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| Wesley Wolverine junior #13 Utility Ashley Royer (Lititz, PA). |
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| Wesley Wolverine sophomore #23 UT Brooke Retkowski (Baltimore, MD) |
Tripleheader, September 30
WATCHING
FALL SOFTBALL
Fall-ball is nothing like the regular season.
First, there will be three games played in a single day for our Wesley Wolverines – 21 innings! Second, this year, two opponents are D2 teams and the third is ranked in the East! Third, all of it is really an extended practice: no stats that count, no recorded wins or losses for the standings. BUT, rest assured, everyone is playing to win!
Players may be tried out at their primary and secondary positions. Some may even be tested out of a position where the player has been most comfortable.
Batters may experiment with power swings, or hitting to a specific area of the field, or maybe just getting the bat on the ball, or bunting, even slap hitting.
Pitchers may work on their full arsenal of pitchers or just their strongest ones, or maybe the development of a new pitch, or tossing at varying speeds and ball spins.
Fall-ball is nothing like the regular season.
First, there will be three games played in a single day for our Wesley Wolverines – 21 innings! Second, this year, two opponents are D2 teams and the third is ranked in the East! Third, all of it is really an extended practice: no stats that count, no recorded wins or losses for the standings. BUT, rest assured, everyone is playing to win!
Players may be tried out at their primary and secondary positions. Some may even be tested out of a position where the player has been most comfortable.
Batters may experiment with power swings, or hitting to a specific area of the field, or maybe just getting the bat on the ball, or bunting, even slap hitting.
Pitchers may work on their full arsenal of pitchers or just their strongest ones, or maybe the development of a new pitch, or tossing at varying speeds and ball spins.
It’s all performed to evaluate, review and get ready for the 2018 spring season.
For novice softball fans, below are listed SOME (hardly all) of the skills to watch in play during fall-ball games. They certainly will be in the purview of Head Coach Juli Greep and Assistant Coach Nina Marcano.
For novice softball fans, below are listed SOME (hardly all) of the skills to watch in play during fall-ball games. They certainly will be in the purview of Head Coach Juli Greep and Assistant Coach Nina Marcano.
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| Wesley Wolverine senior #99 OF Lauren Hoffman (Middletown, DE) |
OUTFIELDERS
Do our Wolverines effectively track fly balls? Get under the ball properly? Field on a dropped knee? Catch line drives? Correctly position themselves? Takes creep steps? Possess good footwork? Back up fielders? Back up bases. Hit the cutoff high with good line drive throws? Not let balls get past them? Know the grass (as best as possible), i.e. where the bad hops might be? Get good jumps? Make strong crow hop on throws? Always expect the ball?
WOLVERINE OUTFIELD:
#32 Kelly, #5 Amanda, #9 Miranda, #24 Zoee, #99 Lauren, #8 Megan
INFIELDERS
Do our Wolverines field tough ground balls-in, left, and right? Make good throws to first? Snag hard line drives? Back up fellow players? Tag runners correctly? Know when to cover a base? Decoy runners? Know when to flip and when to throw? Play cutoffs well? Handle pop ups? Demonstrate sufficient arm strength? Executes rundowns well? Know pick-off plays, bunt charges, slap hitter coverage? Always expect the ball?
Do our Wolverines effectively track fly balls? Get under the ball properly? Field on a dropped knee? Catch line drives? Correctly position themselves? Takes creep steps? Possess good footwork? Back up fielders? Back up bases. Hit the cutoff high with good line drive throws? Not let balls get past them? Know the grass (as best as possible), i.e. where the bad hops might be? Get good jumps? Make strong crow hop on throws? Always expect the ball?
WOLVERINE OUTFIELD:
#32 Kelly, #5 Amanda, #9 Miranda, #24 Zoee, #99 Lauren, #8 Megan
INFIELDERS
Do our Wolverines field tough ground balls-in, left, and right? Make good throws to first? Snag hard line drives? Back up fellow players? Tag runners correctly? Know when to cover a base? Decoy runners? Know when to flip and when to throw? Play cutoffs well? Handle pop ups? Demonstrate sufficient arm strength? Executes rundowns well? Know pick-off plays, bunt charges, slap hitter coverage? Always expect the ball?
