Machine Pitch League

We are starting Ashburton’s first Machine Pitch League. This version of Softball is played all around the world. We are very excited about bringing this fast passed Softball to Ashburton.

It will be for kids aged between 9 and 12, and the great thing is it will be FREE.

It is the perfect game to help kids transition from T-ball to the 13 and under Little League. It is also a great way for anyone to learn how to play Softball as all the pitches are done with a Pitching machine, so that all pitches are accurate and pitched to the same spot.

This competition will be run on a Friday during Term 4 and will be school teams. This means you can still play for your club for the Saturday competition.

The Machine Pitch League is structured to resemble the traditional softball game with the major difference being the use of the pitching machine.

In this league fielders are assigned to traditional positions, outs and run rules are in effect, and the score is kept during the game.

The good thing about this League is =

Every pitch is hittable and very accurate.
Batters do not have to worry about being hit by a pitch.
Batters will significantly improve their hitting skills and confidence as well as prepare them for kid pitch U13 softball.
Significantly develops fielding skills. With every pitch being hittable, the ball is put into play much more frequently, and the ball is often struck well so that the fielders are getting plenty of experience in handling well hit balls. With no balls or walks there is a lot more action. keeping everyone focused, and making the game much faster.
There are no walks. More action so kids pick it up faster.
The games will be held in the afternoon, so it will be easier for the kids as the ball and grounds won’t be damp.

All the traditional rules are in effect with some adjustments (Please see rules sheet). We have taken most of the rules from other machine Pitch leagues.

The combination of the traditional rules and plenty of action helps the players develop their knowledge of the game.

They will come to understand the difference between a ground ball and fly ball and when to run.

The Competition would run on Friday afternoons at Hampstead.
It is a free competition.
The competition would run over term 4 only and would run over 9-weeks. There would be 8 games as there would be no game on Christchurch Show Weekend.
Each game would run for 45 minutes.
Start times for games would be: 4 pm, 4:50 pm and 5:40 pm. At the Hampstead club grounds.
Each team would be school teams or made-up teams. Not Club teams. This means that anyone that plays for their school team can then go and play for their club team in the weekend if they want.

Example of a machine Pitch competition. https://youtu.be/12CwxU8ysM0

Click HERE to see the rules