Baseball players at the high school level must do drills in order to improve consistently. Hitting, fielding, and base-running drills can be particularly effective. Pitching drills can also work, though the most effective pitching work generally comes during practice sessions with a pitching coach. Drills hone players' skills and get them prepared for game competition.
Hitting Drill
High school coaches want hitters who are capable of putting the ball in play, and hitting the ball where it's pitched. Most hitters are not legitimate power-hitting threats, so hitting hard line drives can make a player an effective batter. This is done by keeping the back elbow up, and hitting the ball where it is pitched --- right-handed batters who hit outside pitches to right field, pitches over the middle to center, and pull inside pitches to left field have a better chance to be consistent. In this drill, use a pitching machine to control exactly where the pitch will go. Give a batter three inside pitches, three pitches over the middle, and three outside pitches. Give the hitter a point for every pitch he drives correctly. The hitter with the most points wins the drill.
Three-Ball Infield Drill
This drill helps get your infielders prepared to make any play that comes their way. Line up your infielders at their proper positions. You will hit each fielder three ground balls. The fielder will have to make the right decision with the ball. If there is a runner on first, the infielder will have to field the ball cleanly, then throw it to second base to start the double play. If there is a runner on third base and he takes off on the ground ball, the fielder will have to decide if he can get the runner, and if he can, he must throw home. He also will take a ground ball with nobody on base and make the throw to first. For each ball fielded and thrown correctly, the fielder gets one point.
Base-Running Drill
Put each player on first base and have him attempt to steal second base. On the next pitch, the player must try to score from second on a hit to right field. On the following pitch, the player goes back to first base, and tries to go from first to third on a single. Next, the runner tries to score on a fly ball to the outfield. For each play the runner negotiates successfully, he gets two points; the runner with the most points wins.
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