Pitch Softball Bat
Softball. No. 11/12 Cal Shuts Out Portland State, 8-0, in Five Innings
The California softball team ended its season-opening weekend with an 8-0 win in five innings against Portland State on Sunday afternoon in the closing day of the Kajikawa Tournament. The Golden Bears (4-1) scored four runs in the first inning against the Vikings (2-4) and then three in the fourth to run away with the mercy victory.

2012 DeMarini CF5 Fastpitch 10 Fast Pitch Softball Bat 33 23 ASA 2 Day Ship
2012 DeMarini CF5 Fastpitch 10 Fast Pitch Softball Bat 33 23 ASA 2 Day Ship
US $264.95
WORTH SBESTB LITHIUM EST 34 26 DOUBLE WALL SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL BAT
WORTH SBESTB LITHIUM EST 34 26 DOUBLE WALL SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL BAT
US $40.00
NEW Worth Prodigy Softball Bat 28 18 FPSTMY 10 Fast Pitch FP 3335 NICE
NEW Worth Prodigy Softball Bat 28 18 FPSTMY 10 Fast Pitch FP 3335 NICE
US $12.99
Easton Typhoon SK50T Slow Pitch Softball Bat
Easton Typhoon SK50T Slow Pitch Softball Bat
US $9.99
Demarini Bruiser Slow Pitch Softball Bat Used ASA certified 34 inches 28 ounces
Demarini Bruiser Slow Pitch Softball Bat Used ASA certified 34 inches 28 ounces
US $59.99
MIKEN FREAK FX 700 SUPER MAX SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL BAT USED 34 27
MIKEN FREAK FX 700 SUPER MAX SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL BAT USED 34 27
US $150.00
NEW Worth Toxic Fast Pitch Softball Bat L31 W 20 oz Model FPTXII
NEW Worth Toxic Fast Pitch Softball Bat L31 W 20 oz Model FPTXII
US $34.99
NEW Worth Reload Slow Pitch Softball Bat L34 W 265 oz Model SBALD
NEW Worth Reload Slow Pitch Softball Bat L34 W 265 oz Model SBALD
US $34.99
10 NEW Demarini Nitress Fast Pitch Softball Bats 75 off Retail
10 NEW Demarini Nitress Fast Pitch Softball Bats 75 off Retail
US $199.99
New 2012 DeMarini CF5 Fast Pitch Softball Bat 32 22 DXCFP 12 Drop 10 Composite
New 2012 DeMarini CF5 Fast Pitch Softball Bat 32 22 DXCFP 12 Drop 10 Composite
US $212.50
2012 DeMarini CF5 Fastpitch 10 Fast Pitch Softball Bat 32 22 ASA 2 Day Ship
2012 DeMarini CF5 Fastpitch 10 Fast Pitch Softball Bat 32 22 ASA 2 Day Ship
US $264.95
New 2012 DeMarini The One Softball Bat DXONE 12 34 27 Sunday Swagger Slow Pitch
New 2012 DeMarini The One Softball Bat DXONE 12 34 27 Sunday Swagger Slow Pitch
US $109.50
NICE USED Demarini Juice 34 27oz Slow Pitch Softball Bat
NICE USED Demarini Juice 34 27oz Slow Pitch Softball Bat
US $81.00
WORTH SBESTB LITHIUM EST 34 28 DOUBLE WALL SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL BAT
WORTH SBESTB LITHIUM EST 34 28 DOUBLE WALL SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL BAT
US $40.00
LOUISVILLE SLUGGER JACKHAMMER SOFTBALL BATSLOW PITCH FAST PITCH 32IN 27OZ 5
LOUISVILLE SLUGGER JACKHAMMER SOFTBALL BATSLOW PITCH FAST PITCH 32IN 27OZ 5
US $7.99
New 2012 DeMarini The One Softball Bat DXONE 12 34 28 Sunday Swagger Slow Pitch
New 2012 DeMarini The One Softball Bat DXONE 12 34 28 Sunday Swagger Slow Pitch
US $62.50
Anderson Rockettech Softball Fastpitch Bat Fast Pitch Rocket Tech 30 21oz 100MPH
Anderson Rockettech Softball Fastpitch Bat Fast Pitch Rocket Tech 30 21oz 100MPH
US $199.00
EASTON FAST PITCH SOFTBALL BAT
EASTON FAST PITCH SOFTBALL BAT
US $15.99
COMBAT Lisa Fernandez Lite LFFP2 Fast Pitch Softball Bat 30 20
COMBAT Lisa Fernandez Lite LFFP2 Fast Pitch Softball Bat 30 20
US $119.95
Used Anderson Nanotek Fast pitch Softball Bat 32
Used Anderson Nanotek Fast pitch Softball Bat 32
US $71.00
New 2012 DeMarini The One Softball Bat DXONE 12 34 26 Sunday Swagger Slow Pitch
New 2012 DeMarini The One Softball Bat DXONE 12 34 26 Sunday Swagger Slow Pitch
US $43.00
Easton SRV3 Brett Helmer Speed 34 30 NIW slow pitch softball bat
Easton SRV3 Brett Helmer Speed 34 30 NIW slow pitch softball bat
US $198.99
Miken Fast Pitch Softball Bat Model MF 19 33 Inch 24 oz Bat
Miken Fast Pitch Softball Bat Model MF 19 33 Inch 24 oz Bat
US $49.99
Louisville Slugger Odyssey TPS FP87 Fast Pitch Softball Bat USSSA 120BPF ASA
Louisville Slugger Odyssey TPS FP87 Fast Pitch Softball Bat USSSA 120BPF ASA
US $34.95
Mizuno MS1 World Win Official Softball Bat MZ74 Alloy Fast Slow Pitch New
Mizuno MS1 World Win Official Softball Bat MZ74 Alloy Fast Slow Pitch New
US $39.99

