DR3 Fastpitch Blog

Earlier this year I turned 27, and it made me pause and reflect on everything this game has taught me.

Softball has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I think back to the younger version of myself stepping into the circle for the first time, I smile a little.

She had no idea ...

Every spring it happens.

March arrives, the season begins, and suddenly parents start comparing pitchers.

One girl is throwing harder.
Another is striking everyone out.
And before long, families start wondering if their daughter is falling behind.

Maybe your pitcher has already played a few games...

One of the most common things I see when athletes struggle under pressure isn’t a mechanical issue.

It’s a mental one.

Specifically, athletes don’t understand the difference between a routine and a reset — and that confusion leads to spirals on game day.

Let’s clear that up.

What a Routine Actua...

If your daughter gets nervous before games, let me start by saying this clearly:

That does not mean she’s weak.
That does not mean she’s unprepared.
And it definitely does not mean something is wrong with her.

Pressure shows up because athletes care.

And caring is a good thing.

One of the biggest ...

I had a parent tell me:

“Coach D, we’ve got games four nights a week. The idea of driving to a gym for workouts just isn’t realistic—but I don’t want her to fall behind.”

That’s exactly why I teamed up with Coach Dakota to build this 15-Minute In-Season Program for Pitchers. No gym. No heavy gear....

There’s a girl on your team right now who looks fine.

She laughs. She cheers. She says she’s “good.”

But inside?

She’s battling nerves.

She’s overthinking every mistake.

She’s losing sleep before games… and no one knows.

I’ve worked with so many girls like this—they hide it well, until the pre...

In today’s game, it’s tempting to chase the next pitch, the next milestone, the next shiny number.

But Coach D is here to say it loud:

More pitches doesn’t make you elite. Better command does.

Adding too fast can backfire—leading to injury, frustration, and burnout. Rushing mastery just for t...

It’s easy to scroll through social media, see everyone announcing new pitches and velocity PRs, and feel like your daughter is falling behind.

But here’s the truth: faster isn’t always better.

Coach D knows it firsthand—after seven injuries in seven years, all from pushing too hard, too soon. The ...

Every season I see it—girls with cannon arms, quick instincts, and the ability to perform under pressure.

Now picture those same athletes using that skill set on the flag football field. The crossover is incredible. Quarterback footwork mirrors pitcher mechanics. Route running sharpens focus and ag...

We all want to win. But if we’re not careful, we’ll raise a generation of players who think winning justifies bad behavior.

Stealing signs, heckling the other team, celebrating errors—none of this makes a team “competitive.” It just makes them unpleasant. Real competitiveness means playing hard, st...