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| Wesley Wolverine sophomore #2 3B/SS Karina Cardona (Cooper City, FL) |
FIRST BASE:
#25 Dori, #17 Julianna
SECOND BASE:
#1 Bianca
THIRD BASE:
#2 Karina
SHORTSTOP:
#1 Bianca, #2 Karina
INFIELD:
#25 Dori, #17 Julianna
SECOND BASE:
#1 Bianca
THIRD BASE:
#2 Karina
SHORTSTOP:
#1 Bianca, #2 Karina
INFIELD:
#12 MyKayla
UTILITY:
#4 Abbey, #23 Brooke, #13 Ashley
CATCHERS
Do our Wolverines prevent pass balls? Can catch or block pitched drop balls in dirt? Cover home & avoid interference? Have fast "pop time" (throws to base)? Make good pitch calls? Effectively frame pitches? Handle pop ups & bunts? Maintain good relationship with the ump?!
CATCHERS: #12 Mykayla,
UTILITY:
#4 Abbey, #23 Brooke, #13 Ashley
CATCHERS
Do our Wolverines prevent pass balls? Can catch or block pitched drop balls in dirt? Cover home & avoid interference? Have fast "pop time" (throws to base)? Make good pitch calls? Effectively frame pitches? Handle pop ups & bunts? Maintain good relationship with the ump?!
CATCHERS: #12 Mykayla,
#9 Miranda
PITCHERS
Watch the pitcher’s ball spin (often more important than speed). Speed variations. Pitched spots high & low: drop & rise ball. Pitched spots inside & out: curve & screw. More pitched types and speeds: fastball, change up + others (knuckleball?). Ability to watch runners. Staying in pitching lane (with no crow hops). Shake off pitches. Windmill throwing style.
PITCHERS:
#25 Dori, #4 Abbey, #17 Julianna, #24 Zoee
HITTERS
Do our Wolverines know how to take a pitch? Bunt? Slap hit to infield or outfield? Handle inside, outside, low, rise ball & change up pitches? Hit when ahead, or especially behind, in the count: protecting the plate?! Hit and run? Execute a sacrifice fly/ bunt; moving runners along? Hit off-speed pitches? Hit for power? Show consistent solid contact? Know the strike zone? Have a favorite pitch to hit? Know the game situation? Anticipate the pitch? Prepare in the on-deck circle? Have a good routine?
NOT ELIGIBLE: #6 P/UT Allison (Though a member of the squad, she is a two-sport athlete who will be busy at this time playing on the volleyball team.)
PITCHERS
Watch the pitcher’s ball spin (often more important than speed). Speed variations. Pitched spots high & low: drop & rise ball. Pitched spots inside & out: curve & screw. More pitched types and speeds: fastball, change up + others (knuckleball?). Ability to watch runners. Staying in pitching lane (with no crow hops). Shake off pitches. Windmill throwing style.
PITCHERS:
#25 Dori, #4 Abbey, #17 Julianna, #24 Zoee
HITTERS
Do our Wolverines know how to take a pitch? Bunt? Slap hit to infield or outfield? Handle inside, outside, low, rise ball & change up pitches? Hit when ahead, or especially behind, in the count: protecting the plate?! Hit and run? Execute a sacrifice fly/ bunt; moving runners along? Hit off-speed pitches? Hit for power? Show consistent solid contact? Know the strike zone? Have a favorite pitch to hit? Know the game situation? Anticipate the pitch? Prepare in the on-deck circle? Have a good routine?
NOT ELIGIBLE: #6 P/UT Allison (Though a member of the squad, she is a two-sport athlete who will be busy at this time playing on the volleyball team.)
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| ABOVE: SCENES FROM LAST SEASON'S FALL BALL 2016 |
