Hitting from a HS Point of View

Tre Luce is a Senior at Lufkin High School in Lufkin, Texas. Last year Tre was selected First Team All-District, hit .440 and had 43 RBI's.

I mainly just think that hitting is all based on the approach you have, if you are thoroughly prepared for an at-bat then more than likely, even if you get out, you will have a successful at-bat. If you aren't prepared for an at-bat or you aren't paying attention to the game, then more than likely you will fail and not be successful. I just make sure I know the situation and think about what to do to have the best outcome that will help the team the most. When all else fails, take till you get a strike.

Every approach to an at-bat will be different depending on the situation.  In the first at bat against a pitcher I've never seen before I like to always take the first pitch, and almost every at-bat I like to take the first pitch.  Some pitchers like to throw the first pitch for a strike to try to get ahead of you, if the pitcher you are facing is like this then pay close attention to where he likes to throw the first strike so that you will be ready for it and will not chase a bad pitch. Being in a situation where you have an 0-2 count, most pitchers will throw a ball out of the strike zone but make it look good to the batter, like throwing a high fastball, or an off speed that starts off in the zone and drops out of it. Being ready for a 2 strike count takes lots of preparation, look at the pitching chart to figure out what the pitcher likes to throw with two strikes, and be prepared. I like to foul off bad pitches, because eventually a high school pitcher will make a mistake with two strikes and pipe a fastball or hang a curveball.

With runners in scoring position, with no outs or one out, I like to find a good pitch to put in play, that won't go to the pitcher or third baseman, and usually in that situation I'm not swinging my hardest I'm just trying to put the ball in play and score the run. In any two out situation, especially with runners  in scoring position, I am taking all the way till I get one strike, the pitcher is normally nervous in this situation and will let some pitches get away from him, so I like to be patient and pick out a good pitch to hit hard for a base hit. If there is two outs and no one on, I also like to take the first couple of pitches to get a good feel for what the pitcher is doing to be further prepared for the next at bat. If I lead off an inning I normally like to take till I get ahead in the count, and if I get down in the count I try to foul off as many pitches as possible to run up his pitch count, then hit a "mistake pitch." I think it is most important to start your at-bat while "in the hole" so you can pick up anything the pitcher does while facing a batter, and being on deck is also very important to a successful at bat. I like to get my timing down and get a feel for the pitchers rate at which he throws ( windup speed, time in between pitches, and his body language as he receives a sign from the catcher).  If I do all this I am usually completely prepared by the time I step in the box, and all I have to worry about is hitting a good pitch.