Looking for Advice

[KenM]

We live in San Diego. mid-coastal area. My daughter is 15, a freshman, and currently starts on her school's varsity as a first baseman/pitcher. She has never played travel softball (she has played travel volleyball so we understand the concept). As a pitcher, she has three seasons of experience in rec ball (including alll-stars) and two seasons pitching for her middle school team. This year on her high school varsity she picked up some innings pitching in JV games but none on varsity (there were more senior pitchers on the squad). For the last few years she has focused more on volleyball but has now indicated an interest in playing travel softball. We know we are late to the travel softball scene and need some basic advice on where to start: What league/organization and teams should we be looking at? When, where and how are tryouts scheduled? Is there anything available in San Diego this summer - July/August? She would like to get some additional game experience pitching but she is not looking to be the number 1 pitcher on the squad. She is an excellent first baseman and has the arm and fielding skills to play third. Thanks.

[25! & 28!]

This may sound flip, but I am serious.
Advice would ruin the experience. There is seldom good advice in travel ball anyway. If she really wants it, jump in and start swimming. Contact coaches. Get invited to a practice. Choose between the teams she finds reasons to want to be on that also want her, then play. The next couple months will be tough, but tryouts start promptly the second week in August.

[ontheblack]

This may sound flip, but I am serious.
Advice would ruin the experience. There is seldom good advice in travel ball anyway. If she really wants it, jump in and start swimming. Contact coaches. Get invited to a practice. Choose between the teams she finds reasons to want to be on that also want her, then play. The next couple months will be tough, but tryouts start promptly the second week in August.

Thats not bad advice.

There will be teams looking for players this coming week for the summer. Season ends first of August, so check the Tryouts section: http://www.heybucket.com/viewforum.php?f=19. You may even consider posting there.

Good luck and hope it works out well for you.

[Tyler Durden]

If she is going to be playing 16U when she makes her first appearance playing 3B, I'd urge you to consider having her wear a mask while she gets a feel for the closure rates of the line shots she will be dealing with. Seriously.

[Fredegar]

If you Google "travel softball san diego", you'll find a dozen softball teams/organizations in the area. Makes it pretty easy to point-and-click to do research, such as practice locations, coach's contact info, etc.

You didn't say if your daughter is doing this for fun, prep for HS, or if she has hopes to play in college. If college is the goal, you'll want to also research which orgs do a better job of showcasing kids to get them committed to colleges.

As others have said, most orgs have open tryouts in early August, just after Nationals. That'll be her best bet. But you can try contacting coaches now, as there may be some last minute openings on some teams. Summer season starts this weekend, after HS teams finish with CIF playoffs.

BTW, you mentioned she's a good defensive corner infielder. That won't mean a whole lot if she doesn't hit. If she hits, offers will come. If she doesn't hook up with a team til August, consider regular pitching/hitting lessons until then.

[KenM]

Thanks for the advice. I think we will wait until the August tryouts - we would not be able to commit to a travel team for summer play if the season has already started due to vacation plans in June. We will find a pitching coach and work on her skills in July.
For some of the other comments - yes, she can hit. She started and batted fifth on her varsity team as a freshman and did well.
And yes, a mask is required. In fact, I haven't let her step on a softball field without a mask since she took one in the chops as an eleven year old pitching in a 12U all-star game to a batter who looked old enough to drive and had biceps larger than mine.

KenM