girl’s windmill pitching
TRANSCRIPT
Girl’s Windmill Pitching
By
Bill Dryden
Volume 296 May 27, 2010
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Believe it or not, it’s winding down!
That’s right, folks! The high school season is coming to a close. For those in Maryland it endsMemorial Day weekend, barring weather postponements. Delaware, Virginia and Pennsylvania areready to begin their tournaments, maybe some even under way. Some folks are wondering if playoffs will interfere with travel tournaments. Most travel coacheswith freshmen and above on their teams wait until Memorial Day weekend and early June to begintheir tournament schedule because they fear not having enough players to compete.
For some the high school season can’t end soon enough but for others who don’t play travel ball, itmay seem too short. It’s a matter of perspective but with the demise of one season we know whatthat means, don’t we?Bring on the real deal! This is what the girls practice for 12 months (or almost) a year. While manyof the high school coaches go back into hibernation until next March, the coaches who work withthe girls all year get them back. Hey, I know some high school coaches don’t hibernate. Some likeJan Greenhawk of Easton High, coach travel ball too. Some go to travel tournaments and watch thegirls and find that they actually play various positions and do it well! It just seems the ones whoknow the least pull back into their shells until it’s time for the next “coaching paycheck.” Maybethat’s why they know the least. A pitcher who led one school to a state championship in 2009 and was instrumental in helping theteam this year did not pitch one game in the 2010 playoffs and hadn’t started a game since April29 when she threw a shutout. She had appeared only once in the interim and that was 2 innings ofth
relief. After that she had no appearances through yesterday when the team was eliminated in theregional semi-final. She was not injured and played the infield. The kid throws in the high-fifties tolow sixties with great movement. Go figure. I can’t. The better high school coaches pitch numberone through the playoffs. As one very successful school coach told me, “We go with who got ushere.” Others allow themselves to fall prey to the wishes of a few parents or try to please everyone.
Either is a no-win situation.
Anyway, it all is about to change, especially for those playing the showcase circuit. If you aregoing to the right showcases you will know it. To the first time player at this level, you may beawestruck by the number of college coaches you see. You may be awestruck by the level of talentthat you see, but try to put it in perspective. Somebody must have thought you had the potential toplay at that level or you wouldn’t be on that team, at that tournament, with those adversaries andbeing watched by this number of coaches, assuming you have emailed the coaches and asked themto watch. If you haven’t, your mistake.If you are one of my students and find yourself at that type of tournament, you’d better believe Iknow you should be there. If you aren’t ready I will tell you.
Everything changes in “real” travel ball. I emphasize “real” because I don’t consider playing 8tournaments within 50 miles of home travel ball. You just see the same teams over and over andover again. It’s like watching the same reruns every day.
Travel ball, no matter whether it is 10U or Gold holds an element of excitement and actually caneducate the girls on the team. Every time we played in Oklahoma City we would make it a point togo to the Oklahoma City Memorial site and talk to the kids about what McVeigh did to the peoplethere. It brings those who died a little closer and I would see kids and parents openly weep. Ofcourse we would also visit Bricktown, the Oklahoma City warehouse district which was convertedinto an area reminiscent of New Orleans and the Bourbon Street area. They added manmade canalsthat you can walk beside as you shop or you can take a boat trip and tour the area. We toured theASA Hall of Fame. No visit to the city is complete without dining at the Cattleman’s diner whichmay have the best steaks I ever ate and the County Line Barbeque Restaurant which offers updelectable barbeque. I can thank Gary Haning of Orange County Batbusters for informing meabout that one several years ago.
When we would go to Denver, we would visit Roosevelt National Forest, Castle Rock, the Gardenof the Gods, and Estes Park. Some would go white water rafting or horseback riding. All of theseareas make travel ball a much richer experience than the tournament alone. It allows you to share alot as a family and as a team.
The experience of playing on a travel team promotes teamwork, teaches you to depend onteammates, and allows you to show they can depend on you. You develop a closeness by stayingaway from home and basically living with the team but that is what will happen when and if youplay in college. Therefore you learn things that will benefit you when you are away with collegegames.
Yes, the season is upon us and it can be an exciting and complete experience, win or lose. So, whenyou travel take the camera, capture some memories of the various geographical areas you visit. Trythe local cuisine. It is an education in itself just seeing the different foods that are available. However if you go to Denver and dine at the Buckhorn Exchange, founded in 1893 by Henry“Shorty Scout” Zietz and is Denver’s oldest steakhouse, don’t get the “Rocky Mountain Oysters.”
Folks,”they ain’t oysters!”
