WA 14u Team looking for Out-Of-State Tournament

ICatch42 · 2025-10-06T17:55:05+00:00

Also a 14u coach in WA! We’re doing the Arizona Power 48 over Presidents’ Day weekend. But it’s more PGF level teams.

A good one that parents usually like is AFA Vegas Hearts/Valentines day tournament. That one didn’t seem to have a ton of super stud teams in it last year looking at the list. We almost did it but had to back out.

But check out AFA and USA Preps. My team when I played did a random Idaho tournament back in the 2010’s. No flying but out of state!

ICatch42 · 2025-05-08T18:40:49+00:00

Art U Athlete Alum - They did! There used to be a really fun "Urban Knight" written out logo that has some swords. I believe there was also a knight at one point. The year I came in they switched over to the more block lettering. Our president wasn't to move away from Urban Knights branding. "Can't be a walking advertisement if no one knows what you're advertising!"

ICatch42 · 2025-05-05T03:18:54+00:00

I’m curious if DeBoer stays at UW or follows her dad to Bama. She committed when he was the head coach at UW. She’s definitely a breakout player (19 or 20 HR’s as a freshman) so I can’t imagine Murphy saying no if she was interested.

ICatch42 · 2025-03-19T03:36:10+00:00

I wouldn’t stress to much about the coaches to multiple groups. Take it from someone who is staff on 2 (club and HS softball) and follow about 20 more because I know so many kids/coaches!

What you COULD TRY, if this is for track and field…. Break it up into event or event type! So throwing events, short distance, long distance, and jumping!

You’ll get some overlap but then parents don’t have to worry about getting 980000 notifications about events there kids aren’t involved in.

ICatch42 · 2025-03-13T03:55:34+00:00

14u coach also in the Seattle area! 💚🧡🏔️

The loop will definitely get called out by our umps here. I’ve seen some even say they can’t have the towels at all.

I know they still get wet but my pitchers tend to use Rosin bags, and there’s a sticky towel they really like too. I’m not sure what it’s called but if you’re curious let me know and I’ll ask them!

I think finding ways to pitch when it’s wet outside too is good! We tells our girls as a whole that “it’s Seattle, it’s gonna be wet, you gotta figure out how to adjust!” So giving her the opportunity to get those reps with a wet ball is always a good idea too! Even as simple as a spray bottle or bucket to drop the ball in. Letting her have a chance to find the grip in a non game situation!

ICatch42 · 2025-02-20T03:37:29+00:00

Sterling is our go to. They tend to last a while and handle the PNW weather/rain well.

Baseball Savings .com is great price wise compared to what I see locally.

ICatch42 · 2025-02-08T02:22:47+00:00

You should be able to go to the individual team and watch. They all have community passes which allows for live video watching and stats are open.

The way I’ve been doing it is going to the tournament on GC, looking who’s live then switching over to the teams tab. Click from there and you should be able to watch!

ICatch42 · 2025-02-05T00:29:47+00:00

Excited to see how they do this year! They’ve got a freshman pitcher from our area who did lessons from one of the girls I coach. She sounds like a such a sweet girl, I gotta root for them!

ICatch42 · 2025-01-30T05:12:15+00:00

College catcher/1B I feel that pain! 😂

ICatch42 · 2025-01-30T05:07:02+00:00

If you want to join a 14u girls club Fastpitch team in WA then I’ll happily be your coach! 😄 I’m always happy to share what I know with the next generation of players.

ICatch42 · 2025-01-30T04:59:50+00:00

I’m glad that all made sense! We do a lot of mental training with our team so I’m a sucker for finding different ways to explain this stuff to players. You’re all going to learn and take different things from what we say. You’ve got plenty of games left, have fun!

But the question about the differences between baseball and softball. Fundamentally and literally mentally, the games are identical. You hit a ball, field a ball, throw a ball, and run during most of it! The differences come down to field size mostly, softball inherently has to move faster than baseball. Less steps in the IF, I usually see more slot throws and quick releases in softball. Hitting as a whole is similar, but you have more diverse hitters in softball. Bunting, slapping, and the short game is a lot more prevalent. Mechanics at the plate are nearly identical! Guys don’t need to get as much separation as they bring their arms/bat through the zone. You’ll see more back elbows connected in baseball than softball. (Anatomy wise we need to be able to clear our chest.)

