Why is Notre Dame High School in Park Hills, Kentucky so bad in softball?

I have experience in this area.

 

A few thoughts that come to mind:

 

1. NDA is a volleyball/soccer/track/swimming school first, basketball second, and softball bringing up the rear. Vball and soccer essentially prohibit their athletes from playing spring sports due to club ball. I get that for the most part. If college is your goal that's the time to be seen by coaches. It does keep athletes from playing softball though.

 

2. Hitting fastpitch IMO is the hardest skill for a female athlete to develop. Try getting in the box against Kirsten Allen with throwing the equivalent of a 98 MPH baseball fastball and see how you fare.

 

3. The vast majority of girls that go to NDA do not participate in youth leagues. You have to go to Boone County , which my daughter did, to get any good development.

 

This year seems to be especially rough for the girls as there are no seniors on the team and every starter from last year graduated.

 

That about covers it.

To add to Clyde's analysis:

 

1) No seniors

2) No athletes

3) All pitchers (4) are 8th graders = walks, walks, walks

4) 4 coaches in 5 years

5) Very little money and support as it relates to the other NDA sports

 

Their coach has started summer teams in the high school and junior high feeder schools. It will take them a few years to catch up with the Boone County schools. Their coach turned Villa baseball into a consistant winner before leaving...softball not necessarily the same as baseball but if NDA ever had a chance to have a winning program, they have the right coach build the program and do it.

Almost any school can be good at any single sport if they put all their time, energy, and resources to that one sport. I have no affiliation with Notre Dame, but my guess is that if you look at what is invested (not just money) in softball at ND it is far less than what is invested in say soccer or volleyball.

Pitching, there is not real tradition at any school in Northern Kentucky. The teams that are best in any given time period are the ones with the best pitching.

I have alot of confidence in this coaching staff from an outsider looking in. The Head Coach is a proven winner, and one of his assistants pitched for the Panda's back in a time when they were competitive. Give them time.

Pitching, there is not real tradition at any school in Northern Kentucky. The teams that are best in any given time period are the ones with the best pitching.

 

Agreed. In my mind, that's part of what I was saying when there is no development at a young age for girls that go to NDA. Its exacerbated in a pitcher-dominated sport like fastpitch.

Agreed. In my mind, that's part of what I was saying when there is no development at a young age for girls that go to NDA. Its exacerbated in a pitcher-dominated sport like fastpitch.

In my opinion the recreation leagues are in dire need of better facilities and instructors. I don't think better girls softball facilities are a high priority with any of the local governments.

In my opinion the recreation leagues are in dire need of better facilities and instructors. I don't think better girls softball facilities are a high priority with any of the local governments.

 

I don't know about facilities, but it would be good to see some of the former pitchers come back and coach. Already mentioned this has happened at Notre Dame. I know a former pitcher is helping at Lloyd, and a former catcher is helping at Cooper.

I don't know about facilities, but it would be good to see some of the former pitchers come back and coach. Already mentioned this has happened at Notre Dame. I know a former pitcher is helping at Lloyd, and a former catcher is helping at Cooper.

 

To be honest, its too late if a high school pitcher is getting coached for the first time in high school.

Why does having 8th graders pitching = walks, walks, walks. I have seen the 8th grader that pitches JV, and I can tell you that she is not a walk-fest. In fact, I believe that the JV is 5-1 including a win against Boone.

 

 

 

 

 

To add to Clyde's analysis:

 

1) No seniors

2) No athletes

3) All pitchers (4) are 8th graders = walks, walks, walks

4) 4 coaches in 5 years

5) Very little money and support as it relates to the other NDA sports

 

Their coach has started summer teams in the high school and junior high feeder schools. It will take them a few years to catch up with the Boone County schools. Their coach turned Villa baseball into a consistant winner before leaving...softball not necessarily the same as baseball but if NDA ever had a chance to have a winning program, they have the right coach build the program and do it.

To be honest, its too late if a high school pitcher is getting coached for the first time in high school.

 

The reason ND is good at other sports is all their kids play club soccer, volleyball and basketball. If you play rec soccer you will almost never have a shot to play at ND same with all the other sports. Around here there are not very many girls that play summer ball. Rec ball around here is really bad and the summer teams are not very good either. We are just behind in the area.

Why does having 8th graders pitching = walks, walks, walks. I have seen the 8th grader that pitches JV, and I can tell you that she is not a walk-fest. In fact, I believe that the JV is 5-1 including a win against Boone.

 

From what I've heard, she is not allowed to play varsity per her parents.

That is correct. I may not agree with their reasons, but I definetly respect their viewpoint. It is not as simple as it might sound.

She is a solid pitcher that has alot of potential. She has the work ethic and desire to be the best that she can be.

 

 

 

 

 

From what I've heard, she is not allowed to play varsity per her parents.

I have experience in this area.

 

A few thoughts that come to mind:

 

1. NDA is a volleyball/soccer/track/swimming school first, basketball second, and softball bringing up the rear. Vball and soccer essentially prohibit their athletes from playing spring sports due to club ball. I get that for the most part. If college is your goal that's the time to be seen by coaches. It does keep athletes from playing softball though.

 

2. Hitting fastpitch IMO is the hardest skill for a female athlete to develop. Try getting in the box against Kirsten Allen with throwing the equivalent of a 98 MPH baseball fastball and see how you fare.

 

3. The vast majority of girls that go to NDA do not participate in youth leagues. You have to go to Boone County , which my daughter did, to get any good development.

 

This year seems to be especially rough for the girls as there are no seniors on the team and every starter from last year graduated.

 

That about covers it.

 

I agree on all points. I do think that there are better times ahead for NDA softball.