Same principle as right-handers but mirrored. In the load, the bat knob should point toward the catcher, with the barrel NOT wrapping behind the head. A string tied to the barrel gives instant feedback. For lefties the string should stay visible on the left side of the helmet at load — not fly back toward third base.

For LHH, the RIGHT leg is the back leg. Harrison must drive and explode off that right side — not pivot and "squish the bug." Place a bucket outside the right foot: a powerful swing drives the foot toward the pitcher; pivoting in place knocks the bucket. Elite lefties (like Dave Ortiz, Barry Bonds) drive through, not rotate in place.

Now facing kid pitchers with varying speeds, Harrison must get to his launch position early. Early Hover Drill and Foot Strike Drill train the habit of loading before the pitch arrives — not reacting to it. Most swing breakdowns at this age happen because the hitter is late setting up. Load early, decide late.

Striking out looking is almost always a timing and decision problem, not a mechanics problem. The fix: start the stride as the pitcher's arm comes forward, not after you've decided to swing. For LHH Harrison, the right foot (front foot) should be lifting and beginning to stride as the pitch is released — this keeps him in "attack ready" rather than "watch and decide." Load early. Decide at the last half-second. The stride is not a commitment to swing — it's a commitment to be ready.

With two strikes, the approach changes completely. Choke up 1–2 inches on the bat for more control. Widen the stance slightly for better balance. And most importantly: swing at anything close. The zone expands with two strikes — borderline pitches that were "balls" earlier become too risky to take. The mental cue is simple: "Two strikes — if it's close, it's mine." At youth level, umpires typically tighten the zone on the hitter with two strikes, so leaning aggressive is almost always right.

Before stepping in, Harrison should watch at least 2–3 pitches from the on-deck circle and ask: How hard is this pitcher throwing? Where is he locating? What is the umpire calling? If the ump is calling high strikes, know it and adjust. If the pitcher is wild early but hits the zone late in the count, know it. Information gathering before the at-bat starts is the difference between a guessing hitter and a prepared hitter. Never step in blind.

An unfocused hitter "waits to see something good" — and often watches a strike go by because it wasn't perfect. A focused hitter picks a zone: "I'm looking for a pitch middle-in, belt-high." If it's there, attack it. If not, take. For Harrison as a LHH, his power zone is middle-to-inside — pitches he can pull or drive to the left-center gap. Going to the plate with a specific look stops the passive watching that leads to called third strikes. The drill: before every simulated at-bat, make Harrison say out loud what pitch/location he's hunting.

Recommended 45-min session: 5 min warm-up / light throw, 10 min hitting drills (1–2 focused drills), 10 min pitching or fielding work (alternate each session), 15 min live hitting or simulated at-bats, 5 min cool-down + one specific praise and one coaching point. Keep it fun and high-energy every time.