My Shins Hurt

Lil' Lefty's team won Gold (1st Place out of 10 Teams) in the Guelph Tournament this past weekend. They played 6 games and won them all. Lil' Lefty pitched the first game Friday night, a game on Saturday and the Gold Medal Game on Sunday.


At this time, she pitches faster than batters can swing. She is also learning to become a pitcher instead of just a hard thrower. I do not expect she will always have this dominant speed (I could be wrong-it has happened before though I hate to admit it).


When I have compared radar readings, she is consistently throwing 4-5mph harder than other pitchers... just enough to sneak the ball past their bat.




Her winter pitching coach suggested she throw a knuckleball as a change-up because her normal C change up is still to fast. I was originally against the idea but Lil' Lefty has shown tremendous success with the pitch. She is shown in the picture on the left throwing the knuckleball. It doesn't knuckle, but it is slower than her fastball and has arch.

During the first inning of the Gold Medal Game, Lil' Lefty struck out the opposing team's third batter to end the first inning on a beautiful change up that "floated" over the plate. I could see the opposing coaches having discussions with their player's and warning them about the change up. At this age, once coaches have that discussion with their players we have won. Batter's are now worried about a change up pitch and aware Lil' Lefty can throw it in addition to her fastball that seems to sail past most bats.

Lil' Lefty and her battery mate, the catcher, were also successful with outside strikes when ahead in the count.

I have noticed that Lil Lefty can get lazy with her flip, the activity where she flips her wrist during the release of the ball. This especially happens when she knows the batter can not catch up to her slower fastball, and after she has thrown a change up.

When I notice her flip is inconsistent, we will sneak behind the dugout and throw some pitches to work on her feeling the flip. I inevitably take one on the shins. I have a nice black and blue mark from yesterday. It wasn't the first and won't be the last.

Gold Medal games go 7 innings regardless of time. Lil' Lefty pitched all 7 innings striking out the side in the last inning. Way to go Lil Lefty!!!