INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Dennis McKimm

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight is Dennis McKimm.  Dennis is an Instructor at ASBA Downingtown, where he gives lessons on hitting and fielding.  Dennis has been working for ASBA since December of 2011. 

After a successful high school career at Cameron County High School in Emporium, PA, he went to Mansfield University.  After a year there, he transferred to Penn State Altoona, where he excelled from 2002-2005.  He started all 3 years at second base, and batted .363 for his collegiate career.  In 2003 he was a 2^nd Team All-AMCC selection, and was a 1^st Team All-AMCC selection in 2004.  After graduating college in 2005, Dennis went on to work at The Glen Mills Schools, where he also coached from 2006-2011. 

When we asked Dennis what he enjoys about giving lessons, he said “I believe in improving minor details to the mechanics of a hitter or fielder for the best overall results.  I enjoy being part of the mechanical and physical development of a player. It is always great to see the final result of a player having a successful career in baseball.”

Off the field, Dennis is an avid outdoorsman.

To schedule lessons with Dennis, please call ASBA Downingtown at 610-518-7400.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TEAM OF THE WEEK: ASBA Warminster Mayhem 14U

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Team of the Week Award goes to ASBA Warminster Mayhem (14U).  They were 5-0 for the weekend of April 28^th and 29^th, winning the DB Inferno Summer Warm-Up Tournament in Douglassville, PA.  They are coached by Danielle Byrne and Jessica Russ.

The 14U squad came out swinging in the opening game of the tournament, walloping the PA Fusion in a 12-2 win.  Their next two wins would not come as easy, as they had to come from behind to beat the Chester Stars 11-10 and DB Inferno 10-9 in the last inning of each game. The team rode the momentum from their come from behind wins to beat the Berwyn Firecrackers 15-5 to advance to the championship game.  Pitted against UM Synergy, the 14U squad was able to close out the weekend with a solid 9-4 win to bring home the championship trophy.

Offensively, the team scored a whopping 57 runs in just 5 games.  The top offensive performers for the weekend were Taylor Marinelli, Emily Cosgrove, Sophia Kent and Morgan Seader.  Marinelli led the team with 9 hits in 15 at-bats, while scoring 8 runs and driving in 7.  3 of her 9 hits were for extra bases.  Kent, Cosgrove and Seader all had 6 hits apiece, and each had multiple extra base hits as well.  Kent led the team with 4 extra base hits, including a home run.  Cosgrove drove in a team high 8 runs for the weekend.

The team got stellar pitching from Jen Hammons.  For the weekend, she pitched a total of 20 innings, allowing just 3 earned runs the entire time.  Hammons racked up 29 strikeouts while scattering 7 hits. 

Coach Byrne was very pleased with the way her team played in the tournament, saying “I was so proud of our team this weekend. The girls fought hard and never gave up.  We had two come from behind wins in the last inning and executed all of the fundamentals of the game.  We hit, we moved runners over and were aggressive on the bases. Defensively we fielded all the routine plays and pitched well.  I am very excited to see what else these girls can do this summer.  It was a great way to start out the season with our first tournament."

ASBA Mayhem plays again the weekend of May 19^th and 20^th at USSSA May Madness in Quakertown, PA.  

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jonah Frankel

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Player of the Week Award goes to Jonah Frankel for his performance the weekend of the 21st and 22nd at Diamond Nation in Flemington, New Jersey. Jonah plays for ASBA West Chester’s 11U Select Team. He is coached by Brian Rorick.

In a 6-1 win over Pro Skills Baseball Academy 11U, Jonah took control early on the mound, and kept his foot on the gas pedal for the entire game. He allowed just one run and one hit to earn the complete game win. He tallied 9 strikeouts in his 6 innings of work.

 At the plate, Jonah was just as impressive, going 4 for 5 with 2 RBI’s in a rain shortened weekend.

Coach Rorick has been impressed by Jonah’s performance all season long, saying “He’s been one of the most consistent pitchers throughout the spring. He shows very good poise at a young age. He has the ability to command the zone with an above average fastball and a very good changeup.”

Jonah’s dad was thrilled to hear of Jonah’s selection as Player of the Week, as well as the improvements Jonah has made. “Our family really appreciates everything All-Star has done for Jonah. He has been a part of the All-Star program for about 2 years and has participated on the 10u & 11u teams. He has also taken private lessons during this time. We have seen a huge jump in his baseball development. Special thanks to Brian Rorick for everything he has done to help mentor and coach Jonah. I would also like to thank Joe Harris for his help developing Jonah as a pitcher.”

“All-Star is amazing,” Jonah said. “I'm thankful to my coaches and great defense that day. They all helped me pitch my best game.”

Congratulations to Jonah for being named the ASBA Player of the Week. ASBA West Chester 11U is done playing for the spring season. We wish Jonah and the rest of the team the best of luck with their respective Little League seasons.

