Heater Sports Pitching Machines - Baseball, Softball & Cricket Machines, Batting Cages & Training Aids

Heater Sports pitching machines cover every level of hitter, from a first mini-ball machine in the backyard to heavy-duty dual-wheel machines that throw up to 95 MPH. Heater Sports has designed training equipment since 1996. Alongside its baseball and softball pitching machines, the lineup includes batting cages, cricket bowling machines, golf practice gear and the feeders, balls and accessories that keep practice running. For Pro Athletic Supply's athletes, coaches, schools and training facilities, it's one brand that can outfit a home cage, a youth league or a full team program.

✔ A machine for every age and level - Mini-ball, lite-ball and real-ball machines let you match speed and ball weight to the hitter.
✔ Fastballs, curves and fielding work - Select models throw breaking balls, grounders and pop flies, so one machine covers hitting and defense.
✔ Automatic ball feeders - Many models include or support auto feeders, so a hitter can train solo without someone feeding balls.
✔ Batting cages sized for any space - Cages run from a compact 12-foot home cage to 72-foot real-ball cages for full-length tunnels.
✔ Baseball, softball and cricket - Dedicated softball, combo and cricket bowling machines extend the lineup beyond baseball.
✔ Parts stocked for every machine - Heater Sports keeps replacement parts on hand, so a worn part means a quick fix instead of a new machine.

Heater Sports holds a 4.8 out of 5 average customer rating across more than 3,600 reviews, from 30+ years of building pitching machines and training aids.

Mini and Lite-Ball Pitching Machines

Mini and lite-ball machines are where most young hitters, and a lot of serious ones, start. The Crusher pitches golf-ball-sized mini lite balls with a dual-wheel head that throws fastballs and curveballs. It's available with rechargeable battery options for practice anywhere, with no outlet needed. Lite-ball machines like the Power Alley 360 and Slider 360 throw lite baseballs that weigh half as much as a real baseball. That makes them safer for younger players and easier on cage netting. The Power Alley 360's full head rotation throws fastballs, sliders and curves, plus grounders and pop flies for fielding practice. The Slider 360 adds an automatic ball feeder, so a hitter can work through reps without a partner. Smaller balls also sharpen focus and hand-eye coordination, which carries over to game-size pitches.

Best for:

• Youth players learning to track pitches and build swing mechanics
• Backyard, garage and small-cage practice
• Families who want a safe, affordable first pitching machine

Real Baseball Pitching Machines

When a hitter is ready for game-weight baseballs, Heater's real-ball machines step up the speed and durability. The Power Alley Pro throws lite balls up to 60 MPH and real baseballs up to 45 MPH. The Base Hit throws real and lite baseballs up to 45 MPH, and both double as fielding machines. The Heater Jr. and Heater Heavy Duty pair variable-speed real-ball pitching with an automatic ball feeder. The Heater Pro throws fastballs and breaking balls, also with an auto feeder. At the top of the lineup, the Deuce 75 and Deuce 95 are heavy-duty dual-wheel machines with auto feeders, throwing up to 75 and 95 MPH. That's enough speed for advanced high school and older hitters preparing for live pitching.

Best for:

• High school and travel ball hitters training at game speed
• Coaches running solo hitting stations with auto feeders
• Programs that need breaking-ball work, not just fastballs

Softball and Combo Pitching Machines

Softball hitters need machines built around a 12-inch ball, and Heater makes both dedicated softball machines and baseball/softball combos. The Power Alley Lite 360 throws 12-inch lite softballs at variable speeds, a strong fit for younger players and indoor practice. The Heater Real 12-inch Softball Machine is a heavy-duty, variable-speed machine with an auto ball feeder for regulation softballs. For programs that serve both baseball and softball, combo machines handle both from one unit. The Perfect Pitch 50 is a lightweight mechanical combo that throws real baseballs and softballs up to 50 MPH, with grounders, strikes and fly balls. The Heater Combo includes a ball feeder, and the Blaze Combo is a heavy-duty option for heavier team use.

Best for:

• Fast pitch softball players and teams
• Schools and leagues running baseball and softball programs on one budget
• Coaches who want one machine for hitting and fielding drills

Batting Cages and Machine-and-Cage Packages

A batting cage turns any yard, garage or gym into a hitting station, and Heater sizes them for every space. The Home Run cage (12 x 12 x 10 ft) and the 18-foot Sandlot cage are built for mini and lite-ball machines. The Sandlot is also offered as a package with a lite-ball pitching machine and an auto ball feeder. For real baseballs, the Power Alley 22-foot cage measures 22 x 12 x 8 ft. The Xtender series runs from 24 feet to a full 72 feet, all 12 feet wide and 10 feet tall, so you can match cage length to your space and the speed you'll be hitting. Shorter cages suit youth and lite-ball work. Longer Xtender cages give older hitters the distance to see the full flight of a pitch.

Best for:

• Backyard and garage hitting setups
• Schools and facilities building indoor or outdoor hitting tunnels
• Families buying a complete machine-and-cage package

Cricket Bowling Machines

Heater Sports brings the same machine engineering to cricket, with bowling machines for players who want reps without waiting on a bowler. The Slider Lite 360 Cricket Bowling Machine runs on 110V and delivers lite cricket balls with an auto feeder. That makes it a good fit for younger players and backyard practice. For real cricket balls, the Heater Pro Cricket Machine delivers fast, swing and spin deliveries with an auto ball feeder. The Deuce 75 and Deuce 95 MPH cricket bowling machines are heavy-duty two-wheel machines with a 12-ball auto feeder for advanced batting practice. Paired with a practice cage and matching bowling-machine balls, these let clubs, schools and players work on timing and shot selection with repeatable deliveries.

