12U pitchers

[Rockinit]

How many pitches should a 12U pitcher have that she throws consistently?
How many pitches do you really need and what is the best speed?

Who are some top pitchers that I can watch?

[PANTY'S-IN-A-WAD]

the top 95 pitchers are throwing 4 good pitches and working on 3 to 4 more.... the average speeds are about 50 mph and your top throw 58-60 consitantly check out the pitchers on 95 texas travelers and the 95 texas glory (flannigan)

[Texas19]

I don't know where your located but on the 10th-12th of May southlake is having a 12u A tourney which has the 95 Glory and the 95 Travelers they have some of the best 12u pitching in this area. As far as speed and pitches most 12 U pitchers really only have 3-4 pitches that they can count on while working on some of their other stuff but ask any mom or dad and they will tell you they have 5-6 pitches that work really well but i guess thats what their suppose to do. Speed varies from 55-59 for the top pitchers and 52-55 for the very good pitchers, some have movement and others dont depends on who you ask. Dont know much but I hope this helps.

[Fasterpitch]

Yall must all be pitchers parents. I have seen alot of softball, and I have only seen a few 12U girls that can throw anywhere close to 60mph. The only girls that I have seen throw this hard ALL THE TIME, are girls on top california teams ( Corona Angels, AA, Minors Gold) at 12U Nationals. The Top PROVEN Texas teams Texas Glory, Travelers, Blaze; I have seen their top pitchers and they do not pitcher 60mph on a pitch by pitch basis. They are good, but come on....

The only pitcher that throws 60mph all of the time is the Freeze Blue pitcher....

[play4fun]

It's not about the fast ball; its about movement. If you throw a top team (Glory, Travelers, Blaze, and California) a fastball they are probably going to drive it somewhere but if you throw a ball with speed and it moves then you are going to make them think a little more. The top pitchers have speed but they are more concerned with movement and placement of the ball.

Work the plate and the batter.... that's what counts.

BTW, if you watch 95 Glory, Travelers, and Blaze then you would know that their pitchers can bring the heat and the movement. They also have the defense to back them up.

P.S. What's up with Freeze Blue?

[Texas19]

Fasterpitch if you pay attention to what your reading! you will see that i never said that the Glory or Travelers pitchers pitched 60 MPH. I did say they were some of the best 12U pitchers in our area. I have seen 12U pitchers pitch 59-60 on a pitch by pitch basis never said it was on any of the above teams. The guy just wanted to know where he could see some good 12u pitching, but I guess if he's in cali he can go watch the teams your talking about if not he can go to Southlake.

[Fasterpitch]

I did read what he wrote and I understood it.

The other post said that 12U kids were throwing 60mph, and I just disagree. Then I stated that the only teams that I have seen that throw that fast all the time are from cali. I am trying to offend anyone. It is just my opinion.

The top 12U Texas teams are very good. I can not tell you who is better, but I do not think the throw 60mph . One person said speed is not where it is, it's movement. I agree with that very much. I was not saying that speed was the best thing. The orginal poster just asked what speed a 12U kid should be pitching at and people said 58-60.

Look at the top 14U, 16U, 18U and HS teams. There are very few of them that are consistant with pitching in the mid 60's. They are moving the ball like crazy, and they take advantage of guessing batters. I understand that some hit 60mph.

I was watching Team USA and Lisa Fernandez pitched one inning. She pitched one pitch at 61mph. The rest that I saw were 39, 45, 44, 53. Lisa pitched to 4 batters.

[Texas19]

I do agree with the fact that movement will make you the kind of pitcher that everyone wants and speed will only take you so far. It's a growing process i guess trying to get your pitches to move where you want them at 12U is very difficult for most pitchers at that age. Just my opinion but not very many 12U pitchers that have the whole package that I have seen, but I dont get around as much as you do.

[TXFP95]

If Freeze Blue's 60 mph pitcher was in Mckinney on 3/29 thru 3/30, that was not no 60 mph. My daughter played against Freeze(Blue) and was 3 for 3 that game. Come on, Freeze(Blue) absolutely cannot hang with the top 6 best N TX teams.

I am not sure what 95 TX Glory's pitches, but she has the best defense behind her in the state.

I know that 95 Travelers has one throwing 57 because I clocked it myself. The Travelers by far have more pitching and hitting depth than 95 TX Glory, but Glory beats them in defense and speed.

It should be a good game in Southlake.

The question is whether they will make it a round robin or straight bracket tournament.

[18'sdad]

Rockinit,

Your dd just needs to be fast enough to get the job done. It is good to set a goal a shoot for that number, but don't get caught up in it. Don't go out and watch other players and comapre your dd to them. That will do her no good. Have her work hard, develope good mechanics, and hit her spots. If she is only 12 years old she still has a lot of growing to do. As she grows so will her muscles.

Just my 2 cents worth. Keep in mind Kat Osterman was one of the most dominate pitchers in collage softball a few years ago and if I am not mistaken she made a statement that she only threw 1 or 2 fastballs a game.