MONROE - As high school softball teams had their first practices Monday, pitchers must get used to a rule change that requires the pitching distance be moved to 43-feet from home plate this year instead of the 40-foot span from last year.
Monroe softball coach Dale Buvid said the WIAA made the change because it was a safety issue.
"With the power pitchers, and the bats are so much better, the ball comes off the bat faster," Buvid said.
It's still not clear what trends or effect the rule change will have on games this spring.
"It remains to be seen," Buvid said. "I think you will see more offense and fewer strikeouts. The hitters will have a little more time to see the ball. They (the hitters) will have an extra three feet and an extra hundredth of a second to react to all pitches."
The National Federation of State High School Associations mandated a 2011 deadline for the 43-foot distance, but the WIAA implement the rule change earlier to give pitchers time to practice at the new distance before the season starts.
Buvid said the Cheesemakers knew the rule change was coming and they experimented pitching some at 43-feet last year.
"I think the small ball game will be bigger," Juda coach Bill Davis said.
Davis said the pitcher is key in fielding bunts and pitching an extra three-feet from the plate could give teams an advantage in bunting.
"I think if you have a pitcher with break on the ball it may break a little bit more," he said.
Monticello coach Duane Garrison said the WIAA wants to keep high school softball as similar to the college level as possible.
"I think it will open up the offense a lot more," Garrison said. "It won't be pitching dominated as it was in the past. I hate when a pitcher dominates a game. This way your infield (defense) will be more in on the game."
Garrison also supports the theory that hitters could have the advantage this year in the batter's box.
"The extra three feet you get will give you an extra second to see the ball," Garrison said.
With an extra three feet, pitchers may run into more fatigue later in games, Davis said. However, he doesn't anticipate his ace sophomore pitcher Amber Ramos having to adjust much.
Davis said Ramos has played on a traveling softball team with Beloit in the summer and she has been pitching at 43 feet.
Like Juda, Monticello sophomore Karlie Klossner has been working at 43-feet for a year.
Buvid said the bigger effect may include some junior-varsity pitchers who struggle to throw strikes.
The WIAA sectionals, which traditionally has been a three-game event in which semifinals and finals are played on the same day will be split into two days this year. The WIAA also agreed to push the softball state tournament back to June 17 to 19 to accommodate schools who make state tournament runs in girls basketball like Monroe and Black Hawk.
Monroe softball coach Dale Buvid said the WIAA made the change because it was a safety issue.
"With the power pitchers, and the bats are so much better, the ball comes off the bat faster," Buvid said.
It's still not clear what trends or effect the rule change will have on games this spring.
"It remains to be seen," Buvid said. "I think you will see more offense and fewer strikeouts. The hitters will have a little more time to see the ball. They (the hitters) will have an extra three feet and an extra hundredth of a second to react to all pitches."
The National Federation of State High School Associations mandated a 2011 deadline for the 43-foot distance, but the WIAA implement the rule change earlier to give pitchers time to practice at the new distance before the season starts.
Buvid said the Cheesemakers knew the rule change was coming and they experimented pitching some at 43-feet last year.
"I think the small ball game will be bigger," Juda coach Bill Davis said.
Davis said the pitcher is key in fielding bunts and pitching an extra three-feet from the plate could give teams an advantage in bunting.
"I think if you have a pitcher with break on the ball it may break a little bit more," he said.
Monticello coach Duane Garrison said the WIAA wants to keep high school softball as similar to the college level as possible.
"I think it will open up the offense a lot more," Garrison said. "It won't be pitching dominated as it was in the past. I hate when a pitcher dominates a game. This way your infield (defense) will be more in on the game."
Garrison also supports the theory that hitters could have the advantage this year in the batter's box.
"The extra three feet you get will give you an extra second to see the ball," Garrison said.
With an extra three feet, pitchers may run into more fatigue later in games, Davis said. However, he doesn't anticipate his ace sophomore pitcher Amber Ramos having to adjust much.
Davis said Ramos has played on a traveling softball team with Beloit in the summer and she has been pitching at 43 feet.
Like Juda, Monticello sophomore Karlie Klossner has been working at 43-feet for a year.
Buvid said the bigger effect may include some junior-varsity pitchers who struggle to throw strikes.
The WIAA sectionals, which traditionally has been a three-game event in which semifinals and finals are played on the same day will be split into two days this year. The WIAA also agreed to push the softball state tournament back to June 17 to 19 to accommodate schools who make state tournament runs in girls basketball like Monroe and Black Hawk.
