Portolite helps young players become pitch perfect

David Marks and his partners want to improve baseball for the game’s youngest players and pitchers.

And they turned to Portolite to lend a hand.

Marks and other former pro-baseball players saw that traditional baseball led to long stretches of inactivity for tiny players. 

Too many walked balls.

Too many long innings.

Not enough hitting, running, or pitching.

Kids and parents should be excited about baseball, they thought.  Games should be fast and give kiddos lots of hands-on practice.

The Seattle-based team came up with RapidBaseball, a program designed specifically for players ages 6-10.

This program keeps games to 60-90 minutes, with a strict time limit for each of four innings.

Pitching machines are used during games to give kids more opportunity to hit a ball and run the bases. Games see 150 to 200 at bats, and more than 120 balls in play for defensive plays in the field.

RapidBaseball kit includes custom Portolite Mats.

There’s a lot going on.

The program includes a field kit for each organization, league, or coach who sign up, as well as instructional videos.

Kits include two pitching targets and two pitching mounds for its RapidBullpen. Young pitchers practice fundamentals off the field with one-on-ones with coaches.

That’s where Portolite comes in.

“We needed a pitching mound that was lightweight and would work on grass, dirt, Astro turf, and indoors or outdoors,” Marks said. “We wanted a good-quality product made in the U.S.”

“We did a lot of research on the internet and found Portolite. They were willing to work with us to design the exact product we needed.”

RapidBaseball is highly focused on development of pitchers, he noted. 

“We now have the ultimate, lightweight and portable training mound, thanks to Portolite,” Marks said.

These are custom-made just for RapidBaseball.

“Portolite designed four-inch economy mounds,” Marks said. “They are small and very functional, but still have all the aesthetics and quality components.”

The mounds are a perfect fit for the program’s emphasis on growth of player skills and mechanics.

Coaches love that kids stay engaged as they practice fundamentals. And once players get bigger and stronger, they’re ready to move to regular league baseball.

RapidBaseball fans are Portolite fans.

“Our customers give us positive feedback about the pitching mounds,” he said. “They’re pleased with how well-built they are.”

“Working with Portolite has been exceptional. Communication is fantastic. They understood what our goals are and have been excellent partners.”

“Portolite has been incredibly responsive and always deliver quality products. They are very consistent.”

RapidBaseball receives mounds for kits as fast as they order them, he said.

“I would absolutely recommend these mounds to others.”