College Bound Athletes
Vanessa Kellems softball athlete profile
Class of 2011
Centerfield, Outfield, Middle Infielder
Pitching: A Body and Mind Endeavor
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” This quote by Robert Collier describes perfectly the hard work that must go into being a great and, ultimately, successful pitcher. The pitcher is arguably the most challenging and time consuming of all positions in 
softball. Of those girls who decide to take on the leadership in the circle, some excel while others never reach the tough standards being a pitcher entails. The difference comes from two significant aspects of pitching: execution and mental toughness. Good execution is often a result of mental toughness. However, good execution is most notably due to being able to repeat the fundamental mechanics pitch after pitch. The better the muscle memory, the more consistent a pitcher will be, and the way she faces mental challenges in practice will allow her to tackle those same challenges with ease come game time.
Think back to some of the great pitchers through the past couple decades: Lisa Fernandez, Michele Smith, Jennie Finch, and Cat Osterman. From the time when Michele and Lisa reigned and put softball on the map to now when Jennie has just retired and Cat still shines in the NPF, we see two universal similarities: proper fundamental mechanics and mental toughness. When I played at DePaul and worked with pitching coach Cat Osterman, it was impressive to see first-hand the way she utilizes the fundamental form and the mental aspect of pitching to her benefit. I realized that fundamentals and mental strength, accompanied by hours and hours of hard work and practice, are what gives pitchers a foundation for success.
I believe teaching the fundamentals from a young age is important in creating a path of success for pitchers. By promoting the proper mechanics, a pitcher will learn correct body position, arm circle, leg drive, and wrist snap. Having a strong understanding of those important facets of pitching early on in a pitcher’s career will allow her the mental toughness to make adjustments under the pressure of a game situation. I have learned in my experience that an interactive teaching style is more beneficial, especially with young pitchers. It engages the athlete in the process of considering her body position, arm circle, leg drive and wrist snap and leads to better understanding of mistakes and quicker, more useful adjustments. By forcing the thought process to occur, a pitcher will not only build a foundation of better fundamentals but also increase her mental toughness. As she becomes more and more aware of the reasons behind poor pitches, she will understand the corrections and adjust accordingly. This greater understanding will help a pitcher create muscle memory and ultimately become a more consistent competitor.
Having an understanding of the fundamentals is also important as a part of the prevention of pitching-related injuries. Too often now I see young girls sustaining injuries that could have easily been prevented by simply correcting improper mechanics. And frequently these injuries are due to a lack of emphasis on the power of leg drive. As females, we carry the majority of our muscle mass in our lower half. Without the emphasis of increasing leg strength and drive, a pitcher is almost certain to end up with an arm injury.
Today, the focus on picking up speed has become more prevalent. A fundamental look into a pitch tells us that small increases in speed and strength in the proper mechanical form will help to increase pitch speed. Rather than simply trying to throw harder, focusing on increasing leg strength, picking up arm speed, and improving wrist snap through resistance and weight training is a safe and effective way to gradually build muscle and increase speed.
Above all, making sure that a pitcher is held accountable for her pitches and her mental attitude is what will help her achieve success in the game of softball. A pitcher is the physical leader on the field and she sets the tone of the game. If her execution, mental toughness, or a mixture of the two is not at the level it should be, the rest of the team will follow suit. Pushing a pitcher to figure out the mistakes she makes rather than giving her the answers with no thought on the matter will make her more independent and mentally strong. A mentally strong pitcher is most often a successful pitcher. Look back to the great pitchers of the past and present and you will see fundamental pitchers that have a “take no prisoners” attitude. That is how you become a successful pitcher and ultimately win in this challenging game.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SAN DIEGO, California (July 28, 2011) – Power Line Consulting is pleased to announce the hiring of its
newest staff member, pitching coach Becca Heteniak, along with the expansion of the Power Line facility. Training will continue as usual during construction, which began July 28. The opening of the new space, which will accommodate pitching and additional team space, will be announced in late August.
Becca Heteniak adds elite pitching instruction to Power Line. The facility will take on the vacancy next door and double in size to accommodate its expanded services. With the expansion also comes the advancement of its overall mission, allowing Power
Line to mentor every aspect of athletic development throughout the softball community.
“I teach proper mechanics, situational awareness and the mental approach necessary for exceptional performance on the mound,” said Becca Heteniak. “I’m eager to share my knowledge and mentor athletes, both physically and mentally, in order to help
them reach their goals on and off the softball field.”
As a DePaul freshman in 2007, Heteniak was named Big East Rookie of the Year, first team All Big East, Big East All-Academic team member and awarded third team National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American team. Heteniak lead DePaul to an appearance at the Women’s College World Series, where they finished 5th. In 2008, Heteniak was named Big East Conference Pitcher of the Year and Big East Championship Most Valuable Player. She was also recognized for being part of the Big East All-Academic team and the Big East Championship All-Tournament team. Named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association first team All-Mideast region and the American Softball Association’s pre-season Top 50 Watch List, Heteniak has earned Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I National Player of the Week and USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the week honors. In 2010, Heteniak was nominated for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award and placed as a Top 10 finalist for excellence on and off the field. Heteniak was a 6th overall draft pick by the NPF Tennessee Diamonds and graduated as DePaul’s second all-time winningest pitcher and is currently ranked top five in career strikeouts.
Heteniak played for Royal High School in Simi Valley, CA, and in 2005 she led her team to a CIF-SS Division 1 championship. Heteniak also played travel ball for the Southern California Pumas 18U Gold, coached by Gary Keohohou.
Heteniak’s pitching services will begin on August 29. Appointments can be scheduled online or by calling Power Line at (858) 277-7792.
Power Line Consulting was founded in the fall of 2008 by Sara Hayes, who, after 13 years of college coaching, decided she wanted to do something that would have a lasting impact on the softball community in San Diego and beyond. Her vision is to utilize elite tools and technology to expand the opportunities of athletes, coaches, teams and leagues. Power Line’s programs are structured to develop the complete athlete through skill training, mentoring, sports performance coaching and to advise athletes how to market those skills to college recruiters. Hayes also consults coaches as they grow their programs and promote their athletes. Power Line trains and mentors 100 athletes each week and has placed 35 student-athletes in colleges across the country. Power Line is recognized as a leading training and mentoring facility for young athletes in the Southwest region.
Contact:
Sara Hayes, Owner, Power Line Consulting
(858) 277-7792
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