throwing speed PLEASE RESPOND

Katie,
As an umpire who has called a bit of HS softball, I can tell you that there are a number of freshman girls who can compete with freshman boys in arm strength......its all based on the level of competition in your HS.

Unfortunately after the freshman year the speed and velocity pick up dramatically and the gap between boys and girls grows ever wider...

I'd never discourage you from playing baseball if that is what you love, but from a long term stand point I would direct you to softball. You might have another year or so....

My daughter played baseball very competitively for years before eventually moving on to softball when it became clear that she would have to struggle to make the baseball team, but would be a starter on the girls softball team.

Best of luck in whatever you decide.........

Katie, that is a great question of which I don't have much of an idea of how to answer. But here is a question for you. Shouldn't you be asking how fast a softball pitcher throws (underhanded) compared to a baseball pitcher overhanded? But even that is not all that relevant because the softball pitcher is far closer to the plate than the baseball pitcher. The softball pitcher, even throwing at a slower actual speed is throwing at a relative speed that is probably higher than the baseball pitcher.

The rest of the throws, you simply catch.

Another good question -- if I understand you intent -- is how hard to ball comes off the bat, and the answer to that is that the baseball's exit speed will be substantially higher and is high enough to actually kill if the ball is not caught or deflected, especially with aluminum bats against hard-throwing pitchers.

I can add this too: Most girls I have seen who have played baseball have become stars when they have switched to softball, often winning college scholarships. Those who stayed with baseball -- without exception -- quickly faded away because of the great physical differences.

Best of luck either way.

I understand that even Olympic level softball pitchers such as Jennie Finch only reach about 65 mph which would be fairly slow for a freshman baseball pitcher. (yeah I know the fields are much different).

In my state, girls aren't allowed to play HS baseball; boys aren't allowed to play on softball teams.

hey guys it's katie agian. I was really looking for how fast girls throw over hand, as in from the outfield to the plate compared to how fast boys throw. I was just wondering how my speed would compare to girls playing softball. I throw a baseball in the low 60's, which isn't very fast, but the is VERY little competition in my school, so that is just about the same as the boys.

Hi Katie2...I am a female baseball player. I started with softball and transitioned to softball when my high school only offered varsity Baseball. From High school I went on to play in a women's professional league and then in tournaments. I played on the 2004 USA baseball women's national team and still play a little now. Basball has provided me with many opportunites, but it really depends on your personal goals. If you want to get a college scholarship, you should be playing competitive softball.
Anyhow, I am curious to hear what you decided. Good Luck either way

Katie,

I do not have data on outfield throws but have lots of data on Freshmen pitchers. In Ca at least the "ave" Freshmen pitcher is throwing around 70. Top ones hit 78, and I have seen quite a few in the 68 range. My guess is that many non pitchers throw in the 60-65 range.

piaa-ump has some good advice. My son played against a travel team out here with a girl on it who also pitched when she was 14. I did not get a gun on her but she was probably throwing around 65, which was fine as a 14YO but now that she is a Freshmen she does not get to play too much. BTW she has what I have been told D1 softball skills. I have also seen a huge increase in strength and speed at the Soph level.

Best of luck to you regardless which way you go.

I wish they offered more girls baseball. The very best men's fast pitch players grew up playing baseball. So why couldn't the very best women's fast pitch players grow up playing baseball. Maybe, it actually would be a big advantage.

Other than the pitchers of course.

I have a lot of respect for girls who want to play any sport. Even compete against the boys if possible. However, I think sometimes the girl trying out for the boys team is not even the best girl player/athlete at her school. I'm afraid it is sometimes done for the wrong reason and even a publicity stunt at times. When that happens, it hurts other girls who want to participate for the right reasons.

Anyway, if the girl has enough ability to compete with boys, why not take all that talent to a girls team where there will be many more opportunities in the future?

If you're not really serious, don't waste everyones time and go find a girls team to play on. Sounds like your arm might be a little below average for baseball, but if you truly love the game and think you can compete... Go for it.
Good luck Katie

I wonder what Katie2 is up to these days. She was 14 3 years ago when she first opened this thread.

catcher girl, welcome. It doesn't appear that she has been back to the HSBBW for quite some time.

Geesh, I didn't notice that. Thanks for pointing that out, infidel.

It would be very interesting to hear from Katie again.

Maybe she turned into Catcher Girl? You have to dig deep to pull out a thread from 2005...

My son is 15 and he has been clocked at 88 mph. His game speed is 86/87. He is a freshman on the varsity team

My 15 year old daughter played baseball up until a year ago when she entered high school. The high school baseball coach (who had coached her in middle school) invited her to tryout..but told her she couldn't compete in league games because of a rule against girls. So daughter plays hoops now as she is a competitor and want to play for her school

It's kind of sad because at one point daughter had a very firm goal of being the first woman to try out for a MLB franchise.

Do other high school leagues have similar rules banning girls from baseball?

Newcomer,
Scroll a little further down the page to this thread:
http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6616002781/m/3461009082

Son's team played against a team where the 3B was a junior girl, then she finished on the mound.

Trainscout

quote:

Originally posted by Newcomer:
It's kind of sad because at one point daughter had a very firm goal of being the first woman to try out for a MLB franchise.

I believe a girl was actually drafted by a major league team years ago. Her dad was connected with the team in some way.

I'm sure that over the years some girls have tried out for pro teams in open tryouts. Joe Nuxhall was 15 when he MADE a major league team after such a tryout during WW2.

quote:

I'm sure that over the years some girls have tried out for pro teams in open tryouts.

There was a woman pitching in the Indy League a few years ago. I believe it was the Northern League (St. Paul Saints league). It was a publicity stunt. She struck out a few guys. But overall, she failed. I think she had been on the Silver Bullets.