Machine pitch baseball is a type of youth baseball designed to give young players consistent pitches to hit. In youth baseball involving players 6 through 8 years old, many leagues give the youngsters a chance to throw the first three or five pitches to the batter. Since many pitchers of that age don't have control, the teams use a pitching machine to throw balls to the batter until contact is made.
Three Strikes
In machine pitch baseball, the baseball will come over the plate consistently. The machine is often the substitute for coaches who attempt to throw strikes to youngsters. In many leagues that involve coach-pitching, the player will get as many swing as he needs to hit the ball. In machine pitch, the player learns that he gets three strike on each at bat. A player who swings and misses at the third strike is out. This helps players learn the strike zone and the importance of making contact.
Hitting Only
There is no bunting, stealing or advancing on passed balls or wild pitches. The most important skills players learn at the early ages of youth baseball are hitting, fielding and throwing. Players cannot come to the plate and try to bunt the baseball. They have to use a full baseball swing and attempt to drive the ball. Bunting is a skill that players learn later on. Young players need to learn the basics.
Hitting the Machine
On occasion, batters will take a full swing and end up hitting the pitching machine. In that case, a dead ball will be declared and if there are runners on base, they will advance one base. There will be a youngster in the fielder's position on the pitcher's mound and he can make plays if the ball is hit to him, but he will not field the ball after it rebounds off the pitching machine and attempt to make a play.
Setting the Machine
Set the machine to pitch the ball at belt height for the average-sized hitter. Do not change the height of the pitches for each batter. Some batters will get pitches that are a bit high, while others will get pitches that are low. The majority will get pitches at belt height.
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