Ava's Goals — Spring Into Fall
A working sheet, not a wish list. Each goal has a way to tell if it's actually happening — a goal you can't measure is just a hope.
Turn the arm into pitching — command over velocity.
Why it matters: the velocity is already there; what beats her is the walks.
- How we'll know: an outing where she gets ahead of nearly every hitter and walks almost nobody.
- This week: the corners game — get strike one every at-bat.
A changeup that doesn't tip.
- How we'll know: a hitter is out in front on the change in a game because the arm speed matched.
- This week: same-arm-speed reps with a partner calling the tell.
Trust it when behind.
- How we'll know: down 2-0, she throws her normal controlled fastball for a strike instead of overthrowing.
- This week: behind-in-the-count reps thrown smooth.
One bad pitch stays one bad pitch.
- How we'll know: a walk or an error followed by a steady, composed next pitch — not a snowball.
- This week: the "step off, breath, next pitch" reset after every failure rep.
The one that isn't a skill
Keep her body language up.
- How we'll know: after a rough inning, her demeanor in the circle looks the same as after a clean one.
- Nobody claps for this one. But her whole team reads it — it's the habit underneath every other goal.
Pick one target every time she pitches or practices, put a number on it, and chase it. The goals don't move — the evidence stacks up.