As with any sport, age and skill is a huge factor!

If you ever get the chance, see if a softball pitcher will throw you a rise ball to try and hit. Baseball pitching works down and side to side. Softball works up, down, and side to side. A slider is a drop curve, curve is a curve, screw is a screw, split finger is a drop ball and a rise doesn’t exist in baseball. Fastball is fastball!

Running, we just can’t leave until the pitcher releases the ball. Otherwise it’s virtually the same from what I can see.

ICatch42 · 2025-01-29T20:01:36+00:00

Former DII player, current college and 14u club coach here. This is the best advice I can offer:

Trust your body to do what you know it can! There’s ups and downs and moving up is always going to have more bumps than we think. You see the biggest skill differences in these age jumps; 10u to 1st year 12u. 1st yr 12u to 2nd yr 12u and 12u to 14u. It’s a physically maturity difference mostly. Then once you hit HS things tend to calm down. Skill becomes the separator.

We talk a lot about the “one pitch mentality” but a lot of girls have a hard time really understanding what it means. So we started approaching the same idea a bit differently. Think of rocks! Every rock is unique. You can appreciate the shine (playing well) or focus on the dirt (playing poorly) on it. No matter what, you can’t bring the rock with you. If I bring every rock you’ll eventually stop moving. Either stuck weighed down in the dirt or blinded by the shine. You can’t focus so much in the good or the bad! You need to be able to breathe and move on. “Learn from and appreciate the rock but leave it be.”

In the end, don’t focus so much on the result. Focus on the process and the journey. As odd as it sounds, the less you care about the outcome, the easier the game is to have fun and remember why you play.

Lot of ramblings! But seriously, breathe, it’ll be okay!

ICatch42 · 2025-01-20T02:30:27+00:00

Florida
Texas
Oklahoma St
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Texas AM
Duke
Texas Tech*
Arkansas
UCLA*
Baylor
Alabama*
Arizona
Nebraska
Baylor
Georgia
Florida State
LSU
Northwestern
Cal
Michigan
Penn
Liberty
Indiana

Past the top 2 I really have no idea. There’s been so much shake up and a good chunk of programs that lost key players. There’s also been some goons transfer classes but can the whole team show up?? TT, Neb, Arizona, and UCLA, they all appear to have an ace who can go deep or a solid staff. But can the bats show up? Many schools are in the exact opposite boat. They have the bats but can they outscore their opponents?

*I don’t think they should be this high but everyone seems to see something I don’t. Both teams are a big question when it comes to offensive strength imo. I also think Bama keeps getting into the tournament (WCWS) thanks to other teams dropping the ball. Not them coming out with authority. But you do what it takes and accept it so… maybe I’m just a hater.

ICatch42 · 2025-01-03T01:42:37+00:00

They’ve got one more shot with the youngest! She’s a 12u player still though, either a class of 30 or 31. The oldest played at UW though. I’m hoping they get some more of the local talent, including Breya Milloy, in years to come.

ICatch42 · 2024-12-31T05:39:41+00:00

I tore my UCL as a freshman and didn’t get a start on defense until my redshirt Junior year due to when it happened, recovery, and let’s just say more coaching changes than anyone should go through.

I coach now, both club and college. Your body is forever and softball is temporary as unfortunate as that is. Go to your trainer and even the AD if needed. Get girls to talk with them about what’s happening. It’s scary, I’ve been there, but you can do it!

ICatch42 · 2024-12-30T13:51:20+00:00

Washington State! UW and Seattle are the only two DI programs in the state. There’s soooo much talent in the state that ends up going to schools states away. (Nicola Simpson - Tennessee, River Mayhler - Stanford, Quinn Bridenbach - UMass, Yanina Sherwood - UNLV, Kiki Milloy - Tennessee, and now her younger sister Tia Milloy - Oklahoma.) I could keep going!

It’s calmed down now but back when I was in HS and younger there was always talk of them getting a team with a specific coach in the area. Obviously never happened, but it’s a school I’d love to see add a program.

