[greymule]

I think I've seen about everything behind the plate. Guy wearing no mask or chest protector for 14-year-olds. Guy who called balls and strikes from the backstop, with mask, gym shorts, and penny loafers but no hat or CP. Guy who announced how many inches off the plate each called "ball" was.

In my experience the most dangerous level is 12u rec, where the pitchers can be fast and the catchers made of air. Hamilton, New Jersey's 12-year-olds won the Babe Ruth Nationals last year (2008), and they had two big, strong pitchers who could throw very hard. Naturally, the team's catcher was good, but those pitchers also played in the 12u rec league, and I took several beatings behind catchers I thought might be ghosts—the balls seemed to travel directly through their bodies and into me. Actually, it was good practice in remaining still no matter what.