Arlington High Softball

Official Softball Booster Site

Softball is an exciting game that Arlington high school has excelled at. The winning tradition and commitment to excellence is what Arlington high softball is all about. Arlington high has established itself as a winning program that continually makes the post season.  Being a Colt is synonymous with pride, persistence and perfection.

Kick ‘em Colts

A Pitching Philosophy—"We Can’t Catch Walks"

Ken Eriksen, Head Coach University of South Florida

The game is a pretty simple game when you come to think about it. The pitcher throws it, the batter hits it, the fielder chases it, catches it or throws the runner out. I'm probably leaving out a few explanatory details but by and large that is it. From a coach's perspective I know that my nerves get shortened when my pitchers are constantly behind in the count. At the collegiate level, we cannot afford to be behind in the count because good situation hitters will kill you

Pitching is an art that can be controlled. Artists like to be set free to do the things that make them "progressive" thinkers. The pitching artist uses her skills to set hitters up. However, her most powerful tool is the Early Strike. What I try to emphasize to young pitchers is to throw strikes to the first three hitters so they can set the tone for the pitching sequence for the rest of the lineup. At the University of South Florida, We have been in the top 10 in pitching statistics the last few years because we have limited the number of walks early in the game.

Baseball Hall of Fame pitchers Robin Roberts and Ferguson Jenkins, were asked a while ago what they believed were some key to their success. They both concurred and stressed the importance of getting the first pitch over the plate for a strike. A hitter ahead of the count 1-0 has a good idea what's coming, they agreed. But, even the great hitters aren't sure what to expect when they are behind 0-1. Taking a look at the statistics over the last five years at the collegiate level, we can see that the averages on hit counts in favor of the batter far exceed the averages when the counts are in favor of the pitchers. Too many times I hear pitching coaches with young players state, "Don't throw strikes until you have to." Let me fill all of you young prospects out there in on a little secret: "We Cannot Catch the Walks.'

A phrase like that gets our pitching staff' thinking about TEAM pitching and that means not being bullheaded and selfish and going for the K.

I always trick students of pitching with these two questions:

1) "How many pitches should you throw in an ideal perfect game?"

2) "What is the worst pitch you can throw in a bunt situation?"

The students usually answer the first question with the number 63, 21 batters, three strikes, that equals 63. My ideal perfect game is 21 batters. Twenty-one groundballs on the first pitch equals 21 pitches. If I do that, I can throw four games in a row!

The answer to the question with the worst pitch in a bunt situation always brings out the type of pitches they throw, rise, Wrong! Drop, Wrong! Curve, Wrong! (I do not agree on throwing the change-up, but that is just me.) I then tell them that the worst pitch they can throw is ball four. They look puzzled and then come to realize that they are trying to be too tricky instead of getting the sure out. If we get 21 outs faster than the other team, then we have a good shot to win the game.

Besides the technical aspects (and believe me there are no secrets) that are taught by most collegiate pitching coaches, the philosophy is the key to success. Work ahead and stay ahead. See it is not a secretive point—you knew it all the time.

2008-2009 Season Schedule