Photos
Delaware Magic 10U pitcher Alleigh Townsend on
crutches
Taylor Pechin of the Delaware Express Fathpitch 11U
releases one
Marissa Walls (Munchkin Barbie) of the
Delaware Magic 10U enroute to pitching win over
the Delaware Diamonds
She’s Baaacck! Remember that quote from Poltergiest II? Well, we’re about to say
the same for Cassidy Taylor. After several months of rehab on the arm and
shoulder/back area, she is released to begin pitching rehab and to go full pitching
July 1 . I will see her tonight because she is already hitting the hip with the forearmst
and we have to correct that. She won’t pitch any games before the fall, but that
allows us plenty of time to get the Liberty University bound, Sussex Tech sophomore
ready to go!
TipsHow is your windup? Do you have one? They vary according to what suits a pitcher. The point is
to get you in motion. As long as it isn’t illegal and doesn’t affect the pitching mechanics adversely,it can become your signature. Everyone recognizes “Cat” Osterman’s windup and Monica Abbott’swith the extreme load or pre-motion. Find one that allows you to begin the negative movement to
the load phase and use it.
Girl’s Windmill Pitching WebsiteMy website, though still undergoing enhancements, is now active. You can find my newsletters,some links, photos, and some of my students’ video clips.
I will soon be adding video tips on pitching and hopefully other information. Be sure and bookmarkGirl’s Windmill Pitching
Girl’s Windmill Pitching ExpandingIf your organization is interested you can book a pitching clinic with me by emailing me [email protected]
I will be able to do some weekday clinics this spring and summer and some Saturday and/orSunday clinics beginning in mid-April. I am looking to expand the venues to different areas.
Girl’s Windmill Pitching Teaming Up with Lower Shore YMCA
I have teamed up with the Lower Shore YMCA in Pocomoke City, MD.
We have private pitching lessons on Fridays and the Executive Director of the facility wantsto get some clinics going there also. Both he and I are excited about the possibilities for theWorcester County and Somerset County areas of the lower shore of Maryland and for theEastern Shore of VA athletes. You can contact Paul at [email protected] concerning anyupcoming clinics. While you are there take a tour of the facility and let Paul talk to you abouta family membership at their state of the art facility on over 100 acres. You will love it! Wehave a waiting list there. So, if you are interested in getting in let me know
Recruiter MomThis link will answer some valuable questions for the parents and student/athletes hoping tobecome prospects. I highly advise you to visit the site that has been set up and researched byJan Greenhawk by clicking on the title above or by pasting
http://recruitermom.org/index.html in your browser. Check this link. I’ve gotten good feedbackabout it.
Andy Givens’ Hitting InstructionAndy Givens is the former Delaware Technical and Community College Assistant Baseball Coach,and former Head Softball Coach. He is currently the Head Softball Coach of the DelawareDiamonds 18U team and gives privatehitting instruction at his place between Georgetown andLaurel, DE. If you are looking for a superb, patient instructor to help give you an edge, contactAndy at (302) 228-7960 or email him at: [email protected]
Shocker’s Baseball and Softball InstructionFor those in the Worcester County area, The Mid-Atlantic Shockers organization host individualand group instruction at their facility in Berlin, MD. Todd Lampman, who has coached baseball atthe high school and college level leads a team of instructors. Todd is well known for his coachingand teaching ability. Check their website at:
http://www.eteamz.com/MidAtlanticShockersBaseballClub/ to get contact information.
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News and Tournament ResultsIn Maryland High School Playoff action Easton defeated North Caroline 10-0 to set up a section VIIIfinal against Parkside. Easton won that game convincingling with a 7-0 victory.
Century knocked off Winters Mill 11-1 in playoff action. Alyssa Dixon (Maryland Stars 16U), CarrollCounty's leading hitter, knocked in a pair of runs with a hit up the middle and had an RBI triple. Thesophomore also pitched the last 2 innings.
North Carroll continued their quest to repeat as regional champs as Sam Stitely pitched a 2-1 victoryover Liberty. Hollie Buckell scored the winning run, just getting her fingers to the plate under the tag.
Lizzie Mack, Caroline Brehm, Sarah Groft and Nicole Ayers were all part of the New Oxford, PA HighSchool Team that won their division. This was the first time New Oxford had won it in 15 years. Theyfinished the regular season with a 15 and 1 record. Next is the county title and then the districts begin.Liz (Lady Orioles Gold) had a 9 and 0 record, struck out 104 batters in 63 innings and had an ERA of0.67.
Jesci Iacona (Diamond State Swoop 14U Green) had 2 hits and an RBI as Decatur beat River Hill 5-2.
Snow Hill upset number one seeded Colonel Richardson 5-2 to advance to the regional semi-final.Snow Hill was eliminated by Kent County on Thursday.
Annah Brittingham (Morris County Belles Gold) had two hits as Pocomoke defeated North Dorchester6-2 in 1A regional action, setting up a game against Mardela for Thursday. Pocomoke was eliminated3-2.
