Won Tournament--But DD's Hurt

[WestMichBlue]

Granddaughter, whom I've coached for years, was a freshman last spring and immediately went up to starting pitcher for JV. Had only thrown rec league ball (3-4 innings/game, 2 games/wk) before. (She had thrown all winter long in the gym, but it is obviously not the same strain as in a game.)

Pitched two complete games first week. Friday night 4 innings of relief, then both games of a tournament on a cold Saturday morning. Sore Arm! Lots of pain. Tendonitis. Trainers and doctors and treatments. Pitched again next week. She was obviously in pain and I went to coach and asked that she be removed. But when she came into dugout she told coach she was fine. (Damn pitcher's mentality - "Team needs me, and I have to finish up.")

She lost the rest of the season. Team's best batter, but couldn't even swing a bat. What a terrible shock to a young girl's psyche.

Now we are begining a program to get her back in shape for next spring, but we (her, I, and coach) are all a little smarter. There will be no overuse. And she will wear a coat between innings. Let someone else pitch occasionally.