By Archer Moller and Jay Galgano
There was nothing worse than Coach Pankratz throwing baseballs into your ribs or Coach Cvetich ripping sliders to a kid from Germany who had never played baseball before. But those were just everyday norms for Ojai Valley baseball practices.
But recently, thanks to long-time donor and benefactor Anthony Williams, a tri-wheeled pitching machine has landed on the Doc Smith Field.
“I had a few mentors when I was in high school, and one of them always told me just to pay it forward,” said Mr. Williams. “I never understood what that meant, and he always said, ‘You will when the time comes.”
The machine has quickly become a hit with the baseball team, as it helps in and out of practice. Junior baseball player Renji Hanai says, “We love the pitching machine,” continuing on his point, “we are all improving so much.”
The machine has given the team more effective practices and is certainly a strong skill-building tool. It helps with batting and fielding practice and gives consistent repetitions for solid work.
The team is incredibly grateful for Mr. Williams’ donation and excited for what it will bring in the future. As the season-opening game approaches, the machine will continue to be used in practices for preparation.