 Our 9-Hole: Neglected, On Its Back, Treated Like A Bad Penny!
Bottom line: our pitchers are not practicing their craft!
A picture is worth a thousand words! In the photo, lies our pitching trainer on its back, unused in out-of-play territory. When we neglect the tools designed to help our players improve, the results show on the field.
Hitting is fun, and understandably, it receives a lot of attention. Many teams even schedule extra batting practice. But strong pitching is what keeps games competitive and engaging. It keeps scores manageable, innings moving, hitters swinging, and defenses alert.
We’ve all seen it: a pitcher issues multiple walks, the defense gets lulled to sleep, and when the ball is finally put in play, a routine out turns into an error and the inning continues! Repetitive walks slow the game down to a crawl. Not to mention the strain it puts on the arm when innings become long due to issuing walks.
The good news? This is fixable.
Consistent use of the 9-hole strike maker can significantly reduce walks and build confident, reliable pitchers. And this is where parents can make a real difference. Our players don’t get enough reps during team practices alone—developing command comes from repetition.
If you’re able, consider bringing your player to Banneker Upper Field for just 15 minutes, 2–3 times per week:
- Stretch — 2 minutes
- Jog (warm-up) — 2 minutes
- Throw 20-35 pitches at the 9-hole — 6-10 minutes
- Jog (cool down) — 2 minutes
- Leave
If a team is practicing at the time of your arrival, ask the coach if the 9-hole is available for a 10-minute window for your player to throw a bullpen.
If squatting to catch for your player isn’t an option, the 9-hole is the perfect solution.
Improve as individuals and we improve as a league!
Let’s commit to putting in the work to improving our player's pitching—and watch the results follow.
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