Pitching Batting Practice using an L Screen

Very sorry to hear that. I pray your son will have a quick and full recovery.

I think it was 2 years ago when a Dallas area HS boy was killed when getting hit in the head by a hit ball in a cage. I believe all the local HS teams in Dallas now require helmets to be worn by any players (pitchers and hitters) in the cage. I have not noticed if people are keeping up with that rule this year. I'll be watching to see now.

I was drilled in the head throwing batting practice three years ago. I was behind an L screen. The mistake I made was lurching backwards like a pitcher would do instinctively. All I had to do was duck forward and I would have been safe. Fortunately the bill of my cap deflected the ball just enough to avoid serious damage. Other than a bad headache I was fine. I now slide to the side behind the screen on release of the ball. You can get your hand nailed just feeding the pitching machine behind an L screen if you're not careful.

Good luck with your son's recovery. A hsbaseballweb board member experienced a more serious situation throwing BP.

Kitkerri, I hope your son makes a full and speedy recovery.

My 2013 hit my wife square in the side, she swears she was behind the screen. No permanent damage but she was severely bruised and sore for a week.

Let's be careful!

This is one reason I do not allow players to throw bp to each other. The other reason is they simply dont throw enough strikes , the proper speed or work different zones properly.

I have always had a serious problem with letting players throw bp unless it is live bp from the mound. It is extremely dangerous to allow these kids to throw bp from an L. They simply lack the experience to stay behind the L properly. I have been drilled a couple of times in the side because after throwing so many pitches you get a little lax and creep out and bam.

If a kid is throwing bp from an L they should have a helmet on. But the best way to prevent this is to not have them do it at all. Thank God your son was not hurt worse and I hope he is doing OK. Count your blessings.

I got chills reading this post... I am so glad your son is doing better but feel bad that he was injured and will miss so much time.
Same for me; I don't let kids throw bp ... it's just too close (and they throw rotten bp)

I see many youth teams around my area that are NOT safe during practice. KitKerri; your family is on my prayer list for tonite... best wishes again to your son.

Whenever I throw for my guys I sit on a bucket behind the screen and toss underhand. I can locate the ball well this way and I can simulate a pretty fast fastball.

I know that it does not simulate a pitchers actions, but we get many quality swings in safely.

Really praying and pulling for your son to make a full recovery very quickly.

I agree with the above about kids throwing BP. I got hit in the forearm one time and thought my arm was broken. My principal made me go to the ER and get X-rays but all was good. Severe bruise.

Throwing BP is no joke and should be taken very seriously.

I've never heard of a high school player throwing batting practice behind and L screen to another player in a supervised practice. I guess this is a great example of why. I'm sorry about your son and hope he is fully recovered quickly. This is a dangerous situation and, in fact, it is exactly how Jeff Taylor died less than a year ago.

Sorry to here about your son. May he make a full recovery and be able to do the things he loves to do.

jemaz I have seen it many times. Several times a year when we play the other team has players throwing in the cages to each other before and sometimes during the game.

Sometimes it comes down to the coach or coaches being too lazy to get in there and make sure its done properly and the players are not exposed to the risk but you are. And sometimes the players sneak off and do it to get in some more swings.

Believe it or not I have actually seen really young kids doing this and it scares the heck out of me to see it. Youth Coaches - NEVER allow players to do it. HS Coaches - If you are allowing it stop. If someone is going to get hurt throwing from an L - and God forbid that it happens - Let it be the Coach. No parent needs to get a call like that.

My good friend FloridFan mention front toss from an L. This is much safer and it also is just as good if not better imo. Players can sit completely behind the L and only expose the arm. If they properly toss their arm will not be exposed as the hitter is swinging. If they do get hit the worse thing that can happen is get hit in the hand ,etc. Or if they sit too close to the net they can get banged in the leg as the ball sinks into the netting. If you teach them properly to front toss they will be much safer. Also they can actually throw strikes and work all parts of the zone from front toss.

I would suggest that if you really have to have players throwing bp then teach them front toss and how to do it properly and safely. Otherwise do it all yourself.

Good pointers everyone. Safety is a life or death topic.

We have heard many stories of death around here. Last year, in addition to Jeff Taylor's tragic death, one of our members reported that kids were workng out in multiple cages that were stacked side-by-side in parallel. One of the cages had a tiny hole in the netting - only big enough for a ball to get through. As very bad luck would have it, a ball hit off one kid's bat found the little hole and struck another kid in the head area. Tragically he died and as with all these stories, it was heart-breaking.

In addition to Coach May's excellent advice, I would caution people to continually check the equipment. Never assume the L-Screen or the netting that protected you yesterday will automatically protect you today.

Mike Coolbaugh the minor league coach was tragically killed while coaching first base. That is why all base coaches now wear helmuts. Baseballs and bats are dangerous and can kill.

One other caution I will give to parents - do not just let your youngsters run wild at a game and let them play while you watch the game. Foul balls can kill. For spectators, never take your eye off the ball when at a game. You can get killed just sitting there.

Kitkerri - my thoughts and prayers for your son.

Kitkerri

Hope your son gets better soon. To all coaches out there... lets all learn from this!! Safety Safety Safety. Prayers are with you.

I'd like to thank everyone for there kind thoughts and good wishes for my son. I appreciate all the advice, and fully intend to pass all this information on to my sons coaches, parents, and all the players. Hopefully we can prevent someone else from getting hurt.

quote:

One other caution I will give to parents - do not just let your youngsters run wild at a game and let them play while you watch the game. Foul balls can kill. For spectators, never take your eye off the ball when at a game. You can get killed just sitting there.

Just so people know CD isn't just talking in conjecture, at one of my son's high school games last year a visiting parent placed her lawn chair beyond third base down the left field line. She placed her little girl on a blanket in front of her with crayons and a coloring book. The little girl left in an ambulance after being hit in the head by a line drive. I could hear the pop from way down the right field line. The family was very fortunate one of our parents is a doctor. The doctor may have saved the little girl when she started convulsing.