Change in distance a big step forward for softball

It's just 3 feet back.

But to Glenbard South coach Julie Fonda and many others, it's one big step forward for IHSA softball. It is certainly the biggest storyline as softball season begins this balmy third week of March.

In a change many felt was long overdue, the IHSA moved back the softball pitching rubber to 43 feet instead of 40 feet from home plate.

Now high school pitchers in Illinois will be throwing from the same distance as most in travel softball and the same as pitchers in the collegiate game.

"I've been an advocate of it for a long time," Fonda said. "My philosophy is if a boy can pitch from 60 feet, 6 inches like they do in the big leagues, why can't they have a girl pitch from 43 feet? It's a great move for the IHSA and girls in general."

Count Neuqua Valley senior and Kansas-bound hurler Colleen Hohman as on board.

"I'm excited about it," Hohman said. "I pitch at 43 feet all summer. The switch back to 43 right after high school ball can be kind of hard."

The IHSA moved on the decision June 10 of last year. On Aug. 10 it put the change to 43 feet in effect immediately for the 2010 season.

The move to 43 has been talked about for some 10 years. Of the 46 states in the National Federation of State High School Associations, 28 will have the rubber 43 feet out this season.

"The overwhelming thought was nobody made any good reason as to why we should wait any longer," said IHSA assistant executive director Matt Troha. "A lot of kids already play at 43 feet during the summer. It was for the good of the game."

The national federation did not provide data that the move to 43 improves pitcher safety. No doubt it is a hoped added benefit.

"You assume it improves reaction time," Troha said, "and hopefully improves safety."

The jury is still out on how much more offense the move will generate. Hohman, for one, says she's a slightly different pitcher at 43.

"My pitches tend to move more when I'm farther back," she said. "I'm not as dominant with the speed of my pitches. I rely a lot more heavily on movement."

Troha noted that Florida has been playing from 43 feet for five years and Oregon for three. They found only a slight increase in runs scored but a big jump in balls put in play.

"All the way around a really good move for the sport - more action, more hits, all-around better softball," Fonda said. "I don't know why it took so long. It makes for a better game. From my point of view, it gives us more room to bunt."

Defense should be at an even greater premium with more hit balls. That should help teams like Lake Park, which returns an all-state-caliber third baseman in Carly Willert and dynamite second baseman Samantha Becker.

"It's going to give hitters an extra split-second to get their hands through and hit it harder," said Lancers coach Tom Mazzie. "You take away that strikeout dominance and put more of an emphasis on great defense. It puts more pressure on the defense to make plays."

Hohman said the biggest adjustment will be for those younger pitchers used to throwing at 40 feet. The ASA Gold teams all played from 43 feet, but Fonda pointed out that her sophomore pitcher, Danielle Chitkowski, went back and forth from 40 and 43 playing for 16 and under ASA.

The adjustment, Fonda added, will not only be for pitchers.

"My kids were moving too far back in the batter's box," she said, "instead of going out and getting it. Anybody can hit speed. When the ball moves, to hit that it takes talent. You have to move up in the box and become hitters. I'm excited to see how teams adjust."