I am not disputing that Kirsten Allen is an outstanding athlete. She is, without question one of, if not THE most dominant pitchers in Kentucky fast-pitch softball history. No one could argue that. However, I've always wondered this: Are the Ryle outfielders having any fun? I understand that they have the privilege of playing for a potential state championship team, and everyone dreams of having this chance. But if they played on a potential state championship SLOW-PITCH team AND were CONSTANTLY involved in the action, especially on defense, wouldn't that be more enjoyable? The last time I saw Ms. Allen pitch, her outfielders could have sat down in the outfield grass and completed their calculus homework DURING THE GAME...and no one would have noticed!

 

I understand the college scholarship angle (after all, isn't EVERYONE going to get a scholarship?), but come on, let's be realistic. If you are a true competitor, you'd much rather be involved in the action rather than simply watching. Slow pitch is a more exciting OFFENSIVE game and more ENTERTAINING game to watch and to play. And in ten years (or less), when these girls are looking for ways to stay in shape and still be competitive, most of those who currently play fast-pitch will agree with me.

Slow Pitch would be a lot more fun and a lot less complicated.

if your brain is on drugs slowpitch (beer league) is more exciting than fastpitch. Should the mentioned pitcher apologize for being so good ? Maybe the offensive players could dedicate a similair amount of practice time to hitting as she has pitching ? But please don't dumb the game down any !

I am not disputing that Kirsten Allen is an outstanding athlete. She is, without question one of, if not THE most dominant pitchers in Kentucky fast-pitch softball history. No one could argue that. However, I've always wondered this: Are the Ryle outfielders having any fun? I understand that they have the privilege of playing for a potential state championship team, and everyone dreams of having this chance. But if they played on a potential state championship SLOW-PITCH team AND were CONSTANTLY involved in the action, especially on defense, wouldn't that be more enjoyable? The last time I saw Ms. Allen pitch, her outfielders could have sat down in the outfield grass and completed their calculus homework DURING THE GAME...and no one would have noticed!

 

I understand the college scholarship angle (after all, isn't EVERYONE going to get a scholarship?), but come on, let's be realistic. If you are a true competitor, you'd much rather be involved in the action rather than simply watching. Slow pitch is a more exciting OFFENSIVE game and more ENTERTAINING game to watch and to play. And in ten years (or less), when these girls are looking for ways to stay in shape and still be competitive, most of those who currently play fast-pitch will agree with me.

 

Until fastpitch can evolve in NKY alot of people will have the same attitude as you do. If you goto California, Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma and/or Texas people there would totally disagree with you. The Allen girl would be one of many girls that are average pitchers in these 5 states (not taking anything away from her). Until you have coaches who can teach the game PROPERLY fastpitch will never gain in NKY. Also I think until people's attitudes change that fastpitch is just a pitcher/catcher game then the attitudes of of alot of people will think the sameway you do. There are ways to learn to hit the Allen girl and like I said whenever this area can get coaches to teach girls the proper way to hit pitchers with Allen's talent the game will never succeed in NKY. Until you get away from the knothole leagues and ASA comes in here and takes over the opinions of people like you will not change.

 

I had a disagreement with someone regarding fast and slow and my question to them was what strategy is there to slowpitch? You can't bunt, steal, and/or put a squeeze play on.

 

I am not taking anything away from the girls who are playing slowpitch right now but it seems to me that the attitudes of people in the southern part of the state are changing towards fastpitch as the only teams that play slowpitch (only 10 - 12) are teams from Boone, Kenton & Campbell County and that is getting fewer every year.

 

Just curious as to how many state championship titles Ryle has with Allen as the pitcher? Obviously, someone is putting the ball in play.

 

My suggestion to you is go catch a University of Kentucky or UofL fastpitch game. I think your attitude would change about the game.

if your brain is on drugs slowpitch (beer league) is more exciting than fastpitch. Should the mentioned pitcher apologize for being so good ? Maybe the offensive players could dedicate a similair amount of practice time to hitting as she has pitching ? But please don't dumb the game down any !

 

Very well put. I agree totally.

