My area recently got hit by an incredible microburst this week that did a lot of damage to trees and caused the power to go out all over. People have had to abandon their homes and live in hotels until power is restored. It's a mess.

What does that have to do with fastpitch softball? We've all experienced those "microburst innings" — the ones where everything seems to go wrong at once.

Your pitcher walks the first hitter. The next batter hits a sharp ground ball that should result in an out, but instead ends up with an error and runners on first and second. Then a good, solid hit brings in a run, and an overthrow brings another one. Before you know it everything is out of control and you're wishing you were somewhere else — anywhere else.

It can happen to anyone — even the best of teams. You see it in the WCWS.  You see it in professional baseball. But it's always hurts worse when it's happening to you.

So what can you do about? The first priority is to stop the bleeding and get an out. Doesn't matter where, or what you have to give up. Get that out. Then another, and another.

Softball Tips - The Microburst Inning