May I ask why you do not coach high school softball?

 

Work is the #1 reason, I have helped with Holy Cross the last couple of years with practice and some games. Our coach last year was a nice lady but just wasn't into softball. We had a really bad year last year but the main reason was bc both our pitchers were hurt and didn't really pitch all year. 1 of those pitchers was one of our better hitters also. 2 years ago we pushed Ryle to the limit in semi's of the 9th region and was 1 out from a possible upset.

I agree about Holy Cross last year without having there 1 & 2 pitchers. That makes for a rough year on any team in Northern Kentucky. I think they'll be competive with most teams in the area . Look forward to watching them play.

I agree about Holy Cross last year without having there 1 & 2 pitchers. That makes for a rough year on any team in Northern Kentucky. I think they'll be competive with most teams in the area . Look forward to watching them play.

 

I hope still have several quesitons marks but they will no doubt be better.

I'm just going to use NewCath as an example, but when you have the majority of your players who play 2, sometimes 3 sports (soccer & hoops) and those sports are their top priority over fastpitch, it is somewhat difficult to progress. Just this past summer when soccer practice started in July we lost 9 girls from our summer team who only got to play 4 games. However it is still a plus that they are athletic enough to play fastpitch. Hopefully with the start of a Freshman team made up of 6th & 7th graders(8th graders play JV), over the coming years we can create a better interest in the game. Travel ball is not that big for a few reasons, mainly cost and not most players top sport. IMO Teams in Northern Campbell Co. are still light years behind are "compadres" in Boone County and NKY "as a whole" is far behind the rest of the state still.

 

Couldn't agree more maybe with the exception of Ryle. Most, if not all of their girls play travel ball. Unless they play travel ball fastpitch is usually not their number one sport.

Baseball vs. Softball

 

Here's your rules differences:

 

http://www.stevetheump.com/nfhs_rules_dif.htm

 

Biggest difference - boys are happy to be on a team and will accept a role. They also have short memories. Don't pay much attention to parents because most fields deny direct access to fans.

Girls - want to play or once they hit 16 and discover boys, money, car, job, etc..the commitment level is not there. No play, no commitment and they will remember one thing forever and never let it go. Drama everywhere. And most fields allow parents to find there way into a dugout....bad combination. (My apologies to our fellow female bloggers, but this is the majority at least in my experience. It is not meant to be shovanistic (sp?))

 

Now, not withstanding the obvious strategies (bunt defense, some baserunning based on rules like look by rule, cutoffs, field layouts, etc., the fundamentals are pretty Word Filter ViolationWord Filter ViolationWord Filter ViolationWord Filter Violation close if they are being taught correctly.

 

Throwing - same motion

Fielding - same positioning and aggressiveness

Mental intelligence and fortitude - have to know the game, situations, etc.

Pitching - obviously the biggest difference - one dominant pitcher can make any coach look good.

Catching - setting up, blocking, receiving, throwing - all similiar

Catching fly balls - same

Bunting - same (not including slapping here which is a specialty to fast pitch)

Running technique - same

Hitting - rotational vs. contact (I'd love to see Bustos not hit with a rotational technique and see where the power goes)

 

This is obviously meant for a high level comparison, but to be a "good" high school fastpitch coach, someone with a baseball background who has passion, dedication, knows the above fundamentals, can/has experience to manage a program, communicate with players, parents, administration, push academics, etc., then you have found a "good" coach. No high school coach has enough time to teach the players everything given the preseason weather, limited facilities, limited interest in the sport - the real players are made in the offseason when they play travel. As point out earlier, high school coaches have a thankless job.

 

But a DEFINITE YES, and we can all agree to disagree, but BASEBALL COACHES can make "good" softball coaches...the know it all parents are the biggest problem.:isurrender::deadhorse:

 

Agree with some of your comments but definitely agree with what Clyde said. Baseball coaches can definitely make good softball coaches. However, to me they have to realize that there is a big difference between coaching baseball and fastpitch, IMO. Especially with the strategy and the many things mentioned in my previous posts as well as what SSC mentioned.

Me too,

 

1. St Henry

2. Ryle

3. Connor

4. Boone

5. Dixie

6. Highlands

7. Holy Cross

8. NewCath

9. Cooper

10. ND

 

I would like to change my vote and drop Holy Cross out of the top 10 and put them near the bottom of the region. There are many reasons for this and I don't think I should list them on here.

