things are looking good for the future of USC softball

[scfastpitch]

Originally Posted by Luke Skycocker

On another note, the sub rules in softball are completely ridiculous. You should not be able to leave the game and come back. It allows players who either can't hit worth a crap or can't field at all to play. You could be great in the field and fast, but someone else can hit for you, then you come in and run and play in the field. There is no reward for having a great all around player.

My one other gripe is that you can play on the collegiate level and not even swing the bat. UK's center fielder didn't swing once in probably 10 at bats this weekend. She either bunted or half slapped at the ball, not even a full slap. She can not hit even a little, yet she is able to start on a nationally ranked team? She is the product of the bases being too close

Softball and baseball are two different sports . Everything you griped about are things that I prefer . A starter can only reenter a game once . That's different from baseball, but a little more like other sports which have unlimited substitution . Also, the designated player can bat for anyone in the game, whereas in baseball the dh can only bat for the pitcher . I like the additional flexibility of softball's rules .
I love a good slapper or two in the lineup . Slap hitting is an art, and not that easy to learn . We had a great one last year in Lauren Lackey . The centerfielder for Kentucky is from Hillcrest and can absolutely fly . I saw her play in the state championship game last year and she will take a full swing occasionally .

[Luke Skycocker]

Originally Posted by scfastpitch

Softball and baseball are two different sports . Everything you griped about are things that I prefer . A starter can only reenter a game once . That's different from baseball, but a little more like other sports which have unlimited substitution . Also, the designated player can bat for anyone in the game, whereas in baseball the dh can only bat for the pitcher . I like the additional flexibility of softball's rules .
I love a good slapper or two in the lineup . Slap hitting is an art, and not that easy to learn . We had a great one last year in Lauren Lackey . The centerfielder for Kentucky is from Hillcrest and can absolutely fly . I saw her play in the state championship game last year and she will take a full swing occasionally .

I absolutely hate slapping. It just tells me that you are fast and can't hit. It's hard for me to think of someone as a good player if they can't even swing the bat.

[scfastpitch]

Originally Posted by Luke Skycocker

I absolutely hate slapping. It just tells me that you are fast and can't hit. It's hard for me to think of someone as a good player if they can't even swing the bat.

Slapping is not that easy . If it was, every hitter with speed and not much power would be doing it . It's not that easy to put the bat on the ball when you are moving . Some try it and never get the hang of it .
When I first started following softball we had a player named Chanda Lee who I believe was a right-handed hitter who had played slowpitch softball in high school . She had great speed, and was recruited with the intention of making her a slap-hitter . She was a part-time player as a freshman but got better every year and was an all-american as a senior .
Lauren Lackey was another who slowly improved, went from the low .200s to well over .400 as a senior . The really good slappers can drive the ball into the gaps occasionally , so the outfielders can't move up too close .
Jessica Mendoza is one of the best softball hitters I've ever seen, but she will still slap every now and then, just to give the defense something else to think about .

[Luke Skycocker]

Originally Posted by scfastpitch

Slapping is not that easy . If it was, every hitter with speed and not much power would be doing it . It's not that easy to put the bat on the ball when you are moving . Some try it and never get the hang of it .
When I first started following softball we had a player named Chanda Lee who I believe was a right-handed hitter who had played slowpitch softball in high school . She had great speed, and was recruited with the intention of making her a slap-hitter . She was a part-time player as a freshman but got better every year and was an all-american as a senior .
Lauren Lackey was another who slowly improved, went from the low .200s to well over .400 as a senior . The really good slappers can drive the ball into the gaps occasionally , so the outfielders can't move up too close .
Jessica Mendoza is one of the best softball hitters I've ever seen, but she will still slap every now and then, just to give the defense something else to think about .

I didn't say it was easy, I just think that it's a flaw in the sport that something like that can succeed. Imagine in a baseball player drag bunted every single time, it's not quite the same, but to me it's just bush league

[scfastpitch]

Originally Posted by Luke Skycocker

I didn't say it was easy, I just think that it's a flaw in the sport that something like that can succeed. Imagine in a baseball player drag bunted every single time, it's not quite the same, but to me it's just bush league

I wish Tanner English was a better bunter and could drag bunt a lot more . If English played softball he would be the perfect candidate to be a slapper . Great speed but strikes out a lot, doesn't hit the ball on the ground enough, doesn't hit with much power, etc .
On the other hand, we can just say a little prayer that no coach ever tried to turn Samie Garcia into a slap-hitter . Or if they did, be glad she was able to resist . She's too good a conventional hitter . I do think she should bunt a little more though .
If a freshman with speed came in and struggled with the bat, Coach Compton would often tell them they might want to try slapping . A few years back there was a local girl that I had seen play travel ball some and I heard she was walking on at USC . About halfway through fall practice, I ran into one of the players on the team and asked how the walkon was doing . I was stunned when she told me the walkon was working on slap-hitting . "But she was such a good hitter" , I said . And the player replied "Oh, I know. I thought she had an awesome swing . But once Coach gets her mind set on something, that's it ."

[Luke Skycocker]

won both games of a doubleheader against Coastal today

[FlorenceCock]

We just beat a decent UGA team 6 to 2 and Julie Sarratt pitched a complete game.

[Luke Skycocker]

UGA is ranked #30