DeMarini Aces is a competitive travel-ball fastpitch softball organization based in the Kansas City / Mid-Missouri area. They field teams across a broad range of youth age levels — from 10U all the way up to 18U. Over the years, the Aces have competed in major national tournaments at the premier level, showing commitment to high-level competition and player development.
This year, the 18U team captured the National Championship at the Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series. We spoke with Head Coach Ryan Taylor about how his athletes use HitTrax to prepare for pressure-filled moments like the Championship run — and he had plenty of insight to share.
Ryan Taylor
Head Coach
Demarini Aces
“Hitting is at the heart of the game, and for our team, it’s become an even more intentional and exciting part of our daily work thanks to HitTrax. What started as a useful training tool has grown into a foundational piece of how we develop hitters, set goals, and measure progress."
We use HitTrax in nearly every practice. It helps us establish standards and stay consistent with our player-development process. The built-in camera system allows us to slow things down and break down the mechanics of each swing. Being able to visually compare “before and after” moments—especially with players like Jolie Jones and Kaedence Becker—has been transformative. Both have spent years training with HitTrax, and watching their swings evolve in response to real data has been one of the best examples of how actionable the feedback can be.
During practices, we integrate HitTrax directly into our batting cage work with a Hack Attack machine. It’s not just about tracking outcomes; it’s about providing hitters with immediate, objective feedback they can respond to instantly. Sometimes we use it to spark competition—with small prizes or team challenges—but more often, it’s a tool that reinforces our focus on quality swings and measurable progress.
One of the biggest shifts we’ve seen as a team is in our power numbers. Hitters are making adjustments faster, and their desire to improve grows when they can see their data in real time. Exit velocity has become a major benchmark for us; we aim for an average above 55 mph, and HitTrax helps us show players exactly where they stand and how close they are to their goals. Seeing that number climb is a huge motivator and has translated into more consistent, competitive at-bats in live games.
Using HitTrax reinforces our process, sharpens our focus, and gives us a foundation of measurable information to build on. Data doesn’t tell the whole story—but it gives us something solid, something quantifiable, and something to aim toward. Setting goals becomes easier. Achieving them becomes clearer.
For anyone new to HitTrax, that’s what we’d want them to understand most: data is a guide. It won’t replace coaching or instinct, but it gives structure and purpose to training. And for other coaches considering adding it to their program, the advice is simple—just do it. It’s become a key component of our success. Anything that helps hitters see and feel progress is worth the investment.
At the end of the day, hitting wins games. Score more runs than the opponent—it's simple. And with HitTrax, our players train with more excitement, more motivation, and more clarity than ever before.”