Abstract: A ball pitching machine of the windmill type simulates the pitching motion of a human pitcher. The machine includes: (a) a rotating plate which rotates vertically 360° at a constant speed about an axis; (b) a pitching arm having a ball holder at a distal end and being pivotably connected to the rotating plate at a proximate end, the pitching arm adapted to rotate vertically about an arc of between about 100 and 300° at a high speed and to rotate about the remaining arc at the speed of the rotating plate; and (c) a flip lever pivotably connected to the pitching arm.