Inside Pitch: Theories of Hitting with 2023 Extra Elite 100 1B/OF Chloe Lesko!

Chloe Lesko, #73 in last year’s 2023 Extra Elite 100 and a strong candidate to move up when the rankings are updated starting April 26, recently joined our team of bloggers at Extra Inning Softball.

The first baseman/outfielder, a sophomore at Aliso Niguel High and member of Cal Cruisers 16U-Sievers/Caouette, is known for her elite deep ball power.

Be sure to check out her initial Inside Pitch on “Getting Mental” by clicking HERE!

For her second blog, Lesko is focusing on her theories about hitting …

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The basic principle to hitting well is to have a good swing. You will always be reminded of the fundamentals of swinging as if, in between two reps, you lost all your memory …

• “Do not let your barrel drop”
• “Palm up”
• “Do not dip”

The majority of the time when a player hears these corrections, the immediate response that will emerge in their thoughts is:

“I was not trying to do (said error)”

Of course, no one tries to fail, that would be an oxymoron in itself … if you tried to fail and did so, then you therefore succeed at your attempt to fail and ironically would be successful!

Focusing back to the repetitive reminders given to us ever so graciously by our coaches and/or parents, I am lucky enough to have killed two birds with one stone when it comes to that role in my life.

Their remarks made are not meant to make us as the players mad; instead, they should be taken as a reminder to not forget our swing’s “personality.”

Every hitter has her swing and if she didn’t then every pitcher would be able to earn a K with the same pitching combo. Granted, there are the coinciding elements to each swing; however, the “personality” of a player’s swing is built off the confidence and power put in by the batter.

A coach can ask a player: “Show me a practice swing” … and this command will then be followed by the basic: “Good, now put that swing on the ball.”

Although made to sound easy, it is true. The full personality of a swing is uncovered when the batter is loose and comfortable with her own mechanics. There is an extra layer of “I got this” blanketing their pre-swing thoughts.

So… swing with confidence, with power and with personality. Swing with good mechanics and no mercy … but make sure it’s a good pitch first!

— Chloe Lesko