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Show The Slow Or Fast Pitch? By DAVE WIGHAM BOUNTIFUL - One of the most frequent questions that ' people are asking these days '"' is what is the main difference ' : 11 between playing fast or slow pitch Softball? OBVIOUSLY THE main - difference is in the pitching. ' The difference really isn't as much as a lot of people might believe. True it takes a good pitcher to make a good team in fast pitch, but it takes a special pitcher to make a good slow pitch club. Used to be that all a slow pitch team needed was someone to throw the ball over the plate, and that's not as easy as many think. Nowadays though unless the pitcher puts the pitch where he wants it, and where the hitter doesn't want it, then the slow pitch game can become a home run contest Pitchers know where the hitter's hit-ter's power is and they have to keep it away from them. CATCHING IS different with the fast pitch team being the toughest. Catching in slow pitch isn't anywhere near as demanding as the fast pitch teams area. Also in fast pitch stealing is allowed which makes the catcher's job even harder. Probably the biggest difference is in the infield play. In fast pitch bunting is legal and used a lot whereas in slow pitch it is not allowed. That makes the entire infield very active in fast pitch. The first and third basemen have to play in to take away the bunt, which in tum makes the second sacker cover first on a bunt and the shortstop cover second, if a runner is at first. STEALING ALSO keeps all the infielders awake during the game. With the bunting and stealing allowed the fast pitch infield is much more active. Outfield play is about the same with the exception of a fourth fielder in slow pitch. Some teams play four outfielders out-fielders deep while some play three deep and one short. With the extra fielder then the amount of ground each fielder covers is cut down. HITTING-WISE each league offers something that the other doesn't. The fast pitch league can tum into a pitchers' duel if he can overwhelm the hitters, while the slow pitch league is dominated by the hitters or the defense. In slow pitch the ball is going to be hit, not many strikeouts, so the defense is essential. In fast pitch the strikeouts are there, but the defense better be solid also. Whichever league is better or funner, no one really knows, it's up to the individual in-dividual which league he or she likes the most. |