How to handle on-field pitching machine/coach?

[DownTownTonyBrown]

Apparently, the pitching machine must be used at lower levels - 8U? I guess, I would treat a ball that hits the machine the same as is done for the other league (8U).

I don't know what that methodology is - probably a live ball; machine and operator are a part of the field.

After all, you have made these changes to the game so there will be more playing action and fewer walks (none). I would recommend maintaining that purpose and keeping the ball live.

As you well realize: as the girls get older they are also more athletic and able to move farther during a play; the chance of one of them running into the machine to catch a fly ball is greater. Stronger hits are also more likely than at younger ages, and a hit ball could unexpectedly ricochet from the machine into a player potentially causing injury. Adult operators have lost much of their youthful mobility; they are probably more likely to get hit or fall into the machine due to the potentially stronger hits and their possibly decreased athleticism.

From my unexperienced reasoning, it sounds like the game may have more playing action but the league may also be unintentionally creating some additional risk for participants. The game may be better until someone gets hurt due to the extra equipment... and then a lawsuit might be likely.

JMHO, Tony