As much as I loved playing slow pitch in my time, watching my daughter play fastpitch is much more exciting. I have watched her grow to become a very good hitter and defensive infielder. I have taken her to many camps over the years to help her improve. The commitment from parents/player has to be there in learning the "hitting" (and all other) aspect of fastpitch. Fastpitch is a mental game, not only on the mound but in the batter's box. Have you ever watched a baseball player try to hit off a fastpitch softball? It is definitely not something that you can just walk up and hit.

The last camp we went to was put on by Univ of Tenn ex players, talk about knowing how to hit, they helped my daughter immensely on knowing where to put the bat on the different types of pitches. I have already seen improvement in her in just the past 2 games we have had this season.

Best thing that could happen to fast pitch is to have the pitchers be put on a inning restrictions like they are in the boys games. Having Allen or any pitcher pitch each and every inning of every single game, means to me at least that Allen is a great and outstanding pitcher, not that the team is a great and outstanding team. If the fast pitch game were to have the same rules of pitching that the boys do, would Allen and Ryle still be as good. Just asking, as I really don't know but right now the fast pitch game is just who has that one great pitcher.

 

Example in Baseball, Dixie has an outstanding pitcher in Matt Nichols. If Matt were allowed to pitch each and every inning of each and every Dixie's game, Dixie would win the ninth region, but the rules only allow him to throw only so many innings. For Dixie to win the ninth region, they have to have some other quality pitchers, can you say that for the girls fast pitch game.

 

That is why I don't like the fast pitch game, as it seems to me at least, to be who has that one single best pitcher, not who has the best team or best group of pitchers.

To know the game is to love the game .You like offense ,some like defense .Fastpitch is more defense and alot more strategy .It is alot more involved than you may think .At least it should be .

 

I agree with you Old Guy .I too would like to inning or game restrictions .i hear they are moving the mound back 3 feet next year ,I think .This will match what college is at 43 feet .This should of been done years ago.

To know the game is to love the game .You like offense ,some like defense .Fastpitch is more defense and alot more strategy .It is alot more involved than you may think .At least it should be .

 

I agree with you Old Guy .I too would like to inning or game restrictions .i hear they are moving the mound back 3 feet next year ,I think .This will match what college is at 43 feet .This should of been done years ago.

 

In total agreeance with the 43 ft aspect of the game. It's a better game at 43 ft IMO. Plus why not pitch from where u will be pitching from in college?

The reason why there is no pitch restriction for fastpitch is because the mechanics of a windmill pitcher is a natural mechanic of the shoulder and so there is less stress on the shoulder/elbow. There are many pitchers in the college ranks that pitch every game (doubleheaders) and then pitch every game in a tournament without having any arm injury.

 

The 43ft change in the pitcher mound has been discussed for many years. It will be interesting to see how the game changes because I know right now that if that change does happen it will hurt the pitchers in NKY than it will in the majority of the state because there is such a lack of pitching.

The reason why there is no pitch restriction for fastpitch is because the mechanics of a windmill pitcher is a natural mechanic of the shoulder and so there is less stress on the shoulder/elbow. There are many pitchers in the college ranks that pitch every game (doubleheaders) and then pitch every game in a tournament without having any arm injury.

 

Than why is it so many pitchers have ruined their rotator cuffs?

I do not think 43 feet would make much difference to Allen. Most pitchers adjust preety fast when they go to college. A lot of them are already throwing 43 in the summer.

The extra 3 feet if they move it back will open the game up more for the hitters.It doesn't sound like much but that three feet will give them a lot more time to hit the ball.

My DD has pitched for 6yrs she is 13 . Alot of shoulder rotator cuff problems are from 2 reasons most of all poor mechs, and poor posture back strength. Alot of pitchers have not been taught right they lead with there elbow and so many other issues. My DD did this and on a long tour, weekend she would have shoulder pain. But when she got the mechs right no more shoulder pain. In fastpitch if the legs can hold up and the mechs are right no problems.Most of the power in fast pitch is in the legs. The 43 ft would make the game better for the hitters for awhile till the pitchers caught backup. For a good pitcher it wouldnt take long.

"Than why is it so many pitchers have ruined their rotator cuffs?"

 

Where are you getting your stats from?

 

I have been in fastpitch for over 25 years (in highly competitive to not so very competitive softball) and I have seen two shoulder injuries in a fastpitch pitcher and most of them were not due to overuse but due to poor mechanics.

 

Like I said in my previous post an underhand pitching mechanic is a natural motion for the shoulder unluck an overhand throw.