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More often than not, arguments point to shortstop as the hardest position in baseball. The shortstop has many responsibilities, including catching and fielding, and are very versatile and agile players. In fact, most balls actually do end up there. You're one of the most important positions out there on that diamond.The shortstop stands between the second and third bases, and is responsible for balls that end up in that area. Current outfielders, appreciate your role. Coaches, please let your outfielders know how important they are to the team.
SHORTSTOP IN SOFTBALL PROFESSIONAL
Outfielders are important from tee-ball to professional ball, and they should be treated as such. So why would anyone NOT want to be an outfielder? It's a privilege to be that last line of defense. I was always told in college that pressure is a privilege. Knowing that, as a coach, why would you not put your most reliable, athletic players out there? After all, when an outfielder makes a mistake, it's not just one base that the runner gets - it's probably two as well, sometimes even three extra bases. We keep things in front of us.īut when we DON'T make plays… EVERYONE notices. We deliver accurate throws to our cutoffs. We dive in the gap even if no one is backing us up. Outfielders know and understand pressure and adversity. We give the pitcher confidence that if they make a mistake, it's OK because we have her back. The ball may not be hit out to us as often, but when it is, doesn't it feel like everything is on the line?Īs outfielders, we make our pitchers look good (and yes, you can tell your pitcher I said that). They can make you, and they can definitely break you. They are a vital, integral part of every team.
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Outfielders are the last line of defense. It is frustrating to me that young outfielders, even college outfielders, are nothing but shortstops or second basemen that think, "I'm not good enough to be in the infield, so coach moved me to the outfield." I feel like I developed all of the instinctual qualities an outfielder should possess so much earlier than anyone else, and it helped me tremendously in college. I imagine a lot of other little "misfits" out there feel the same way.īeing moved to the outfield at such a young age was honestly the best thing that could have ever happened to my softball career, and I bet you my coaches at Alabama would tell you the same thing. It was my understanding that if you play in the outfield, you're a misfit - a lost cause.Įveryone on the dirt is better than everyone in the grass. The competitor in me told me to work harder to earn a spot with the most talented girls on the team. Up to that point, all I knew my whole life was that the best players are always in the infield. There were just a couple of problems with me being an infielder:įast forward to when I was moved to the outfield as a 12-year-old playing for the Birmingham Vipers in 2006. At least that's how it was when I was growing up.
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I never touched the grass when I was younger, because I thought all of a team's best players were in the infield.Įvery little girl's dream is to play shortstop. In tee-ball, I was a shortstop in coach-pitch, I was a first baseman. Growing up, I was always one of the most athletic kids on my softball team.
SHORTSTOP IN SOFTBALL PRO
She's entering her second season in the National Pro Fastpitch League after four standout seasons as an outfielder at Alabama and being drafted 13th overall by the USSSA Pride and now playing for the Texas Charge. Haylie McCleney is fresh off being selected to the USA National team.