Sports: Softball

Pitchers get ‘rise’ out of opponents

Using different motion than baseball, softball players get added dimension to baffle batters in box

Fastball. Changeup. Riseball.

Riseball?

Those first two might sound familiar to most people, but the third pitch is a likely unknown to people unfamiliar with softball. The differences in pitching between baseball and softball go farther than just the throwing motion, but a lot of the contrast begins with just that.

“In softball, we’re able to throw a lot more pitches with velocity,” University of Wisconsin pitcher Kristyn Hansen said. “So, we’re able to go both up and down with our pitches, versus baseball [where] they only can throw downward pitches.”

The added vertical axis hitters need to deal with can cause problems for hitters. With the underhanded throwing motion softball pitchers use, it’s possible to throw a riseball, which will actually move upwards in the strike zone. Gravity makes adjusting to hit a falling ball much easier than a ball that is moving upwards.

Though the underarm-release lends itself to a riseball, pitchers also throw dropballs, which also do exactly what they sound like: drop. Add the fact softball pitchers utilize breaking balls and offspeed pitches, and batters may never know what’s coming until it’s too late.

“You have balls that can work in, out, up, or down on you,” Hansen said. “So you never really know what you’re expecting half the time, [as] a batter.”

In addition to adjusting to pitches, batters may need to worry about the handedness of a pitcher. While left-handed pitchers are rare in baseball, they’re even scarcer in softball — UW southpaw Leah Vanevenhoven is one of just four lefties in the Big Ten.

Hansen, a righty, said as a hitter, there is a difference in adjusting to facing a lefty pitcher.

“It’s definitely a different look … not in the vertical zones… but when it comes to the horizontal zones — say a curveball or a screwball — it’s kind of more difficult to read off the pitcher because their body language is a lot different than a righty pitcher,” Hansen said.

However, the advantages a left-handed pitcher has are different between the sports. While lefty pitchers are often used in baseball because of the advantage they have over lefty batters, in softball they’re more useful against righties.

“Honestly, I don’t think it’s that big of a difference between the two,” Hansen said. “Sometimes people like to have lefty pitchers just because of their curveball. They can work in on a lot of righties, which is a really effective pitch against [them], jamming them in the hands.”

Part of the reason there are so few left-handed pitchers is that there aren’t a lot of pitchers to begin with. Most Big Ten teams carry only two or three pitchers on their rosters.

Because pitching in softball isn’t as hard on the shoulder as it is in baseball, pitchers don’t need as much rest between appearances. Some teams, such as Illinois, rely on their staff ace to pitch most of their games. University of Illinois’ Monica Perry has pitched 152 more innings than the next closest pitcher on the roster.

That doesn’t mean there’s no room for relief pitchers, though. While softball teams don’t have traditional baseball bullpens with closers and specialists, pitchers need to be ready in the event they are put in a game, which is often during a pressure situation.

“You just have to strike the batter out. … You just have to have the right mentality and just live for those moments,” Hansen said of relief appearances.

With experienced pitchers in Vanevenhoven and junior Letty Olivarez, most of Hansen’s innings pitched have come in relief. Since Wisconsin’s starters usually pitch entire games, Hansen never knows when or if she’ll be called on. The psychological aspect is a big part of pitching when a player isn’t starting games.

“The mentality is definitely a lot different,” Hansen said. “In relief, you’re always on edge. … I’m always ready every moment of the game and trying to be as prepared as I can.”

Even getting the chance to come off the bench and pitch is difficult. With teams carrying sparse pitching staffs, receiving an offer to pitch college softball is harder than being recruited as a position player.

For Hansen, the decision to pitch paid off. A former swimmer, she decided to take the circle as a challenge. Hansen said isolating the appeal of pitching was easy for her.

“My favorite part is, pretty much you control the game,” Hansen said.

“You have control and you have that adrenaline, and you get to touch the ball at every single part of the game,” she added. “… I just feel like you get be part of the game that much more. It’s exciting.”