In the walkthrough, the player is making consecutive jumps, but this game isn't allowing it. I have to wait to make a second jump and it makes it impossible to complete.
There seems to be 3 types of pitches... a fast straight ball, a change up (home run ball most times) and a slow high pitch which is always called a ball. You just have to recognize early in the pitch which one it is and either swing or don't. I got a 12 on my first play.