South Riding girls softball is still a young program

Loudoun South Little League launched its own girls softball program in fall 2023, built to fill the gap left when Loudoun Girls Little League Softball dissolved. That means the program is only a few seasons old, and a lot of South Riding girls are still early in their defensive lives.

Young programs assign positions fast. Whoever can catch a ball at eight ends up at shortstop, whoever cannot ends up in right field, and both stay there for years because nobody has time to reopen the question. South Riding is 27.5% under 18, the most kid-dense community we serve, and the HOA has no diamonds, so there is not much spare field time to find out what a girl could actually be.

Meanwhile the ceiling in this area is high. Lightridge in Aldie was the 2026 VHSL Class 5 state softball runner-up. Freedom on Riding Center Drive and John Champe pull from the same neighborhoods. The girls who make those rosters are usually the ones who could play more than one spot.

What we work on

Fastpitch defense is a speed problem. Base paths are 60 feet, so a hard ground ball to third becomes a play at first before a baseball infielder would have finished their crow hop. Arm strength matters less here than a clean first step and a fast exchange.

We start with the read and the first step off the bat, then the approach angle that lets her arrive in throwing position rather than catching position. Then the exchange, drilled until it stops being a decision, because on short base paths the tenths lost in the glove are the whole play.

The turn at second is its own build. Shorter distances mean the feed and pivot have to be quicker and cleaner rather than stronger, and the runner is on top of her sooner than she expects.

Then slap hitters. A left-handed slapper is moving toward the ball as she hits it, which pulls the corners up, moves the middle infielders, and forces throws on the run. Girls who have never worked it freeze the first time. We build the charge, the angle and the throw on the move until it is automatic.

Sessions are one hour, coach-led, one athlete at a time, with Coach Raul Rodriguez on position-specific work and game awareness. Parents watch. More on our softball fielding training program page.

The drive from South Riding

BTD trains athletes from South Riding at our facility on Robertson Drive in Manassas, roughly 20 to 30 minutes, Route 50 east to Route 28 south, or Braddock Road and Pleasant Valley Road south to Route 28. That is our only facility. More on baseball and softball training for South Riding families.

South Riding softball fielding FAQ

Her program is only a few years old. Is she behind?

Not behind, just newer to it. Loudoun South added girls softball in fall 2023, so many girls her age started structured defense later than a baseball player would have. Habits are not set yet, which makes footwork easier to build correctly the first time.

She got stuck in right field at 9. Can she still change positions?

Often, yes. Position assignments in young programs say more about who was available than about what a girl can do. We run her through infield and outfield reps, look at her first step and her hands, and tell you honestly where she projects.

Why does slap hitting matter this much in fastpitch defense?

Because it changes where everyone stands and how fast everyone has to move. A slapper already has a head start out of the box, so corners play up and throws happen on the run. It is the biggest reason a fastpitch infield cannot be coached like a baseball infield.

What is the drive from South Riding like?

Twenty to thirty minutes depending on Route 28. Plan for thirty on a weeknight. Families here already drive to every practice, so it is usually shorter than the trip to a tournament field.

What does she need to bring?

A glove, a bat, and cleats. We supply everything else.

Book a free evaluation

The first evaluation is free. We will run her through defensive reps, tell you what her feet and her exchange are doing, and give you a plan. Book a free evaluation and we will respond within 24 hours.

Questions first? Call or text 813-509-6955.