Given: Youth ball players (12U) seeing 65 to 70 mph pitching from 50 feet in tournaments.
I've read average speeds for a youth pitcher is about (50 foot mound) is about 50 to 60 mph. I tend to agree with that average and my team does fine hitting when we see pitching like that.
But, the better pitchers (the ones we see in the final tournament rounds) are throwing 65 to 70 mph from 50 feet. Our player are simply not productive against these pitchers.
Long story short: Should my pitches in the practice cages try and replicate the 65 to 70 mph pitches?
I, as most of the coaches can't consistently throw 70 mph from 50 feet to 12 hitters for an hour or so non-stop. But, I can throw from 35 feet consistently for an hour.
Therefore, I did some quick math and using equivalent reaction times (taking out 5 feet for pitcher release, hitting in front of plate, etc), I figure I need to throw 40 to 45 mph from 35 feet distance in the cage to replicate 65 to 70 mph fastball.
When I throw that hard (45 mph from 35 feet) my hitters are behind. It very much resembles their performance in games when we see 70 mph pitching from 50 feet.
So, again: Should I be using the cage to try and replicate the reaction times they will see in games?
Assume, we do plenty of other drills like soft toss to work on form. I've just got to find a way to get these kids to speed up their bats and gain confidence when they see fast pitching.
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