Chemistry lessons in softball

Chemistry lessons in softball

BY JORDAN HANSEN | APRIL 01, 2015 5:00 AM

As far as relationships on the softball field go, the bond between a catcher and a pitcher is perhaps the most important on the team.

This season, the Hawkeyes returned a solid catcher in redshirt junior Holly Hoffman, who, including this season, has started 124 games in her Iowa career.

Having such an experienced catcher is a major boon for Iowa. She caught for one of the better pitchers in recent Iowa memory 2014 senior Kayla Massey and has tried to give some of that experience to this years No. 1, Shayla Starkenburg.

When Im catching Shayla, each pitch I try to give her feedback, Hoffman said. If she hangs one out, I say, Hey, try to get a little more bite on it, or a little more off the plate, you just missed this spot right here. Or if its a great pitch, I let her know that.

We work together a lot in practice, and theres a lot of communication, and I think thats why we have had the success that we have had.

While Starkenburg has struggled at points this season entering Wednesdays contest with Drake, she has a 5.11 ERA and sat out a week to make some adjustments, head coach Marla Looper said Hoffman still feels that there are a lot of similarities between her game and Masseys.

As far as approach goes, their approach to the game is very similar, Hoffman said. They want to go right at batters and attack batters. We try not to pitch around people. As far as their pitches go, however, they differ.

Ive taken time to get to know my pitchers and what they throw strongly, where their weaknesses are.

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Chemistry lessons in softball