Best for:

• Cricket clubs and academies running batting sessions
• Players training solo without a bowler
• Schools adding cricket to their athletics program

Training Aids, Feeders and Accessories

Beyond machines and cages, Heater Sports makes the gear that fills out a training program. Swing trainers, batting tees, drop-toss trainers and hitting nets give players reps on mechanics. Double Play solo trainers support pitching and fielding practice without a partner. For machine owners, Heater offers automatic ball feeders, ball feeder remote controls, pitching machine balls, machine covers, storage bags, ball shaggers and portable power for running machines away from an outlet. Golfers get automatic teeing machines, hitting mats, practice nets, shag bags and complete golf practice packages for the garage, backyard or range. These accessories keep machines protected and practice moving.

Best for:

• Players building swing mechanics with tees, nets and trainers
• Machine owners adding feeders, remotes, covers and balls
• Golfers setting up home practice with mats, nets and auto tees

Who This Is For

• Schools and athletic departments outfitting baseball, softball and cricket programs
• Training facilities and hitting academies running hitting stations and private lessons
• Youth league, travel ball and Little League coaches building team practices
• Families and players setting up backyard or garage batting cages
• Cricket clubs and academies that need repeatable bowling for batting practice
• Golfers building home practice setups with mats, nets and auto tees

How to Choose the Right Heater Sports Pitching Machine

Player age and level - Start younger hitters on mini or lite-ball machines like the Crusher, Power Alley 360 or Slider 360. Move to real-ball machines like the Power Alley Pro, Base Hit or Heater Jr. as players grow. Advanced hitters train best on the Heater Pro or the Deuce 75 and Deuce 95.

Ball type and speed - Lite balls weigh half as much as real balls and are safer for small spaces and young players. Real-ball machines range from 45 MPH on the Base Hit and Power Alley Pro up to 95 MPH on the Deuce 95.

Pitch variety and fielding - If you want breaking balls, look at models that throw curves and sliders, such as the Power Alley 360, Slider 360 and Heater Pro. For defense, choose machines that also throw grounders and pop flies.

Baseball, softball or both - Choose a dedicated softball machine for 12-inch softballs. If one machine needs to serve both teams, go with a combo machine like the Perfect Pitch 50, Heater Combo or Blaze Combo.

Cage size and space - Match the cage to the ball and the space you have. The Home Run and Sandlot cages fit mini and lite-ball practice. The 22-foot Power Alley and the 24 to 72-foot Xtender cages handle real baseballs at higher speeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between a lite-ball and a real-ball pitching machine?
A: Lite-ball machines throw lite baseballs or softballs that weigh half as much as regulation balls. That makes them safer for younger players, smaller spaces and lighter cage netting. Real-ball machines throw game-weight balls at higher speeds for players preparing for live pitching. Many Heater Sports pitching machines, like the Power Alley Pro and Base Hit, throw both lite and real balls.

Q: How fast do Heater Sports pitching machines throw?
A: Speed depends on the model. The Power Alley Pro throws lite balls up to 60 MPH and real baseballs up to 45 MPH. The Base Hit throws real and lite baseballs up to 45 MPH. The Perfect Pitch 50 combo reaches 50 MPH. The Deuce 75 and Deuce 95 dual-wheel machines throw up to 75 and 95 MPH.

Q: Can one pitching machine throw both baseballs and softballs?
A: Yes, with a combo machine. The Perfect Pitch 50, Heater Combo and Blaze Combo throw both real baseballs and softballs. That makes them a practical choice for schools, leagues and families with players in both sports.

Q: What size batting cage do I need?
A: It depends on the ball, speed and space. Mini and lite-ball machines work well in compact cages like the 12-foot Home Run or the 18-foot Sandlot. For real baseballs, the 22-foot Power Alley and the Xtender series, from 24 to 72 feet long, give hitters more distance to track the full flight of the pitch.

Q: Does Heater Sports make cricket bowling machines?
A: Yes. The lineup includes the Slider Lite 360 for lite cricket balls, the Heater Pro Cricket Machine with fast, swing and spin deliveries, and the Deuce 75 and Deuce 95 MPH two-wheel cricket bowling machines with a 12-ball auto feeder.

Q: Are replacement parts available for Heater Sports pitching machines?
A: Yes. Heater Sports stocks replacement parts for every machine it makes, so worn wheels, motors and other components can be replaced instead of buying a new machine. That keeps Heater Sports pitching machines running season after season for players, coaches and facilities.

Every good swing is built on reps, and the easiest way to get more of them is a machine that's ready whenever the hitter is. Heater Sports covers that from the first mini-ball machine in the backyard to dual-wheel machines and full-length cages for team programs, with cricket and golf practice gear alongside. Whether you're outfitting a school, a training facility or your own backyard, shop Heater Sports pitching machines at Pro Athletic Supply and give your players more swings every day.

Outfit your full program

Equipping a school, athletic department or training facility? Our Schools & Facilities page covers volume orders and program-wide setups for teams that need multiple machines and cages.

Explore the full Baseball & Softball collection for cages, screens, nets and practice gear for every age and level.

Want arm-style action to build hitter timing? Iron Mike Pitching Machines use a real throwing arm for game-like delivery in team cages.

Running a cricket program? The Cricket collection brings together bowling machines, practice gear and equipment for clubs and schools.

Setting up home golf practice? Golf Hitting Mats pairs with Heater's nets and auto tees for a complete garage or backyard setup.