IHSA to move back softball pitching rubber

BLOOMINGTON — The Illinois High School Association Board of Directors recently approved a recommendation that will lengthen the softball pitching distance from 40 to 43 feet, effective with the upcoming 2009-10 season.

Princeton softball coach Bob James said the added distance will slightly increase safety for the pitchers, but he noted that with the batters box extending past the plate plus the pitchers moving forward to release the ball, the distance between batter and pitcher is significantly less than 40 feet.

“This will improve the safety aspect I think,” James said. "But with the bats being so loaded, and as big and strong as our kids are getting, I still think you’ll see the masks being worn.”

James has seen first hand the damage a pitcher can sustain from a ball hit back up the middle, as was the case when Bureau Valley pitcher Sam Shepard was struck in the face by a Tigress line drive during a game this spring. Shepard sustained serious injuries from the shot, including a broken orbital bone.

Shepard said it will all be about making adjustments.

“I guess it’s OK. As a pitcher, you have to adjust anyway,” she said. “You get more reaction time, but everybody’s got to adjust now. It’ll be fine though.”

James said he recommends all his pitchers wear safety masks but leaves it up to them.

“Maybe it’s only a one in who knows how many thousands chance that you’re going to get hit, but it’s just not worth it to see that. I prefer they wear the mask," he said.

While the mask is currently optional, James thinks it is probably only a matter of time before the IHSA mandates pitchers wear the safety gear.

Along with the safety benefits from the move, the change should also spur increased offensive outputs.

“It’s definitely going to be different,” said James, who echoed points made in the IHSA’s press release about increased offense and safety stemming from the new pitching distance. “They started talking before about wanting to get more offense into the game because there has been quite a few pitchers who were dominant.