I’m still irritated by that Texas player who struck out three times yesterday because she evidently freezes up and forgets she is supposed to try to hit the ball. Seriously, if I were her coach she’d no longer get to bat. She’d either be a defense-only player or not play at all. It was crystal clear she had no intention of swinging at those last two strikes in the seventh, the very last one being right down the middle of the plate. Then she acted disappointed like, “Ohhhhh, nooooooo…. Why didn’t I swing at that? I struck out AGAIN!!!”
I have no patience for performance anxiety at the plate. Either you want to be a hitter or you fear failure going into the box. That player looked paralyzed by the moment. She’d not have to worry about that anymore if I were in charge.