April 2019

To our Softball Parents - We have received some questions this week about the transition of our Softball Program to Fast-Pitch.  Please see the info below to help clarify the change:

Why are we moving the leagues to Fast-Pitch? 

As a community league our goals are to provide an experience for our players and possibly provide them with a sport to take them into high school.  High schools play fast-pitch for softball.  In addition, we have had the opportunity for our BYS players to play fast-pitch in our travel leagues, but not all families can afford a travel experience or a handle a travel schedule. In addition, changing to a fast-pitch format for rec will align our leagues with most leagues in Ohio and especially in our NE Ohio area. The plan is to introduce fast-pitch into our younger leagues and then introduce more fast-pitch concepts to the players as they grow through the age ranges. 

What should we expect this season for our youngest softball players in the Girls Leagues?

The word “fast-pitch” brings to mind the strongest of pitchers on the mound with a fast arm and a fast pitch.  We did not want to confuse families by using another word, BUT for these beginning ages, the rules will basically stay the same.  We will be bringing in the equipment for the fast pitch games which will consist of faceguards on the helmets, facemasks for the pitchers and additional catching gear.  Most of the rules from slow-pitch are staying exactly the same in the fast-pitch leagues as the goal for these younger ages is learning to make contact with the ball and the basics of fielding. 

The big difference is that the fast-pitch games will not have pitches with an arch.  Instead, the pitches will flatter.  For 7/8 girls, the adult coaches will still be delivering 5 pitches for the player to choose from.  The coaches will be instructed to pitch underhand; just flatter.  There will not be a concentration on speed; just delivery.  This is an instructional, beginner league to learn softball concepts. For the 9/10 age range, this is where kid pitchers begin to take the mound.  Again, the concentration will not be on speed, but on delivery and accuracy.  For the 11-12 Girls, this league is meant to continue for the players whom already played fast-pitch rec last season in 9-10 and then to onboard one additional age range for the fast-pitch leagues.  Since this age range is new, the rules are currently being built, but will again be a stepping stone from 9-10 with growth into a fast-pitch game. Our 13-14 and 15-18 leagues will continue to be rec slow-pitch to grandfather that program for our older player for this season.

In summary, this transition should not be huge for the girls this season, but instead a stepping stone to move our BYS Rec players into a path for the future in softball.  Please feel free to contact our softball commissioners if you have any additional concerns.  We would be happy to help answer any questions as we move through the registration time of our season.

Thanks – BYS Softball Commissioners

Wendy Bertoli     7/8 Girls                                  [email protected]
DJ VanWinkle     9/10 Girls  & 11/12 Girls        [email protected]
Dan Boyer           13/14 Girls & 15/18 Girls       [email protected]