Staff writer Kelley Smiddie interviewed a local high school player, pitcher and coach and got their thoughts on the TSSAA’s decision to move the pitching rubber, which used to be 40 feet from home plate, to 43 this season.
GPS senior catcher Jackie Baird
.507 batting average, three home runs, 32 RBIs
Q. How has the change in pitching distance this season affected your approach to hitting?
A. “I most definitely have to wait back more. Especially from a catching standpoint, I know how balls break. When you get that extra three feet, the girls that throw harder, the ball’s going to break more. If the ball’s going to break more, you have to be even more aware of your strike zone — what you can hit, what you like. You have to be more selective at the plate. Girls that haven’t been throwing from 43 feet, like in the summer, they have to adjust as well. You’re going to get more walks out of things. You’re going to get more mistake pitches you can capitalize on, and you have to take advantage of those when they’re given to you.”
Q. How has the change affected the way you work with pitcher Payton Leech and how you call a game?
A. “It really doesn’t change much. Playing with her with the Fury in the summer, we travel a lot and play a lot together in 18-under tournaments when we’ve qualified. She was actually very excited to come to 43 feet because her ball was moving that much more. Older girls — I’ve talked to several — like the change because of that. Her ball, instead of breaking about eight inches, is going to break about 12, so you get that extra push on the ball.”
Q. Overall, how do you feel about the change?
A. “I think it’s great. Girls that don’t play in the summer but want to play collegiate ball, they get to see it before they get there. It prevents kids from having to go back and forth. I’m excited that they’re changing 16-under in the summer to 43 feet. I think that will help. Then you’ll have from sophomores to seniors playing at 43 feet year round.”
Soddy-Daisy sophomore pitcher Kelsey Nunley
17-0 pitching record, two earned runs allowed
Q. How has the change in pitching distance this season changed your approach to trying to get batters out?
A. “I have to use more leg drive, and I also have to throw it a little bit harder to get it up there.”
Q. Has there been any change to any of your pitches?
A. “The release time is the main point on most of them. I just have to focus more on release. I throw a fastball, change, curve, drop, drop curve, riseball and screwball. My change has a lot different release point and my riseball is different, too. I’m getting a lot more rise.”
Q. Overall, how do you feel about the change?
A. “It is a big difference. It takes a lot more energy to get it up there. It takes a lot out of me. I have to focus more on the thought process of pitching. I have to focus more on two strikes, where to throw the ball. I think it’s good preparation for college.”
Baylor coach Kelli Smith
Team record was 9-4 before the weekend; pitchers are Tory Helton, Lauren Lybrand and Kaitie Sims.
Q. How has the change in pitching distance affected the way in which you’ve approached working with your hitters?
A. “I definitely think it’s been in favor of the hitters, obviously. They’ve got longer to look at the ball, and I know just with our team, we’re not striking out very much at all. It’s really cut down on our strikeouts, both offensively and defensively. Even your outs a lot of times are hard-hit balls. We focus a lot on defense in practice. We still have the same approach as far as good pitch selection, hitting the outside pitch to the right side of the field. As far as our hitting work, I don’t know that we’ve changed anything.”
Q. What is your approach now with your three-pitcher staff, as far as trying to get batters out?
A. “They’ve got to be good on both sides of the plate. They’ve got to use all planes, up and down. I think we’re seeing less strikeouts from our pitchers, and that’s across the board. One through nine, that three feet makes such a difference, as far as them timing the pitcher and all that.”
Q. Overall, what’s your perspective of the change?
A. “I voted to stay at 40. I like the game of softball. I like a pitcher-dominated game. But I know for the safety of the pitchers it’s been a good move. The technology, the bats these days, the kids are hitting the ball really hard. From a safety standpoint it’s a good thing. But it’s changed things. We had a 12-11 game with Marion County last week. That’s like a slowpitch score. Both teams were just hitting it everywhere. It’s the same pitchers. It’s just the difference in the three feet.”
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Article: Quotes on the new high school softball pitching distance