Just curious

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by ASA/NYSSOBLUE

How long ago was this?? One thing I keep saying about the difference in working high school ball for the almost 20 years I have been working it, is that, due to the growing prominence of travel ball, kids come into school ball knowing how to pitch! And pitching hard too! One criticism I have had with our local new officials clinic, is that the clinicians, who are very good NCAA level officials, still tend to denigrate the playing/pitching ability of the 7th/8th grade girls a touch.

I don't know about how hard they throw, but it's hard enough. What I have seen is that often when the pitchers are not yet very good, neither are the catchers. We're far more likely to get hit in a lower level game than a higher level game. I wear all the gear in jr hi games and in every other game. Those that don't are taking a chance that I'm not willing to take.