Softball is one of the few team sports in which every play starts with the ball in the hands of a defensive player. A softball pitcher is responsible for making effective pitches based on particular game situations. Many times, the situation can change with a single pitch that's called a strike or a ball. The score, number of outs and the count to a batter are factors that a softball pitcher must consider before she delivers a pitch.
Pitch Count
The average softball game is nine innings, and six outs comprise one inning. The pitchers for each team attempt to throw three strikes to each of the first three hitters and record three outs to end that half of the inning. In an ideal scenario, a pitcher would throw nine strikes an inning for a total of 81 pitches over nine innings.
In the real world, an outstanding pitching performance would tally around 125 pitches. This calculates to an average of 14 pitches per inning, which is not considered taxing for a healthy softball pitcher. Most managers begin to consider the total number of pitches after the fifth or sixth inning and then determine whether to leave a starting pitcher in the game or bring in a relief pitcher.
Pitches
A pitcher wants to throw a strike on the first pitch to a batter to get ahead in the count. A batter with one strike against him has to avoid two more strikes. Typically, a fastball crosses the plate at 90 mph. and a curve ball or change-up may have be 85 mph. Depending on the ball and strike count, the pitcher many stay with fastballs to record a strikeout. However, if the pitcher is behind in the count, a curve ball or change-up could fool a batter into swinging wildly or too early and record another strike.
Managers chart the speed of pitches with a radar gun, and consider the batting average of a hitter at the plate. These factors are instrumental in determining what type of pitch a pitcher must make in certain situations.
Defense
Pitchers must make effective pitches when a runner is on base. Throwing a fastball to a good hitter with a runner on base could result in a run-scoring hit. In a close game, the pitcher cannot take the chance of giving up a walk and putting another runner on base. With a count of three balls and one strike on a batter, the pitcher is at a disadvantage. A pitcher who's aware of the count, and is capable of making clutch pitches with runners on base in a close game, is a defensive asset.
Storing Information
A good pitcher keeps a mental record of the pitches thrown to a particular batter, as well as the outcome of every at-bat during the course of the game. As the game progresses, the pitcher might recall a certain batter was vulnerable to a fastball when the count was two balls and one strike with one out. That same hitter is likely to see another fastball if that situation occurs again.
Statistics
The number of innings a softball pitcher completed are recorded in single digits. Partially completed innings are recorded in thirds, which is consistent with the number of outs a pitcher needs to complete an inning. The number of runs a pitcher gives up in a single game is the earned-run average, or ERA. These numbers are tallied at the end of a season to rate a pitcher's performance. A high number of innings pitched and a low ERA reflects excellence in pitching.
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