitting with the dinker to the opposite field by one of the Mihm sisters that bought in the first run and then the well hit double by Bateson to bring in the second run. I would hardly say "they got on her in the sixth", they had a very hard time hitting Parada.

There was no implication of it being a cheap Monrovia win. It was just a good game and the good news for us as fans is that they play two more times. Don't think South Pas is going to lay down and die. They play La Canada and you can't take league games for granted, then they go back to Orange County to the Savannah to play against some more very good teams. They are young and they are going to keep getting better.

My vote for player of the year is Baillie Kirker of Crescenta Valley High School. I had the pleasure of coaching Baillie for a number of years and she is just an amazing player and she is even a better person off the field. She works and works and never lets up.

Baillie Kirker for Player of the year in California.

My vote is in.

Okay so La Canada isn't goint to join the top teams this year. I can dream can't I. That having been said. On Tuesday La Canada traveled to Golden Valley and went up 2-0 in the first and then the drizzle came and never stopped.

The Spartans got down 11-3 and battled back to a
12-12 tie in a very wet game. Golden came up in the bottom of the 7th and with one out had runners on first and second and two passed balls later the Spartans lost 13-12, but I really admired how the coaches never quit. You see, sometimes in great attempts its okay to fail. This may have been one of those games.

I hoping for a thrid place finish for the Spartans. I know it may be a reach, but you have to believe.

I also counted one error in the top of the 6th in the Mon./S. Pas. game. There seems to be the implication that Monrovia's win today was a cheap win. It wasn't in the least bit a cheap win. Monrovia was definitely the better team today. Other than the 2 solid hits by S. Pas #9, the at bat for S. Pas. were pretty anemic. Monrovia has a much more challenging line-up of batters, and defensively they are stronger fielders. The Monrovia pitcher pitched 7 solid innings. The S. Pas. pitcher pitched 6 solid innings (Monrovia definitely got to her in the 6th). It was a great game played by 2 very good teams, but it was a solid win for Monrovia and they are well deserving of their rankings.

Well, anonymous in Monrovia's case they could throw Bateson or Rogers and it wouldn't make much of a difference.
But I agree, it was a great game. And by the way, there was only one error in the Wildcats' two-run sixth inning, so one run was earned and the other wasn't.

I just watched a game with two ace pitchers. SP vs Monrovia. And it was a great game to watch. Not boring at all. Everybody was on the edge of their seat the whole time and it was 0-0 into the 6th. Both teams had their chance to score and Monrovia did on two errors and two hits. If we limited innings that great game may not have happened.

You think the game is boring with an ace pitcher in, wait until the 2nd pitcher comes in and can't get it over the plate. Limiting the innings pitched would give the excellent programs even more of an advantage because they are the only teams who have solid second pitchers. What happens when a weak team with a decent starting pitcher has to put the second pitcher in against a strong team?

true dat, great game

Is is true Monrovia won 2-0 over So Pas?

limiting the innings would be great - make the sport a lot less boring. I go to these game with great pitcher - the out field could take naps when they are out there - some of the infielders too.

For a coach to limit the pitching time for their “ace” pitcher is very prudent (especially with non-league play) for 3 reasons: 1st, it helps develop future talent; 2nd, it’s a long season and keeps the “ace” fresher for the critical games, and 3rd , it helps that “ace” to possibly develop at other positions.

To legislate a limit to the amount of pitching time (or for any position for that matter) for any other reason(s) is grossly inappropriate, especially at the high school level and above (I’d even question it at the older rec. league levels). Kids need to learn how to compete against the best, and the most important lessons aren’t necessarily learned in “winning” (especially if winning against less than the best), but the best lessons are learned in “competing” against the best.

A coach is best apt to decide, not a bureaucratically imposed rule, as to whether a kid has put in the critical practice time and has developed an appropriate level of skill to qualify for game pitching time. A kid must learn how to earn playing time, and that starts outside of game time.

Last but not least, great and high skilled softball is a strategic and defensive game, thus, very low scoring. Legislating playing time to force playing time for less than the best would dramatically reduce competition, especially if it was done with pitchers. High scoring games are more an example of substandard pitching and fielding, and much less an example of good hitting.

Dare I suggest, the best athletes are most proud of their hard fought victories against the best competition, and are much less proud of high scoring or blow-out victories against mismatched competition.

My bet is that today’s Monrovia at South Pasadena softball game will be a very low scoring affair … I can’t think of anything more exciting to watch than 2 great teams with highly skilled players battling it out on the field of play! Good Luck ladies!!!

Why the preoccupation with rankings? What matters are game results, league play, and ultimately the CIF playoffs.

Also, the softball pitching motion is a far more natural motion than the baseball pitching motion. That is why the softball pitcher can pitch far more often than the baseball pitcher with far less physical wear and tear on the body. However, either motion takes an incredible amount of skill, and constant practice to be good at it. What determines pitching time for one softball pitcher over another softball pitcher is based on level of skill, and conditioning (both mental and physical).

Moving the rubber to 43' from 40' at the 18U-Gold, college, and olympic levels has added a very slight amount of more offense. However, doing this at the high school level would make little difference to the high level pitcher, but would have a dramatic negative effect on the lesser pitcher.