I would like to change my vote and drop Holy Cross out of the top 10 and put them near the bottom of the region. There are many reasons for this and I don't think I should list them on here.

 

Suprised by this SSC. You are always so positive about the Indians. Obviously I respect your opinion not to share, but I hope it is not girls deciding not to play for the new coach.

First off, lets get one of these major points out of the way. ALL schools share athletes!! It is not just the smaller schools that share. Now on to the actual point of this thread.

 

1. Ryle (until they have this spot taken from them, Sander and Hamilton are tough to replace)

2. Boone Co (they and St. Henry have the most returning from last year)

3. St. Henry (same as above)

4. Conner (they have a lot to replace but they also have a lot of strong young talent)

5. Dixie (this could drop if the young pitching does not produce)

6. Cooper (this also could drop if pitching does not hold)

7. Notre Dame (I will give them the nod here but that is because so many others have lost a lot)

8. Highlands (they are young but have talented young ladies)

9. NCC (this is all about them finding a pitcher that can keep them in games beyond Hausfeld)

10. Holy Cross (they could go up or down also depending on pitching)

 

This is strictly 9th region, so if we include all local teams it changes drastically. This is also just my opinion so take it with a grain.

If you included all the local teams whats your top 10 ?

This is including teams that would be voted for by the local papers.

 

1. Walton Verona (return the most locally besides maybe Boone and St. Henry)

2. Ryle

3. Boone County

4. Grant Co (does Roy still pitch for Grant?)

5. St. Henry

6. Conner

7. Simon Kenton

8. Dixie

9. Brossart (this could change quickly, show me you can win games without Miller and Griffin)

10. Cooper

 

This is all up for debate but some teams have a lot to show with new players taking starting positions. Also, some teams need to show that they can beat someone that is considered solid competition. It is borderline laughable the people that only look at win/loss record and not their competition played.

 

Give me a team that plays a strong schedule and finishes 17-17 and a team that plays a weak schedule finishing 22-7 and I know who I will bet on ten times out of ten.

This is including teams that would be voted for by the local papers.

 

1. Walton Verona (return the most locally besides maybe Boone and St. Henry)

2. Ryle

3. Boone County

4. Grant Co (does Roy still pitch for Grant?)

5. St. Henry

6. Conner

7. Simon Kenton

8. Dixie

9. Brossart (this could change quickly, show me you can win games without Miller and Griffin)

10. Cooper

 

This is all up for debate but some teams have a lot to show with new players taking starting positions. Also, some teams need to show that they can beat someone that is considered solid competition. It is borderline laughable the people that only look at win/loss record and not their competition played.

 

Give me a team that plays a strong schedule and finishes 17-17 and a team that plays a weak schedule finishing 22-7 and I know who I will bet on ten times out of ten.

 

Grant lost Roy this year. I think they will not be as strong this year unless they find some pitching. Walton has a brutal schedule this year.

This is including teams that would be voted for by the local papers.

 

1. Walton Verona (return the most locally besides maybe Boone and St. Henry)

2. Ryle

3. Boone County

4. Grant Co (does Roy still pitch for Grant?)

5. St. Henry

6. Conner

7. Simon Kenton

8. Dixie

9. Brossart (this could change quickly, show me you can win games without Miller and Griffin)

10. Cooper

 

This is all up for debate but some teams have a lot to show with new players taking starting positions. Also, some teams need to show that they can beat someone that is considered solid competition. It is borderline laughable the people that only look at win/loss record and not their competition played.

 

Give me a team that plays a strong schedule and finishes 17-17 and a team that plays a weak schedule finishing 22-7 and I know who I will bet on ten times out of ten.

 

Did Ryle play Walton Verona last year? I think I would still have Ryle ahead of WV, I would give the edge to Ryle in the pitching dept.

Grant lost Roy this year. I think they will not be as strong this year unless they find some pitching. Walton has a brutal schedule this year.

Walton plays a challenging schedule, brutal may be a little bit much considering the "a" tournament and conference tournament.

Walton plays a challenging schedule, brutal may be a little bit much considering the "a" tournament and conference tournament.

 

Have you seen this years schedule? Take a look on the state website.

Did Ryle play Walton Verona last year? I think I would still have Ryle ahead of WV, I would give the edge to Ryle in the pitching dept.

Depending on what Ryle lost from that years squad. If they lost no key players I would agree.