Center fielder Erin Beane threw out a runner at the plate with two outs in the seventh inning to preserveCentury's 4-3 victory at Walkersville in a Class 2A West softball semifinal game Wednesday.
Beane's throw beat a Walkersville runner trying to score from second on a base hit.
Alyssa Dixon (Maryland Stars 16U) singled in a run in the fourth inning, giving the Knights theireventual winning run. She joined Christa Giannaccini, who doubled, and winning pitcher MaryHartman with two hits apiece.
The Knights will face the winner of Thursday's North Carroll-Francis Scott Key matchup in the regional
final on Friday.
On Thursday Sam Stitely (Riviera Beach Spirit 18U) and the North Carroll team defeated Francis ScottKey 3-2 to advance to the regional final where they will face Century.
When the two teams matched up Century outhit North Carroll but Sam Stitely was able to eke out theexciting 2-1 win propelling the Panthers into the state semi-final.
On Thursday Sussex Tech played Hodgson 4-1 and Cassidy Taylor was 2 for 3 at the plate. OnSaturday she was 1 for 3 in a loss to Smyrna. I exchanged texts with Jackie (Cassidy's mom) to ask herhow the pitching phase of her rehab was coming and she said fine, but Cassidy was restless. I remindedher to tell Cass to make sure she uses good form and proper mechanics on the drills so we don't have tofix bad habits when she returns to me July 1st.
Former Hammond All-Metro pitcher Stephanie Speierman is enjoying a fine first season at Michigan,having recently been named the team's Freshman of the Year. Speierman has pitched in 12 games forthe Wolverines, going 2-0 with a 2.01 ERA in 24-plus innings.
Lauren Gibson's 2 run homer sparked a 5-0 NCAA Regional win for Tennessee over Ball State. AgainstVirginia the Lady Volunteers banged out 15 hits in an 11-2 win. Gibson had an RBI double and a walk.The team moves on to the Regional final. In that game against Louisville Gibson only went 1 for 5 butthat hit was a double in the 9th inning. She scored the eventual go ahead run as the Tennessee won 3-1to advance to the Super Regional in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Now they will face the nationally rankedNo. 2 Lady Wolverines at their home stadium next weekend. Michigan did away with Notre Dame inthe final of their regional by a 12-2 score.
Stephanie Speierman with her award
Bucknell was sent to the loser bracket by the University of California by a 10-0 score. Then Ohio Stateeliminated them 6-0. One thing can be said to Cassie Greenhawk, the former Easton High player: Yourteam may have lost 2 at the NCAA Division I Regional, but at least you were there.
The Easton High School team continued its assault on a state title by defeating Rising Sun 1-0 in 9innings. Drexel bound senior Shelby Taylor struck out 21 batters. On Tuesday the team played in theMaryland State 2A semi-final and defeated Eastern Tech 8-0 as Taylor struck out 13, walked none andallowed 1 hit and North Carroll defeated Glenelg 7-1 to set up a final where Shelby Taylor of Eastonwill face Sam Stitely of North Carroll. In the North Carroll/Glenelg game Hooly Buckel singled andscored the first run for the Panthers.
New Oxford took the York County Championship over Bermudian Springs. Liz Mack (Lady OriolesGold) was the winning pitcher. Sarah Groft (Central PA Krunch) had a double.On Wednesday Mackthrew a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts to win a 5-0 first round playoff game against Waynesboro. Mackwas 2 for 2 at the plate and freshman Sarah Groft had a sacrifice bunt with an RBI.
Franklin lost their first game of the season in the regional final. C. Milton Wright High beat them 1-0.Mary and Tori Sabota (MD Stars 18U and 16U) had a tremendous season for Franklin.
Carissa Throckmorton (Lady Orioles Gold) and the South Western team feel 3-2 to Exeter in a PAdistrict III AAAA tournament play-in game.
In tournament action the Maryland Magic Oranage 14U won 2 and lost 1 Saturday to get the number 3seed in a tournament in PA. Amanda Parsons had 3 hits in the 3 games. Sunday play was rained out.
Cheryl and I went to Rehoboth Saturday to watch a couple of my girls pitch. Marissa Walls pitched anice win for the Delaware Magic 10U enroute to a 3-0 pool record. I got to watch Taylor (Smurf)Pechin pitch a loss to the Bayside Breeze. This was the first time I had been able to watch Taylor in agame and I was pleased with her control of the outside edge and she did a great job with the change-up.While the Breeze won, I think the inexperience of the Delaware Express Fastpitch 11U team wasevident and I told Taylor I was pleased with her on the mound. Her demeanor was tremendous and shewill become better and better. C'mon a lefty Blonde has a lot going against her...I mean for her LOL.