Abstract: A pitching machine for pitching a ball to a batter positioned in a first batting location. The pitching machine including a frame, a drive assembly coupled to the frame, a pitching arm and a lead timing arm. The pitching arm is coupled to drive assembly and rotatable in a first direction about a first axis. The pitching arm includes a forward side configured to contact and project the ball during a portion of the rotation of the pitching arm about the first axis. The pitching arm is configured to project the ball at least a first ball release position with respect to the first axis. The lead timing arm includes a marker. The lead timing arm is coupled to the pitching arm such that the marker is visible to the batter positioned in the first batting location prior to the pitching arm reaching the first ball release position.

Abstract: A pitching machine including a frame, a ball feed trough coupled to the frame, a ball acquisition structure coupled to the frame, and a ball cup coupled to the frame. The trough is configured to retain at least three of the balls. The cup is positioned at the lower end of the trough and is adjacent the acquisition structure. The trough is sloped to allow for gravity feed of the balls to the cup. The cup has a curved wall defusing a ball opening sized for receiving and dispensing the one of the balls. The cup is rotatable about a ball cup axis such that, during use, the cup receives one of the balls when the ball opening of the cup rotates to meet the lowest ball in the trough and the curved wall inhibits more than one ball from entering the cup, and as the cup continues to rotate.

Abstract: A pitching machine for pitching a ball to a batter positioned in a first batting location. The pitching machine including a frame, a drive assembly coupled to the frame, a pitching arm and a lead timing arm. The pitching arm is coupled to drive assembly and rotatable in a first direction about a first axis. The pitching arm includes a forward side configured to contact and project the ball during a portion of the rotation of the pitching arm about the first axis. The pitching arm is configured to project the ball at least a first ball release position with respect to the first axis. The lead timing arm includes a marker. The lead timing arm is coupled to the pitching arm such that the marker is visible to the batter positioned in the first batting location prior to the pitching arm reaching the first ball release position.