09/10/2026
I really wish we would stop making 10 and 12 year old pitchers POs.
Honestly, I’d argue we should be really careful about it at 14U too.
They are KIDS.
They are still growing. Still getting stronger. Still developing coordination. Still learning the game. And we are making decisions about what kind of softball player they’re going to be before we have any idea what kind of athlete they’re actually going to become.
I was a late bloomer with pitching.
What if someone had decided at 10 or 12 that pitching was the only thing I needed to do?
Or on the flip side, what if someone had decided I wasn’t good enough at pitching yet and that door was closed for me?
We are way too quick to label young athletes based on who they are RIGHT NOW.
Let them play shortstop. Let them play outfield. Let them hit. Let them run bases. Let them learn how to read the game from somewhere other than the circle.
And yes, let your pitcher be an ATHLETE.
There will be plenty of time later to specialize if that’s where her career takes her.
But I don’t understand the rush to take pieces of the game away from a 10, 11, 12 or even 14 year old because we’ve already decided what she’s going to be.
You have no idea who that kid is going to be at 16 or 18.
She doesn’t either.
Give her some time to find out.
