Building a pool of softball pitchers from the ground up, Lyle Zenner has offered pitching clinics for girls since 1988.
The Central High School softball coach had a daughter who wanted to improve her skills on the mound so he stepped in and help not only her but also others. Hundreds of others by now, girls who went on to populate teams in the Traverse Area Girls Softball summer leagues as well as school teams.
"I could see that there was actually nobody who was helping these girls' pitching,” he recalled. "We just kept working year after year and they just kept coming in; when they started seeing what the other girls can do, they got encouraged.”
"You know they're having fun when they go out with a smile on their face,” Zenner added.
Starting in August just after the TAGS season ends, Zenner tutors pitchers at Thirlby Field every Tuesday afternoon. As the weather cools, he reserves space at the Glenn Loomis Elementary School gym Tuesday evenings and continues the clinic through the first of March. He wound up the season last week, drawing about two dozen girls of all ages and skill levels throughout the evening.
Attendees bring their own catcher and Zenner coaches each in turn in his quiet way.
"Some of them pick it up in a hurry and some it takes longer,” said Zenner. "It depends on each girl, once they can control it then we just start working with them on different pitches.”
Bailey Johnson, a sixth grader at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Middle School, attended last week with her father, Wayne, as her catcher. She will play in the TAGS B league this summer, her seventh season with the organization. A talented pitcher and all around sports fanatic, Johnson has flourished on the mound thanks to her determination, perseverance and the pitching clinic.
"It's outstanding, Lyle's talent and ability to communicate with the girls and get them to do what they can do is amazing,” said Wayne Johnson, noting his daughter will throw 100 pitches a day in the summer of her own accord. "He gets more results out of them than I would ever or any parent would.”
"It's extra helpful from the beginner all the way through high school, a 17 year old senior just trying to fine-tune their pitching skills,” he added.
Zenner works with each girl on the basic five steps of pitching: wrist snap, arm circle, stride, follow through and grip. Experienced pitchers refine and hone their skills in these areas while beginners work to master them and build muscle memory. For newer pitchers, once the fundamental mechanics are mastered, there's no stopping the girls.
"Pitching softball takes some skill and a lot of work,” he said, noting that the best older players treat it as a year round sport: "If you're going to be a good pitcher, you have to pitch all the time.”
Taylor Roderick, 10, is just picking up the skills after beginning to pitch last summer in TAGS C league. She and her sister, Hannah, 11, attended a few clinics this winter to improve their ability.
"They're both doing really well, thanks to [their coaches] and Mr. Zenner,” said Brenda Roderick, who was on hand to catch Tuesday night. "This has definitely helped with form and accuracy.”
Zenner's commitment over the years has paid off with competitive softball teams throughout the region. This year in particular will feature a tight race in the Big North conference at the high school level.
"It's going to be very competitive because just about every team in there has good pitchers,” Zenner said. "It's going to be interesting before the season's over.”