Want to play college softball?
Spring is in the air on The Hilltop and Softball games are just around the corner. This week, we hand over the blog to Head Softball Coach Matt Underhill for his top 5 lessons from the 2017 Women’s College World Series.
Here’s Matt:
Want to play college softball? Here are 5 things I learned from watching the Women’s College World Series:
1. If you bat left, master the art of slap-hitting.
With few exceptions, almost every left-handed hitting batter started her stance at the back of the batter’s box and ran into the pitch with an attempt to slap the ball to the left side of the infield. In one game (Florida vs. LSU) the teams combined for 11 hits, 5 of which were slap hits, many of which were fielded cleanly but the infielder could not make the play quickly enough to get the batter out at first.
2. There is no such thing as a fastball.
Most pitchers in the WCWS are throwing in the 64-70mph range, but not once did I hear a play-by-play commentator mention a fastball. Curveballs, drop balls, rise balls, changeups, and screwballs dominate the pitchers’ arsenals. If the pitch does not move, the pitcher does not throw it.
3. Homerun hitters rarely take homerun swings.
Though she hits homeruns with astonishing regularity, Katiyana Mauga (and other power hitters) is not trying to heave the ball over the fence with every swing. In fact, Mauga is powerfully built and she clearly trains hard in the gym, but her swing is also compact, efficient, and consistent. Her strength and training allow her fundamental swing to be powerful without her having to sacrifice form for power.
4. Players are always processing information.
From the plays written on the wristbands to the catchers giving signals to the infield to the outfielders communicating where they are going to throw if the ball is hit to them, great softball players are always aware of the situation. They know the count on the batter, where in the order the other team is batting, how fast the runner on first is, the chances of getting an out at home . . . the information is endless and top players are consistently processing it.
5. The game is supposed to be fun.
The next time you watch a college softball game, either live or on television, close your eyes and just listen to the dugouts. It sounds like an upbeat singalong, with hits like, “To the outfield, to the wall! Whoa, she hits that ball!” Yes, the players take the game seriously, but college players seem to remember why they started playing softball in the first place – because they love it.
Thank you, Matt, for sharing your insights and stay tuned for news from The Hilltop.
