If you’ve been around softball long enough, you’ve probably heard some pretty funny complaints about pitching. Even though we can laugh about them now, these moments show us what players, parents and coaches really need to learn—both mentally and physically.

Here are some of the funniest things we’ve heard, and what they really mean—from the most experienced players to beginners just getting started.

“My mom forgot my binder.”

Oak Park River Forest takes on Oswego tonight at 5:30 p.m.—and it’s incredible to see so many local athletes representing our amazing softball town! I'm especially proud to see current and former Practice Pro pitchers on the roster: Anna Topel, Georgia Godellas, Leia Hammerschmidt, Arielle Spurlock, Avery Lane, Gloria Hronek, Gabrielle Chesney, Julia Mattiace, and Carolyn Rainey.

Even though they aren’t all still pitchers, we are proud of you and the rest of the team and are cheering for you every step of the way! Our mission has always been to make Illinois the BEST state for softball in the country. Whether an athlete trains with us for one session, five years (or even not at all), we believe that increasing access to quality instruction and passion for the game has a ripple effect across the state.

The rise of elite talent in Oak Park and surrounding areas

I came across a really powerful Instagram post from @dr3fastpitch and didn’t want it to get lost in the scroll—so I’m sharing it here as a blog. It’s worth taking a moment to read and showing your daughter.

When a teammate makes an error, I often ask pitchers, “What should you do as a pitcher in that moment?” Most of the time, they’ll say something like, “I’ll tell the first basemen that it’s okay, you’ll get it next time.” That’s supportive—but there’s an even more powerful response I learned as a college pitcher.

My coach taught me to respond with, “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. I’ll strike the next girl out for you.” And then go out and do it.

With the NCAA Women’s College World Series kicking off yesterday, I wanted to share a special story that was sent to us by Brad Albers, dad of Elisabeth Albers from Hamlin Park Lions 10U team. Elisabeth’s grandmother, Cindy Albers, has an incredible softball legacy—she played in the very first Women’s College World Series in 1969!

Her hometown newspaper featured a great article in 2022 about her journey and her role as a pioneer in a tournament that’s now watched by over 1.1 million people. It’s wild to think how far the game has come—and how women like Cindy helped lay the foundation.

A few things stood out to me from the article. Her attitude was truly inspiring.

In the last 10 years, only one team in the DI WCWS had pitchers from Illinois on it. As far as high school competition, the IHSA used to have a state bracket in which the winner of the city tournament went directly downstate. Unfortunately, the city schools lost too many games by too much of a margin, so they began to mix the city conference with the near suburbs to make the championships more competitive. The city's conference is improving though, with Marist winning 3 state championships since 2010 and a few schools sending players to university with softball scholarships.

11. “My daughter will reach her full potential by playing in local travel tournaments and on a city high school team. Illinois competition is enough to elevate her to the NCAA or the state finals.”

So many challenges, frustrations, and disappointments—whether for coaches, players, or parents—stem from vague expectations and a lack of communication throughout the season. Inspired by these teams and my own coaching experience, I’ve put together a set of guiding principles for pitchers. These rules help ensure that every pitcher understands her role, stays accountable, and approaches the game with the right mindset.

At every age leading up to college softball recruiting, coaches suggest getting a realistic assessment of your skills. Everyone wants to know, do I have what it takes? Go to college games to observe the level of play. Ask instructors and coaches what you realistically need to improve on.

Erica Hanrahan

When it comes to deciding who should call the game, there are two very different schools of thought—and both have valid points. Before diving into the debate, though, I want to emphasize something I’m incredibly passionate about:

Pitchers need to have full autonomy to shake off a pitch or location call if they feel something else is more appropriate.

This autonomy is critical because pitchers need to own every pitch they throw. If they don’t like a pitch call for any reason, it’s on them to shake it off and get the pitch or location they believe in. That’s how you grow from being a thrower to becoming a pitcher. At the end of the day, the responsibility lies with the person throwing the ball—not the pitch caller.

What if you could make decisions based on what a player earned, not just on what you feel? What if you could take the pressure off yourself and let the work they put in decide who gets the ball? What if, when a player asked, "Why am I not pitching?" they understood, didn’t resent it, and just got back to work to get better? You’d have more peace. You’d have a better team.

Growing up, my dad played an integral role in my softball journey. Without him, I wouldn’t have achieved what I did in sports. His support, along with that of my uncle, cousins, sister, and anyone who caught for me, was invaluable. Here’s why having someone, especially a dad, to catch for you can make all the difference. In my personal experience my dad was the one with the best hand-eye coordination, as opposed to my mom, so I’m going to share with you the benefits I got from working with him!

How can you tell if you are mentally tough? Is it your endurance, your ability to come from behind, or strike out the last batter of the game? You might think a person who controls their emotions as tough, or one who can maintain complete focus amid a crowd of screaming fans.

I believe a mentally strong pitcher has a plan and sticks to it. She helps her teammates recover from their errors. Perhaps most importantly she understands the game, knowing when she’s in a crucial situation and can execute during those times.

To accurately evaluate your performance in a game, it's essential to use a structured approach. You should fill out an evaluation form before and after each game. Facing the truth might sting initially, but it's the only way to identify areas for improvement