On the Base Path
with Beth Keylon-Randolph...

Putting it together in the box

1. Routines

   1. Be consistent – do routines every single time.  The routine should start once you go on deck.  Start thinking about what the situation could be.  You should visually see the pitch the pitcher is throwing so that once you enter the box; you have already ‘seen’ the pitch.  Go through mental positive self-talk – NOT hopeful self-talk.

   2. Do the same routine in practice that you will do in the game.  Make sure that you create a routine that will maximize your mechanics.  Don’t just flip your wrists on deck with the bat.            Every chance you get to work on your routine, take it.

   3. Do not talk about mechanics once you step into the box.  The box should be a no thinking zone.  You want to focus on the pitcher and the ball and just hit.  You don’t want a hitter that thinks too much.

2. Positive Self-Talk – think positives, not physical corrections.

   1. See it big, see it early.

   2. Hit it hard.  Visualize your hit before you hit it.

   3. Get all the ball

   4. Hit it big

3. Know the opposing pitcher.

   1. Watch her in warm-up and evaluate her pitches.

   2. Watch her throwing to the early batters.

   3. What is her best pitch? How do you plan to hit this pitch?  Know this before you get into the box.  ‘See’  this pitch before you ever step into the box.

   4. What is her go to pitch? What does she throw when she is behind?

   5. Does she get ahead with the first pitch the majority of the time?  If so, go into the box with the idea of hitting the first pitch.

4. Know your strengths and weaknesses.

   1. What pitch or location do you hit the best.  You should be looking for these zones only when you are ahead in the count.

   2. What pitch or location are you the least successful at?  You should be practicing on weaker locations in practice.

5. Know the situation and the signal.

   1. If you don’t know the signal, you will be guessing.  Prepare ahead of time so you are confident in the signals your team uses.

   2. Have a plan for your at-bat before you get into the box.

   3. Be aggressive and confident in executing the plan.

6. Learn to analyze the pressure situations and feel confident in them.

   1. Pressure is good; you have to live for pressure.  As a hitter you should live to create pressure.  You have the momentum on your side if you believe you do. 

   2. Find the green light.  Stay positive.

   3. Be a smart hitter (know your strengths and weaknesses)

   4. Stay within your abilities, don’t try to do it all by yourself.           

   5. Control the controllables.  You cannot control the weather, umpire, temperature, etc.  All you can control is a good, quality at bat.

   6. Focus on the process and the outcome will take care of itself.

   7. Execute your plan; execute what you practice.

7. Specific situations require both physical and mental adjustments.  These adjustments need to be made quickly and the coach can help with this by watching the other players succeed or fail.  You have to buy into the system and believe whole-heartedly.

   1. Adjusting to moving pitches requires you to adjust to the count.  On a 3-1 or 2-0 you should be looking for a pitch to drive because the pitcher doesn’t want to walk you.  When you are behind in the count (1-2, 2-2, 3-2), you need to focus on seeing it longer, seeing it better and think “she cannot throw it past me.”  These situations need to be practiced.

   2. Very fast pitching requires you to let the pitcher supply the power and focus more on contact.

   3. Very slow pitching requires you to adjust to the pitcher and let the ball get deep in the zone.  You need to focus on driving the ball the other way.  Don’t think I can tee off here…you will be way out in front.

8. Analyze the result of the at-bat.

   1. Don’t think that just because you were unsuccessful that everything was incorrect with your swing.  Many times, you just miss the ball or hit the bottom of it.

   2. You must be able to analyze, self-correct and self-reassure to prepare for your upcoming defensive tasks.  Do not carry over an offensive failure to the defense.

   3. Continue with positive self-talk.  Trust yourself and just react when you step into the box.  Remember, the best hitters in the game only succeed 3 to 4 times out of 10.