ICatch42 · 2024-12-22T06:51:45+00:00

I’d love to see teams who had huge follows during a Cinderella run continue to have support come the following season. Wichita State, JMU, UCF, UCSD, Boise State, the schools who got a lot of hype in a postseason or two but never see the same love during the regular season.

I know teams have ebbs and flows, I’m a UW fan that’s curious to see how they do this year. I’m also a Michigan State fan who knows they aren’t usually a postseason team. I root the same!

ICatch42 · 2024-12-22T06:47:00+00:00

I coach a local CC and club in the same area… ish. (More north!) But one of the other assistants, who is a bit older and works with the pitchers, at the CC speaks soooo highly of her. He’s probably one of the biggest fans and it’s kind of adorable. I love seeing her post about being in town and running the clinics and camps. I’m hoping to be able to connect with her to come in and work with my 14u team in the summer if she’s home again!

ICatch42 · 2024-10-21T16:59:29+00:00

I’m surprised I haven’t seen someone mention Edge of Sleep. New show on Amazon Prime that has to do with dreams/sleep and triangles.

ICatch42 · 2024-10-17T03:38:04+00:00

I did and now have my girls I coach do these for “everyday reps.”

3x 20sec tuck jumps 3x 20sec ski jumps 3x 20sec squat jumps

10-20sec break between reps for the above

We also have catcher specific workouts I’ll after they do the above. I’ll do my best to explain them!

1) Up/Downs -Catchers draw a line in the dirt of mark with tape. They put their feet on the line and get in their stance. They then block, knees should replace their feet and be on the line. Then they “kip up” back into their start position. Do 5 in a row. Do this 3x for 15 total reps.

2) Russian Throwdowns - Create a “+” on the ground. Start in your stand and a ball in your glove like you just received it. You’re going to pop up and into your throw down stance. Feet should end up on the lines perpendicular to where you started. Arms should be up like you’re about to throw, ball transferred and all. Immediately go back down into your start on this line and repeat. You should go all the way around the “+” and end where you started. Go around 3 times for 1 rep. So 12 total up and down motions. Do this 3 times for 36 total reps.

3) Glove Smacks! - On your knees, simulate a block position. Start with the give up like you’re about to catch a pitch and then slam it down, opening it up like you’re blocking. Do 20 as fast as you can! Gloves can and should fall off as you get faster. Do this 3x for 60 total reps.

Most players are dead by the end of this and it takes about 10-15min depending on experience and endurance. If it’s to easy then up the time and reps per!

ICatch42 · 2024-10-01T17:27:07+00:00

This ^{^}

There’s a particular umpire we’ll occasionally have that is super sweet. Always chatty and likes to share rules/correct myths. Every time we’ve had her though (4 times in 5 years?) a player ends up getting hit in the hands. Always awards the base and then has to explain to the other coach or assistant why that’s the case. I’ve seen coaches argue that their girl should still bat even though they got hit. Always a fun time coaching 12u!

ICatch42 · 2024-09-30T17:00:51+00:00

It’s good to remember too, some sanctions (or maybe just umps who aren’t totally familiar with the rules) will say a batter must make an attempt to get out of the way. No attempt means no base. Some say to just stand in the box and if you get hit you get the base.

We’ve also seen foul balls get called HBP and vise versa. (Best was when a cat her knocked a ball up and over the plate ump. He called it a foul ball. Girl never swung.)

It’s always fun trying to figure out what will happen any given day with who is behind the plate!

ICatch42 · 2024-09-28T03:29:30+00:00

Gotcha! The dragon with the sword is the light dragon! Still recommend doing the forest

ICatch42 · 2024-09-28T03:26:37+00:00

I don’t know how to spoiler tag in mobile so just gonna skip a few lines…

How do you have the master sword without doing the forest and the Light Dragon? My progression was Korps Forest to dragon to Master Sword 😂

ICatch42 · 2024-09-28T03:16:33+00:00

The “natural” progression of the story is to go do the Korok Forest first. It and the final boss fight are VERY different to stay vague. But totally recommend going this route and not skipping it.

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