We are very fortunate and so, I don't know of many HS teams that can do what we do. We have 2 rolling cages and so we do "double cage." Our set up involves 2 pitching ramps, 2 L screens and a hugh 10 x 10 screen between and hooked up to the L screens for protection. We use 2 6 x 12 hitting mats to hit off of so we protect the grass. The rolling cages abate at one corner over home plate and are slightly angled to prevent us from hitting parked cars along the ball diamond.
Behind these cages we set up an ATEC Rookie Machine to throw fastballs for a bunting station and we have a T station set up. Therefore, 4 hitting stations so everyone is working. We have rules for the double cage which include:
- Pull an outside pitch and out of the cage.
- Hit 3 lazy fly balls and out of cage.
Those 4 hitters keep rotating briskly between cages since we often have a left and right handed coach throwing. The next hitters in our order are in our other cages doing drill work. The main ones I won't discuss in detail but one I really like is that we do an "oppo drill" with the same rules as the rolling cages on the diamond. We are fortunate to have equipment and so often we have another rookie machine or a Jugs machine shooting fly balls to one or two outfielders as they get their fly ball work in. I don't believe in shagging and so, we have 3 JV kids shag and one person behind a protective net collecting the balls. Those 3 JV kids are on a timed rotation system and so, they are out there for a few hitters then they rotate into their "work." We also funnel our pitchers into this shagging role after they are done with their bullpens, running, lifting, etc.
Currently we have 13 position players and one pitcher that get live arm on the field in this system. The others receive live arm etc. in our cages.
