Patent ID: 8678957

Claim:
An apparatus for use in practicing pitching and aiming a baseball, comprising: a target screen having a first attachment apparatus for attaching said target screen to a structure and a first aperture; a frame attached to said target screen, wherein said frame is positioned at a perimeter of said first aperture and reinforces said target screen around said perimeter of said first aperture against impacts such as impacts of thrown baseballs; said frame defining an opening generally having the shape and size of a baseball strike zone; said first aperture and said opening communicate whereby a thrown baseball which passes through said first aperture also passes through said opening; said frame having a rigid construction; one or more elastic member attached to said frame, wherein said one or more elastic member divides said opening into two or more sections whereby said one or more elastic member is characterized by being able to stretch when struck by a baseball and resiliently return to its original shape after removal of force from the baseball; and at least one mechanical fastener which releaseably attaches said one or more elastic member to said frame and said frame to said target screen such that said one or more elastic member and said frame can be removed from said target screen and replaced without damage to said target screen.