Equipment Overview

The North City Shetland division begins the season using a standard hitting T for games. At the halfway point through

the season, the manual pitching machine is implemented into games (and practice). The machine used by North City

Shetland is the Louisville Slugger UPM 45 Blue Flame. There are many great benefits to implementing this machine at

this age and some are:

Introduces the players to a moving ball to track and learn timing.

The location of the ball is more consistent than a coach pitch – this gives the players more confidence to stay in

the box and not get afraid of the ball and thus concentrate on timing and hitting.

Allows more advanced players to get the feel for a more advanced game.

6U All-star Tournament uses the manual pitching machine – so the kids will be familiar at the end of the season.

The machine doesn’t require any electricity – it is a spring loaded manual operation.

There are a great deal of settings to adjust the ball placement and speed (20mph-40mph)

Pitching Variables

Like all pitching machines – there are certain nuances to each machine/ball to get the optimal/consistent pitch. Some

things that can affect the consistency of the pitch:

Ball type/brand variation

Ball orientation on arm (thread arrangement)

Dirt on the ball/in the threads

Tolerances from ball to ball (circumference/weight)

Machine anchor movement

Machine anchor depth

While there is no machine that can accommodate all the variables of a pitched ball and keep it in perfect location,

knowing some of the variables above should aid you in getting the most consistent pitch possible.

Machine Set Up

In the Shetland Shed, there is bag of items to help with machine setup. It includes:

Hammer

Measurement string with stake

4 Stabilizing stakes

2 extra machine stake markers

The latest rules from Pony Baseball 2016, state that the machine should be at a 38Ft pitching distance. There is a mark

on the measurement string for the old 35Ft and the new 38Ft.

The machine has been set up at the 38Ft distance and plastic machine stake markers have been placed on the field. You

can use the hammer to lift those out and place the machine stakes in the exact location.

If measurement is required, use the measurement string as shown (Pull taught, but not stretched). Once located, press

the machine anchors in as far as possible (bottom out).

Install front stabilizing stakes at angle shown Finished front stabilizing stakes

Note: machine cross bar/stakes bottom out with ground surface

Machine Settings

The settings for the machine are negotiable to get the best pitch for the players. There are a number of variables that

may attribute to the need to adjust the settings such as:

Machine anchor depth – this can affect the height the ball leaves the machine

Spring wear – the tension of the spring does begin to wear and power level may need to adjust

Desired arc to the pitch v.s. speed of the pitch.

The machine has been set up at the 38Ft distance using the following settings: (however due to variability in specific

balls being used, some adjust may be necessary – the necessary adjustment for ball variability should be able to be

achieved with just screw adjustment on the Micro Adjust only)

Spring Power level – 5 Micro Adjust – 3 Release Lever - 4

Operation

Lock Arm under block on release lever Load ball on throwing arm (consistent thread orientation is a must)

Press on Power Lever with foot Pull back on release lever when ready

When location over the plate is satisfied, it is recommended but not required to then:

Tighten location adjustment knob Place stabilizing stakes as shown –at angle (with hammer)

Finished stabilizing stakes

When finished with the machine

At the end of the usage period, if using the stabilizing stakes – they should remove by hand. If not, use the included

hammer to remove. Also remember to replace the green plastic machine stake makers in the holes – this will help the

next person locate the machine in the same place – SLIGHT tapping with hammer may be required. Also remember to

return the entire contents back in the blue tote bag when finished and return to the shed.