28 replies to this topic

[JackCord4]

Thanks for the info. I'm looking forward to seeing them this weekend. I hope the weather cooperates.

[zoesdaddy]

Just curious...what is considered fast or throwing hard in fastpitch softball? 40mph? 45mph? 50mph? 55? 60?

If a hard thrower in baseball touches 80, what would be the equivelant in softball?

i was in N. Carolina on Friday and there was a girl from Asheboro HS she was bringing it at 60 plus

[softballmom2]

I was told after I posted that the top speed was 55 not 58. That was the fastest pitch. The coach didn't tell me what they were throwing on a consistant basis. Another detail that the coach didn't say was if the pitcher was throwing strikes. A pitcher can throw the ball through a brick wall, but if it is not a strike, it doesn't really matter.

Do I think that any middle schooler is going to throw like that during the season? No. It was done in the gym, with no batter and perfect conditions. It was just a statement to let Stitch and larrythecableguy know what speeds the high school pitcher throw.

Captain_Brinn, are you familiar with travel ball? I was at a tournament this past weekend in Ft. Wayne and the Ann Arbor Gold had a girl on their 12U team that could bring it. Nobody had a gun on her but if I had to guess, I'd say she was mid to upper 40's. I realize that a girl like that is more exception than the rule, but she was fun to watch. I think Coach Candrea was sitting next to me.

Just wanted to say thank you for the nice comments about our daughter. She pitches for the Ann Arbor Gold 12 U team and she works her fanny off to be a good pitcher. We live in Dundee Michigan and have been very fortunate in the past and have had some wonderful people that have helped her develop her softball skills. Right now she is working with a pitching coach that helps the pitchers from U of M and he has been great with her and helping her develop her speed and mechanics. She has been clocked at 53 but obviously that is a high speed, normally she throws right around 50. Did you happen to see the pitcher from the Thunder team? She was crazy fast and had good movement on the ball. Thanks again!!

[JackCord4]

Just wanted to say thank you for the nice comments about our daughter. She pitches for the Ann Arbor Gold 12 U team and she works her fanny off to be a good pitcher. We live in Dundee Michigan and have been very fortunate in the past and have had some wonderful people that have helped her develop her softball skills. Right now she is working with a pitching coach that helps the pitchers from U of M and he has been great with her and helping her develop her speed and mechanics. She has been clocked at 53 but obviously that is a high speed, normally she throws right around 50. Did you happen to see the pitcher from the Thunder team? She was crazy fast and had good movement on the ball. Thanks again!!

Your welcome. No, I missed seeing the Thunder team.

This is just a pipe dream, but being offensive minded, I would like to see the pitching distance at the high school level moved back to the 43' that is currently used by colleges and International softball. The quality of talent in fastpitch is growing and the pitchers are getting better and better at a younger age.

Tell your daughter to keep up the good work and maybe someday we'll see her again at Buckeye Field in Columbus.

[softballmom2]

I totally agree with you on the pitching distance. I hope that the distance goes to 43 for everyone except 10 u players. Hopefully that will change soon as you are right about girls pitching faster in the younger age groups. If you ever see us at a tournament anywhere please come and introduce yourself, it is always nice to meet new people from other areas. Good luck this summer and maybe we will run into you sometime.

[pix4six]

www.eadynasty.com/index/index.php

[Scoremore]

The Lady Lasers 12U Orange Team has two girls that throw over 55 mph. One is from Columbus and one is from Windham Ohio. The girl from Windham Ohio has been clocked at 60 mph on numerous occasions by her pitching coach with a Juggs gun. Her pitching coach is Dave Leffew from the Lagrange area. The girl from Columbus who is a lefty is in 7th grade. The girl from Windham is a righty and is in 6th grade.

[JackCord4]

The girls are getting faster, 50-55 is becoming the norm for for high school pitchers with the elite pitchers reaching the 60's. But, I think that will only get it done at the high school level. The pitchers that will succeed at the college level are the ones that can move the ball and change speeds.

I have a girl on my summer team that is lucky to hit 50, but she puts a massive amount of spin on the ball and can move it pretty well. She has good command of her pitches so she doesn't walk a lot of batters. We have to play solid defense behind her because she isn't going to strike out a lot of batters and the ball is going to be put into play. Since the ball is moving around and not coming straight at the batter, they rarely make solid contact.

I have to admit, she is not someone that is going to turn your head and make you stop and watch, but at the end of the game, she is successful more times than not.

[Scoremore]

I agree Jack. Movement and deception is most important when you face top notch hitting but it sure helps when you pitch that meatball down the middle of the plate that the ball is going 60 mph instead of 50 mph. Pitchers that rely on movement but are slower cannot make a mistake. Speed sometimes hides pitching mistakes or in some cases lessons the impact of the result of the mistake.