The Fastpitch Chronicle

It's  a towering drive going back, back, back -- It's Gone!

Hello again fastpitch world.

There have been a lot, and I mean a lot of home runs this spring. I've issued over 100 First-Ever Home Run certificates to players from many schools. The coaches like the certificates (probably because they are free mostly) and the kids apparently do as well. They also help get the word out about The Fastpitch Chronicle and that helps with website interest.

The number of coaches who are submitting game accounts increases at a snail's pace but even a snail moves when it needs to so each and every one submitted gets at least one kid some statewide recognition

So here, on this Friday night I want to tell you about Medford's sophomore pitcher Martha Miller who has gotten off to a tremendous start after missing out on her freshman season a year ago. 

She has gotten Medford off to a great start. She just knocked off unbeaten and Great Northern Conference foe Antigo. She has not allowed a single run -- 9 shutouts. She has accumulated 53 innings in the circle and struck out 119 batters for a strikeout percentage of 2.24 per inning. She has issued 10 free passes in nine games or just over 1 per game. She has allowed only 18 hits so an average of 2 per game. So think about this the way I always did. When my pitcher averages two strikeouts per inning and walks one per game and the opponents average two hits in seven innings my defense just has to record seven outs. We might be able to afford an errors here or there unless the other team's pitcher is equal to the task then we better be flawless. 

If I have to face a pitcher like Martha and I predict that we will strike out 12-14 times I know that I'd better make some great moves strategically if and when we get a runner aboard. Knowing that one run could easily win a game against a pitcher like that means I'm not looking for any three run home runs in what I call "sure bunt" situations. I would also look for counts with runners aboard where we might be able to catch a defense or catche relaxing a bit. The deeper dominating pitchers get into counts the more successful steal attempts can be when attempted by quick, intelligent and cagy players. If we steal it safely we just might be in business in that half inning and one run just might win it. 

Here is a bit more about Martha. She's not just having a great year in the circle. Nope! At the plate she sports a .433 batting average in the leadoff spot. She has an eye for what she is looking for and is so good that she has drawn 15 walks. She has only gone down on strikes twice, has 11 rbi, 8 stolen bases, on base .638 of the time and carries a slugging percentage of .733

In the past three days she beat Antigo, who as I stated here-to-fore was undefeated in the Great Northern Conference and beat Wausau East as well.  She logged all-in-all,  14 inings, struck out 32 and walked none and of course allowed no runs. She has Medford ranked 8th in the Fastpitch Chronicle rankings and 4th in the coaches poll.

Here is a short list of interesting scores from my point of view tonight.

Chippewa Falls beat Wisconsin Rapids, 9-7 and 9-6 in a Wisconsin Valley Twinbill.

Brillion scored a bit of an upset with a 6-5 win over Chilton

Catholic Central sent Martin Luther reeling with a 5-0 loss

Racine Lutheran made a statement with a 10-0 win over Shoreland Lutheran

South Milwaukee beat Whitnall in a high scoring game 12-9

Laona-Wabeno took down Florence 11-0

Oak Creek nipped Sussex Hamilton 1-0

On Thursday this play took place in a game on the eastern side of the state and south of Lake Winnebago. A ball was hit to the shortstop and misplayed. In disgust the shortstop picked the ball up and rifled it to the pitcher in the circle. The pitcher caught the ball and was looking in toward the catcher.The batter-runner had overrun first base of course adn was walking back to first but nobody was covering second so she took off for that base and made it safely -- or did she?

She was called safe by the umpire but -- she had turned right after slowing down after touching first base. Rule 8, Section 7, Article 4 covers all scenarios that may happen when a batter-runner overruns first base and turns either left or right. 

Here is what part e of that rule states: a batter-runner who overruns first base toward right field, and turns right, is committed to first base and must return to first base. The Penalty? The ball is dead." so in our scenario from last night that runner should have been called out. 

Have a great weekend!
Keep it Rising!
Bob