Types of Pitches and Hitters

Change-up - "Off Speed Pitch"
This is a pitch that is slower than the pitcher's fastball. It's purpose is to throw off the batter's timing.

Rise Pitch

This pitch has a backward or upward spin that makes it move slightly upward.

Drop Ball

This pitch's downward movement often causes the hitter to hit a ground ball.

Six Important Tips For Young Pitchers:

Open-stanced hitters should be worked outside and closed-stance hitters should be worked inside.

Throw changeups to straight pull hitters that tend to be quick to "pull the trigger". Know how deep your hitter is in the box.

"Up front" hitters are thrown fastballs and "deep" hitters are thrown off-speed pitches. Use low and away pitches to attack

"Strong Power Hitters". Make her go to the pitch. Don't give in to her and throw one inside! That's a mistake. Be patient, do not give in!

When you know that you have a bunt coming, work high in the zone! Make it harder on her to get the bunt down. You may also cause her to put the ball in the air!

"Slap Hitters" want the ball away. Always work inside on her!

Hitting Terms:

SUICIDE SQUEEZE - This is a "do or die" bunt play used when there is less than two outs and a runner is at 3rd. It is called "suicide squeeze" because if the batter fails to put the ball into play, the runner is dead.

31-ZONE - This term is used to represent a 3 ball and 1 strike count on the batter. The batter knows that with a 3-1 count, she is looking for a perfect pitch to hit in a tight zone. the pitcher more than likely will throw a pitch that will be called a strike. The batter is "setting" on a pitch in that zone. The zone is a 12 inch slice of the strike zone 6 inches above and below the waist. The batter will look for the pitch to be over the middle of the plate or slightly away. If the ball is above or below the batters 31 "Target" ZONE, the batter will take the pitch and the count may go full.

STEPPING IN THE BUCKET - This is a common hitting flaw in which the batter is "turning" on everything by stepping out or away from the plate. This flaw makes it impossible to cover the plate with proper bat contact. The batter will often foul pull inside pitches and pop-up away strikes. If the batter takes a stride step it must be toward the pitcher or slightly toward the plate.