Softball rules change likely to benefit hitters

The 2010 Major League Baseball season keeps being referred to as the "Year of the Pitcher."

The 2010 high school girls softball season may adopt the opposite slogan -- "Year of the Hitter -- after the National Federation of State High School Associations moved the pitching rubber from 40 feet back to 43 feet.

The 3-foot change could make all the difference.

"It's a huge change," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "It makes it a more offensive style game. From the research done, in Florida and Illinois [where the mound has been 43 feet], it's cut strikeouts down by four a game. So it changes the dynamics of the game a lot."

A pitching ace for years has been able to dominate a game, but that could change this season.

Perryville's Casey Hotop winds up during Monday's game against Central in Perryville, Mo. (Laura Simon)

With three additional feet to cover, pitchers lose velocity and have to make adjustment to their location.

"It will definitely be tougher for pitchers," Perryville hurler Casey Hotop said.

Added Delta's new varsity coach, Rebecca Cook: "I think hitters will hit the ball a little bit better, have a little more time to react and make contact."

Batters won't be the lone beneficiary. Bunting and swiping bags may become easier for the speedsters.

"It will be interesting to see what it does to bunting," Graviett said. "With the pitcher moved back one step, it gives players with speed more time."

Jackson's Mollie Crader pitches during the second inning Wednesday in Jackson. (Kristin Eberts)

Not that too many pitchers are worried.

Most pitchers have thrown for teams during the summer that play under the Amateur Softball Association of America's rules.

The ASA recently moved its mound requirements from 40 feet to 43 feet, giving pitchers at least a summer's work under the new rules.

"It helped a lot having the mound moved back," Hotop said about the summer. "It's made this year a little easier."

While pitchers may have had a summer's work under the new rules, it still will be a difficult transaction.

"I just have to practice harder, get stronger and improve," Notre Dame pitcher Katie Bond said. "I've done a lot of long toss to make up for the change."

Added Cook: "We're doing a lot of long toss to get them used to throwing longer distances. And trying to get them to hit their corners the best they can."

Hitting corners may be the best weapon in a pitcher's arsenal this year. An overpowering fastball won't be as effective.

"Strikeouts were the name of the game," Graviett said. "It's going to shift toward more weak ground balls now. Hitters definitely have an advantage. It's going to make movement and hitting corners vital."

Jackson coach Amanda Forester agreed.

"It used to be a lot of power pitching and it was hard to make contact," she said. "This season it's going to get more people in the game as far as hitting and fielding."

One thing is for certain, defense will become more important.

"I'll have to move the ball and keep it down," Bond said. "They can hit grounders and my fielders can field positions."

While hitting may be more prevalent this season, both pitchers and batters benefit in the long run. College rules place the rubber 43 feet from the plate, so now pitchers will be better suited for college when they exit high school.

"I think it's a great experience before college," Forester said.