Sports News for Kids tagged with "AFC West"

How does wind direction impact hitting and pitching?

This article explains how wind direction impacts baseball hitting and pitching as part of a Science of Baseball and Fitness series. Written at a 6th grade level, it defines wind direction types (blowing in, blowing out, crosswinds) and explains their effects. For hitters, wind blowing out helps the ball travel farther, potentially turning warning track flies into home runs, while wind blowing in does the opposite. Crosswinds push the ball sideways, affecting fielders and potentially benefiting certain hitters. For pitchers, wind creates control challenges, especially for breaking balls, but can also provide strategic advantages. The article describes how wind affects ball movement and how players adapt their approaches to different wind conditions, using simple examples throughout.