To schedule lessons or for more information, please contact your local ASBA facility or check out our website at www.allstarbaseballacademy.com

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ryan Gerenser

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Player of the Week Award goes to Ryan Gerenser for his performance on the mound the weekend of the 14^th and 15^th at Diamond Nation in Flemington, New Jersey.  Ryan plays for ASBA West Chester’s 12U Select Team.  He is in 6^th grade at Avon Grove Intermediate.  Ryan is a pitcher, outfielder and 2^nd baseman, and is coached by Ed Cieslak. 

In his only start of the weekend, Ryan was dominant.  In a 5-2 win over Pro Skills Baseball Academy, Ryan threw 6 innings for the complete game win.  He allowed just 2 hits and one walk, along with 2 unearned runs.  He tallied 5 strikeouts as well. 

Coach Cieslak was very impressed by Ryan’s performance on the mound, saying “He threw the ball well, and he was around the zone the whole time.  The boys were making plays behind him the whole time.  His biggest pitch of the game was a 3-2 changeup to strike out a big lefty in a crucial situation.”

Ryan’s father has been very impressed with Ryan’s coaches and All Star Baseball Academy.

“The interaction between the coaches and the kids has been phenomenal.  The coaches do a tremendous job of talking to the kids.  This is the best coaching I’ve seen thus far at this age.  They teach more than just baseball, they teach baseball etiquette.  The coaches gave Ryan a lot of confidence, and he’s thoroughly enjoyed his experience with ASBA.”

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Ryan said.  “I really like Coach Ed and Coach Jason.  They’ve helped me out a lot with my pitching.” 

Congratulations to Ryan for being named the ASBA Player of the Week.  We wish him and the ASBA West Chester 12U Select Team the best of luck with the rest of their season.  They are back in action the weekend of April 28^th and 29^th at Sports at the Beach in Georgetown, Delaware. 

To schedule lessons or for more information, please contact your local ASBA facility or check out our website at www.allstarbaseballacademy.com

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Nick Cataldi

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Player of the Week Award goes to Nick Cataldi for his performance the weekend of March 31st at Sports at the Beach in Georgetown, Delaware. Nick plays for Warminster’s 12U team. He pitches and plays 3rd base. Nick is coached by Brian Good.

Nick had a tremendous weekend at the plate, going 7 for 9 with a whopping total of 4 homeruns. One of his homeruns was a grand slam, while the other three were 2-run blasts. Nick capped off the weekend with a game winning walk-off homer. Along with his astounding homerun totals, Nick scored 5 runs and drove in 11 runs.

 On the mound, Nick was equally impressive. In 3 innings, he didn’t allow a single run while earning two wins. He also racked up 5 strikeouts to put the finishing touches on his fantastic weekend.

 Nick’s dad was thrilled to hear of his son’s selection, and has been very impressed with All Star.

 “Our experience with All Star has been great. Coach Good and Coach O’Brien have done a tremendous job with the kids. Nick’s skill level has improved greatly. He had a fantastic weekend, and in general the whole season has been great. We hope to be with All Star for as long as we can.”

 “I thought the weekend went well, the team played great, and we got wins against some good teams,” Nick said. “I enjoy being on the team because the players are good and Coach Brian has really helped me in every aspect of the game. I’ve made a lot of friends on the team.”

 Coach Brian gave Nick a glowing review, saying “Nick is a better kid than he is a player and he is a darn good player. In all my years playing and coaching I've never seen a player hit 3 homeruns in 3 consecutive at bats both. This is only the type of thing I've seen on TV. The fact that all 3 came in crucial playoff games made it that much more impressive!”

 Congratulations to Nick for being named Player of the Week. ASBA Warminster 12U is done playing for the season. We wish Nick and the rest of the team the best of luck in their respective Little League seasons.

To schedule lessons or for more information, please contact your local ASBA facility or check out our website at www.allstarbaseballacademy.com

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight is Andrew McDonnell. Andrew is an instructor at ASBA West Chester, and gives lessons on pitching, hitting and fielding. Andrew has been giving lessons at All Star since January of 2012.

Andrew starred as a pitcher and 3rd baseman for Archbishop Carroll High School. He was an All Main Line selection in 2005 and 2006 as a junior and senior. After graduating in 2006, he went on to have a solid career at Monmouth University. He played for a team that won two Northeast Conference Championships and went on to play in the NCAA Regional tournament twice. He was the team’s Pitching Captain his senior year.

“I enjoy seeing the kids make improvements,” Andrew said when asked about giving lessons. “I get a lot of satisfaction from seeing them make progress each lesson as they learn to play the game the right way.”

Outside of baseball, Andrew enjoys spending his time on the golf course and at any Philadelphia sporting event.

To schedule lessons with Andrew, please call ASBA West Chester at 610-399-8050.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jarod Wade

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Player of the Week goes to Jarod Wade for his performance the weekend of the 16th through the 18th. Jarod plays for ASBA Downingtown 10U Elite Team. He is a pitcher and shortstop. Jarod is coached by Keith Falcone.

Jarod was dominant on the mound for the 10U squad. In two appearances, Jarod threw 7 2/3 innings, making one start and coming on in relief in the championship game. In his 7 2/3 innings of work, Jarod racked up 11 strikeouts while scattering just 6 hits. He held his opponents to just 2 runs.