Umpiring Fastpitch Softball is a Thankless Job!

There is nothing worse for the father of a daughter on a fastpitch softball team than to be asked to Umpire the game. The double hit to the gut is to umpire behind the plate when your daughter is pitching.

You would think that the parents of the opposing team would have a problem with it, but when you are dealing with Little League and everyone is a volunteer, and you didn’t point at them and ask them trust me they have no problem with you until the game gets started.

The first time you make a call that is close, then they have the problem!

The game of fastpitch softball, or baseball for that matter, is a game of inches. A pitch that you feel hit the outside or inside corner of the plate, they feel was about three feet out of the strike zone!

Then you start hearing the comments from the crowd, like “You didn’t want to swing at that pitch away!”  Or maybe something not as in your face like, “Are you kidding me! Did he call that a strike?”

Doesn’t matter if you were sitting with them in church last Sunday, they still make the comments like you were their arch enemy.

Those same parents before the game gets started are all in their cars waiting for some fool like me to arrive to the field only to be asked to umpire. You can almost see all the fathers tucked down into their seat under the dash board waiting for me to arrive. Some arrive late for that very reason.

They all become experts of fastpitch softball after the game gets started. Of course they can see much better from thirty feet away and off to one side or the other. I’m not sure why they even require the umpire to be behind the plate when you can make better calls from the bleachers.

There are some advantages to being behind the plate other than making good friends with all the parents of the players. You get to see up close what softball bats the girls are using. Their stances and the mechanics of their swings!

You can really tell which players are taught and which players are just allowed to go up there when you see the way they hold their softball bats. Some of them way behind their heads. Others too low. Some of them have a softball bat that is way too big or small for them.

I am a strong believer that the bat should come up to around their hip and they should be able to hold it out with their weak arm for between five and ten seconds without it dropping down.

The other item I always bring with me to every game since I know that I will be asked to umpire.  After all the other fathers have worn camouflage to blend in with their cares so no one will ask them to umpire. I always bring my own mask.

I go real tired of having to wear the mask they provided. Most of the time it stunk of sweat and the person wearing it must have had a head the size of Texas, because the elastic band that holds it on your head was so stretched out beyond belief.

Make sure you get one that protects your throat. I purchased the guard that attaches to the mask that covers my throat.

One of the things I learned over the years of umpiring, nine years, is that you don’t flinch behind the plate. If you duck by looking down you expose the top of your head. If you turn to one side of the other you expose the side of your face. Don’t flinch!

If you haven’t been hit square in the face with a fastpitch softball or a fowl off the softball bat, then you just haven’t lived. Well maybe you have, but it sure wakes you up or puts you to sleep.

I love the game of fastpitch softball and I love the view from behind the plate when I see a strike coming from the pitcher and the crack of the softball bats when the girls swing and connect. There is just no better view of the game.

I also know that if I am umpiring that I will be fair and consistent no matter if the crowd agrees or not.

 Thank you and May God Bless you!

About the Author

You can visit my blog where I talk about my daughters softball career.

You can visit my blog where I talk about being a parent and all the struggle we as parents go through. My wife and I have four children and have been married for over 25 years, so we have some experiences to share.

Pitch Softball Bat

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