So you want to hit like a girl? Fast pitch softball has become the new phenomenon these days and to the girls who play
the sport, they just can't get enough of it.
Softball has become a year round activity for the dedicated players, who often practice and compete all four seasons of
the year. Baseball, America's favorite pastime, is still known as the traditional sport, but fast pitch softball is scoring
runs all by itself.
The Jersey Attitude, an independent 12 and under girls travel softball team located in Flanders, has recently placed
third, out of 13 teams, in Morris County league competition. Having followed their successful eight wins and one loss
season, it's clear that fast pitch softball is definitely for girls.
The sport fields nine positions and follows the same basic rules of its baseball counterpart. But, have you ever stood
40 feet away from a determined athlete using a windmill style motion to deliver a 12-inch softball, forty-five miles an
hour to the plate? And by the way, there is nothing soft about a softball. A velocity of forty-five miles an hour is no
different whether a male or female pitches it.
The most revealing comments come from brothers and male friends who sit as spectators at the games. They arrive
joking and nonchalant in demeanor. They are here to watch girls play, big deal in their minds, right? As the players
take to the field and unleash undeniable passion and talent, these young fans can't help but become cheerleaders for
their favorite team.
What is it about fast pitch softball that captures the audience both male and female? Perhaps it's the distinctive
cracking sound when a softball bat hits the 12-inch, yellow ball. Maybe it's witnessing a young catcher throwing 85 feet
to put out a runner trying to steal second base. How about that young lady who gets hit by a pitch, winces in pain and
displays the outline of softball seams on her leg before smiling and taking first base.
Talking with Jersey Attitude players, they each had their reasons for playing but all shared a common love for the
game. Jen, a 12 year-old catcher and infielder who has been playing travel softball for four years, described the team
sport as fun and competitive. She went on to say her teammates were friends and the sport has helped them bond on
and off the field.
Ally, a first baseman and pitcher, lights her team up with both her incredible play and friendly smile. When asked after
the last game, why she was not smiling despite hitting two long fly balls for extra base hits, Ally spoke about having to
leave the team at the end of the season because of age requirements. "I love this team and I don't want to leave it,"
she said.
Autumn, an outfielder and a great contact hitter, enjoys every minute of the game and can't seem to get enough time
on the field. She regularly asks Coach C., when one season ends and the new one begins. Alex, an overall great
fielder, is all business on the field. She rarely smiles once she puts her game face on, and according to the coach,
unless it is softball related, ask Alex after she finishes her game or practice.
Madison, a starting pitcher for the club, seems to rocket into a new dimension when she enters the pitcher's circle. Her
eyes hone in on the catcher's glove, and delivering strikes becomes her only matter in the world.
The fast pitch softball community is vast. Teams are formed at school and recreational levels to accommodate players
as young as six years of age. Taking your game to a new competitive level will find you participating on tournament
teams. Softball tournaments are held statewide, nearly every weather permitting weekend. Teams can play a minimum
of four games over two days, but it is very common to play as many as three or four, six or seven inning games, in one
day. These tournaments are often sanctioned by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) and can be used to
showcase players for potential college recruitment at the older levels.
So yes, fast pitch softball is a girls' game and some words of advice, don't ever underestimate the words, "girls' game."
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