Abstract: An improved ball pitching apparatus for a ball pitching machine of the type having an upper and lower wheel, said wheels rotating on substantially parallel shafts and having generally aligned and spaced rims carrying peripheral ball gripping bands; independent speed controlled drive motors; a ball feeder for feeding the ball between the spaced rims so that the ball will be gripped and accelerated in a trajectory tangential to the rims; a head frame carrying the wheels, drive motors, and ball feeder; and, a stand carrying the head frame.