Thankfully ASA and HS require facemasks

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

If she hadnt had a facemask on, the ball would have gotten her square in the nose and or mouth. Would not have been pretty.

You are correct, that would have been terrible.

However, it raises a question to which no one has really ever given me a satisfactory answer.

Understanding that this may not have made the difference in the play cited here, just where are these runners think they are going?

They are only 60' away and reducing that distance with every step. Unless it is a squeeze play, just how fast to the need to get to the plate? Okay, so if the bases are loaded and less than 2 outs, you may need to get there quick, but at what price? This girl was lucky she was hit where protection existed. What happens if she takes this ball in the chest? We wear chest protectors for a reason, runners do not. Granted, being young may help in reaction and recovery, but a ball at a speed 30% greater than that of a pitch can do some serious damage to the human body regardless of age.

I get moving toward the plate helps, but some of these girls come blasting toward the plate at full speed which is dangerous no matter what type of protection is being worn.