It’s probably not noticeable to the fans, but prep softball
teams across the country are adapting to a new rule change this
year that has pushed the pitching distance back three feet
— from 40 feet to 43 feet.
HOLLISTER
It’s probably not noticeable to the fans, but prep softball teams across the country are adapting to a new rule change this year that has pushed the pitching distance back three feet — from 40 feet to 43 feet.
Follow Free Lance Sports on Twitter.
The rule change, effective this year, was made after coaches in Florida and Oregon were “overwhelmingly supportive” of the new distance. The two states, both members of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), had been experimenting with the increased pitching distance in years past.
The move to 43 feet is expected to create a “better balance” between the offense and the defense, according to a statement issued by the NFHS, which said its results in Florida and Oregon indicated more batted balls would be hit into play.
“Our main thrust is getting the defense more involved,” said Mary Struckhoff, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Softball Rules Committee, in a statement. “When more balls are hit into play, the defense is more involved in the game, thus enhancing skill development.”
For the San Benito High softball team, which has only played five games this season with the new pitching distance, the differences on offense have been understandable — the ball takes a little longer to get to the plate.
“It’s slower. It’s a lot slower,” Baler senior Jessica Vest said. “But in the field, it’s no different.”
Pitcher Paige Miguel, who has started in the circle for the Balers in four of their five games this season, said she hasn’t noticed a difference in the new distance at all — at least pitching-wise.
But pitching from farther away than what she was used to, Miguel said playing defense off the rubber took a bit of getting used to.
“Since its farther, fielding bunts is a little bit harder. But I’m used to it by now,” Miguel said. “But throwing from there, I don’t feel a difference.”
With Miguel very much a ground-ball pitcher, an increase in batted balls in play might be difficult to discern when the Baler senior is throwing.
San Benito manager Scott Smith said rise-ball pitchers, in general, are having a difficult time with the new distance. But as for the Balers, some defensive adjustments were made as a result of the increased pitching distance, while the base paths have been opened up to steal more bases.
“It allows us, with a pitcher like we saw today (in North Salinas), to steal easier because, again, they’re three feet further back. But other than that, for us, it’s not much of a change,” Smith said.
