12/17/2025
The mask/no mask discussion pops up often. We are strict âmust wearâ proponents for pitchers and infielders. Because of this we provide free facemasks to the schools we assist with free equipment.
If your organization is in OH and serves low income/underserved areas, you should follow Superspecs to find out when their next applications go out to apply for free facemasks and/or helmets w/ face guards.
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Paige Lowary took a line drive to the face while pitching at the Division I level.
In 2016, Lowary, then pitching for the Missouri Tigers (Mizzou), was struck by a hard-hit ball during NCAA postseason play.
The ball came back so fast there was no time to react.
The impact caused significant facial injuries, immediately stopping play and silencing the stadium.
She was not wearing a face mask at the time.
This wasnât youth softball.
This wasnât inexperience.
This was Division I. Elite hitters, elite pitching, and hot bats.
Lowary later returned to the circle wearing a protective face mask, a visible reminder that no level of the game is immune to danger.
The incident sparked widespread conversation across the softball community about pitcher safety, reaction time at 43 feet, and how much faster the game has become.
After that chapter, Paige Lowary went on to pitch for Oklahoma, continuing her career at the highest level of college softball. Proof that wearing protection didnât limit her competitiveness.
She didnât wear the mask out of fear.
She wore it out of reality.
Lowary later spoke about how the injury changed her perspective, not just on pitching, but on protection.
This reinforces that taking precautions doesnât make an athlete weak, and it doesnât make them less competitive.
As bats continue to improve and hitters get stronger, the margin for error keeps shrinking.
And yet the pitching distance has stayed the same.
Stories like this remind us that protecting your face matters, even at the highest level of the game.
đŹ Do you have a story of a time you had a face mask save your daughter from a serious injury? Or an incident that made your daughter decide to wear one?
Join the conversation below đ
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Disclaimer:
This post is intended to raise awareness around player safety; not to suggest that the athlete was incapable, at fault, or âshould have made the play.â Situations like this come down to reaction time and physics, not skill or effort.