In baseball, if you need a pitcher, you can take a person that throws the ball pretty hard and put him on the mound. He may get beat and not be very good, but he has a reasonable chance of getting it over the plate. In softball if you try to put a kid out there throwing in a full circular motion who has no experience, you are likely to see no strikes and maybe a few thrown over the backstop. Try and pitch the ball in a full circular motion, it is not easy and takes a lot of practice to just get it over the plate. This is why there is so few decent pitchers out there. You cannot manufacture a pitcher in high school, most pitchers have to learn the motion at a young age.

I am not saying this to minimize the difficulty of being a baseball pitcher, I know that it is extremely difficult and elusive. I am just saying that the softball pitching motion is a foriegn movement that is complertely learned.

If you forced teams to pitch their back-ups in league play, you would, maybe, make some games closer and probably more high scoring, but you would lower the quality of play dramatically. There are a limited amount of decent pitchers available and some teams wouldn't even be able to field a second pitcher. You would see some of the ugliest games and not to mention that a pitcher is very close to the batter and forcing a coach to put in a young pitcher coming out of rec ball, or someone who hasn't pitched before to face some pretty powerful older batters could have some disasterous results.

I don't like it.

Arcadia lost twice and FSHA lost 3 times. Monrovia should be #1 right now. And if they win tomorrow they still should be, because SP is a very good team.

Fred,

A great pitcher/player's goal is to win games and championships and they naturally want to be a part of it as much as they can. Baseball pitchers do not pitch everyday because they can't. If there was no health issue in baseball the ace pitchers would pitch every game as well. Often time games are won by offensive players and there is no thought of limiting their time. I do not think it is smart to change something that is not broken. Compare local softball crowds to local baseball crowds and you will see that the crowds are larger and more enthusiastic. And I should say that in baseball there are plenty low scoring games and in softball there are plenty high scoring games.

PS- In college and 18U gold club softball the mound is at 43' instead of 40' and I think High Schools should do it as well.

hey anonymous, I'm going to go out on a limb and say the reason you dropped is you LOST! TWICE!

and you probably will again tommorow.

I don’t find softball a very watchable sport. A team with average players but a truly dominant pitcher can win all of the time since that dominant pitcher can pitch a shutout every game. I can’t think of any other team sport that can be dominated by a single position player in that same fashion. Moreover, these low/no scoring affairs where even good hitters are just praying for contact against dominant pitching are an incredible bore to watch. At least in baseball pitchers can’t pitch all the time, and even dominant pitchers occasionally need relievers to close out games. If softball wants to attract more fan (and future player) interest it needs to make it easier for batters to put the ball in play (i.e. do something like move the mound back) and/or limit the number of innings a pitcher can pitch. That’s my two cents….

Noway, you miss the point. Nobody is trying to limit anyone's success. A pitcher, whether in baseball or softball, is only judged by the games they pitch. I'm suggesting that by limiting a softball pitchers innings per week, it opens the playing field for more teams to be competitive.

Forcing teams to limit their quality pitcher's innings is not appropriate. This is not baseball where the kids risk damage to their elbows or rotator cuffs. If a kid works so hard to become a dominant pitcher, then that kid should reap the benefits from her hard work. If that is a championship, then good for her. People don't just become dominant, they work their tails off for it. Why should we limit their success? Because we want teams who have players that don't t work that hard to have a chance? If you feel that way, you have never worked that hard.

If you are going to limit the pitchers play then you should limit the amount of innings that a short stop, clean up hitter, catcher, for that matter any kid who is doing great. That would certainly make the game more competitive as well. It would also make a mockery of it.

Health concerns should be the only reason to limit play.

Anonymous, well said. To answer your last question first, I'm glad South Pasadena is allowing Hertel go gain experience, more teams should do this. And you're right, maybe I shouldn't punish teams in rankings for losing games when their ace isn't in the circle. I'll consider what you said when evaluating them again next week.

What makes SP a "clear" #2 in the Rio Hondo League to Monrovia. Last year the scores were:

1-0 Monrovia wins
2-1 SP wins
1-0 Monrovia wins

With the same pitching on both teams, how could this be "clear." If SP beats Monrovia are they the clear #1? I doubt it. It is going be a battle to the end. Nothing is "clear" at this point.

Arcadia is not ranked because they have low level club players who cannot hold up against quality club players, and D3 ranked teams are filled with high level club players.
They have a stronghold on the local press, but are irrelevent in the big picture.

Crescenta Valley 16
Burbank 1

Go South Pas! Good Luck Wednesday against Monrovia!

Fred,

I am still not sure why SP dropped from third to fifth. Parada still has 0.00 ERA against very good teams. The two teams they lost to are ranked in Division 1 and 3, and Parada didn't start either one of those games. As a matter of fact she has only had eight hits against her in five games. The reason SP has lost two games is because Coach Williams has put experience for his #2 pitcher, Kelsey Hertel, above winning percentage. If you want things to change with pitching rules you should probably reward the team that follows the spirit of what you are saying, at least in preleague play.

Could you please explain the drop in ranking.