Ahh...no. I'm saying that she would have been seriously injured at points in her TB/HS career had she not had a mask on her helmet. I doubt she's alone. In fact, I think the risk rises as they get older and everything is thrown / hit harder. I cringe every time a college player comes to the plate with only a jaw guard. It only takes one pitch/throw/foul to end a season, or a career.
Why is there not ANY push in baseball youth all the way up to MLB to promote use of a helmet cage when it only takes one pitch/throw/foul for a "season/career ending" injury? I would argue that that type of injury is not common at all, it is the fear that dominates the argument for mandated helmet cages.
No one likes injuries at all.. However, the two sports are not dissimilar at all in terms of reaction time to get out of the way of a errant pitch. Little league pitchers pitch from 46' and pitch up to mid 60's. Very few have reached almost 70mph. That is nearly identical in terms of speed as softball from 43'. When baseball moves to 60', pitching speeds increase but reaction time is nearly the same, so again, why the discrepancy? I think it is fear driven.
I appreciate the ability for TB/HS/College players to wear fielding masks if the choose to.. Softball defenders, pitchers especially, are closer than their baseball counterparts for ages 13+ (when baseball moves to 60/90') and softball has crazy exit velos off of hot bats. To me, this is good that the decision is the players and masks are more and more common now.