Pitchers, you are about to start your college career and you are trying to figure out what the big deal is. You’ve been kicking butt for years and you know you are ready to kick more butt in college. These hitters better look out. In the words of the great Nuke LaLouche, they ain’t seen my heat!!!
Right…
Seriously, what is the big deal about moving up to college for the young pitcher?
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You have been dominating hitters in travel ball and high school because they have never worked as hard on their game as you have on yours. Now you are facing hitters who work on their swing every day, watch video of themselves, watch video of you, have in depth and detailed scouting reports about you and are, in some cases 22 or 23 year old veterans.
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You have inflated your stats and your record with games against teams and players that are nowhere near as talented as you. Let’s get real, for every really good team you have played in travel ball and high school you have also faced a couple weak teams that had no chance against you. Strikeouts come easier against over-matched hitters. Now you are facing line-ups where every hitter you face was the best hitter on every team they have played on.
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You have spent your career to this point playing against players the same age as you, or pretty close. Now you are facing hitters that are almost all more experienced than you are, in some cases 3 or 4 years more experienced than you.
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You’ve done time in a body sculpting class, and did a little weightlifting on your own,so you know you are as strong as any player you are about to face. Now you are facing full grown, strong, powerful women who have spent more time than you in the weight room, in some cases 3 or 4 more years on strength work than you.
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Don’t be scared! You will adjust. You will figure it out. But you can count on getting lit up, at east a few times while you learn. You may be getting a scholarship but the education you will get on the field will cost you. It won’t cost you money but it will cost you blood, sweat and tears.
Good Luck!
About the Author: Tory Acheson brings a wealth of knowledge to the Fastpitch Prep staff. He has coached at all levels of the game, including the last 25 years at the college level at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, Tennessee Tech and Kennesaw State. He began his coaching career at the high school level spending 9 years Whitnall High School in Greenfield, Wis. and is now working as a professional softball instructor.
