[foxbat]

If you are a coach, you better find you some 3rd grade girls and start working them right now if you want them to learn how to pitch the proper way.

I couldnt agree more.

Can you play ball with a pitcher that just throws the ball over? Yes, but you won't win games. If I was coaching against that pitcher I would dare my players to swing, when they did it would be a bunt, once the corners stay pulled in and with slow pitches coming to the plate I would steal bases the whole game. My guess is I would win just based on walked in runs.

Im not saying you have to have a dominant pitcher to be competitive, but by having one you will be competitive, even with weaker bats.

That being said, defense and speed are critical too. Fastpitch softball is small ball and smart base running. I think sometimes we like to think of it as baseball with shorter bases.