At the plate, Jarod contributed to an offense that scored 34 runs in just 4 games for an average of over of 8 runs per game. He went 6 for 13 on the weekend with 5 RBI and a run scored.

“My coaches did a great job of preparing us to play, and they’re great teachers of the game,” Jarod said. “I have great teammates and I’m having a lot of fun.”

Jarod’s father has been very impressed with All Star.

“All Star Baseball Academy has a great program. The coaches do a great job of teaching the fundamentals of the game while the kids still have fun. It’s a blast to watch them play.”

Coach Falcone was very pleased with Wade’s strong performance on the mound, saying “Jarod did a great job on the mound this weekend. He had great presence on the mound, and he worked ahead in the count. He used his change-up very effectively, which allowed him to get outs and keep the team in the game. Jarod was also a defensive standout at shortstop.”

Congratulations to Jarod for being named Player of the Week. We wish him and the ASBA Downingtown 10U Elite Team the best of luck on the rest of their season. They play again the weekend of the 31st at The Ripken Experience in Aberdeen, MD.

To schedule lessons or for more information, please contact your local ASBA facility or check out our website at www.allstarbaseballacademy.com

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TEAM OF THE WEEK: ASBA Downingtown 10U Elite Team

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Team of the Week Award goes to ASBA Downingtown’s 10U Elite Team. They went 3-1 this past weekend, finishing in 2nd place in the 10U Indoor War at ASBA West Chester. They lost a close game in the championship to Massapequa. They are coached by Keith Falcone.

The team’s first game was Friday the 16th against the Long Island Ducks. The offense put up 15 runs in the tournament opener, as the pitching staff held the Ducks off the scoreboard. In the team’s second game, they earned a hard fought 5-2 win over Upper Providence. Falcone’s squad mashed their way to a win in the semifinal game on Sunday, beating a strong Piedmont team by a score of 11-3. Unfortunately, the 10U Elite Team ran into a strong team from Massapequa in the championship game, losing the contest by a score of 5-3.

Leading the offensive charge for the team were Jack Nielsen, Casey Caufield, Cole Rupp and Jake Kroger. Nielsen was 5 for 13 on the weekend with 3 RBI’s and 1 run scored. Caufield went 4 for 9, scoring 3 runs with 3 RBI’s as well. Rupp scored a team high 6 runs on the weekend, going 6 for 12 with 2 walk’s at the plate. Kroger was 5 for 10 with a walk and a double, and chipped in 4 runs as well. Both Nielsen and Caufield hit home runs on the weekend.

Jarod Wade and Danny Collinson had stellar performances on the mound for the 10U Elite Team. In two appearances, Wade pitched 7 and 2/3 innings, starting Game 1 of the tournament and coming on in relief in the championship game. Wade dominated the opposing hitters with a blazing fastball, racking up 11 strikeouts while scattering 6 hits. He let up just 2 runs. Collinson was equally dominant, throwing a 5 inning complete game against Upper Providence. He also allowed just 2 runs, and held Upper Providence to just 1 hit while striking out 7.

Coach Falcone was very happy with the weekend despite falling just short of winning the championship.

“I thought we played some great baseball. The boys played great defense, the pitchers threw well, and they swung the bats well this weekend. I’m excited to see what we can do in the next couple of weeks,” Falcone said.

The ASBA Downingtown 10U Elite Team plays again the weekend of the 24th at Diamond Nation in Flemington, New Jersey.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TIP OF THE WEEK

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Tip of the Week comes from Jim Fasano. Jim played collegiately at the University of Richmond and professionally for the Texas Rangers organization. Jim stresses the importance of staying consistent with your approach at the plate, regardless of what happened in your previous at bats.

A lot of ball players, both young and old, tend to get frustrated when their first few at bats don’t go the way they had planned. To compensate, they try to make up for it with one big swing, instead of sticking to their approach. Whether it’s driving the ball to the gaps or staying up the middle of the field, a player must keep an approach throughout the game.

In order to stick to your approach, you need to be both physically and mentally prepared. These can both be practiced in the cage. If your approach is opposite field, then work on hitting the outside pitch off the batting tee. When you hit underhand front toss, have your practice partner toss the ball on the outer half of the plate. When you’re ready for overhand batting practice, keep the same approach. This physical preparation carries over into your mental preparation. If you feel physically prepared, then you are mentally prepared, as you have the confidence to step into the batters box and stick to your approach. You have to be mentally tough in order to stick to your approach and be focused on every pitch.

Stay tuned for next week’s All Star Baseball Academy Tip of the Week. If you have questions about hitting or want to schedule lessons, please contact your local ASBA facility.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight is Dan Williams. Dan is an instructor at ASBA Cherry Hill, where he gives lessons on hitting and fielding. Dan has been a member of the ASBA family since December of 2011.

Dan played his high school ball at Seneca High School of Tabernacle, New Jersey. Dan played shortstop and third base, and was an All-Olympic Conference selection in three of his four years. After graduating high school in 2007, Dan went on to start at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also played shortstop and third base. He was named to the All-Ivy League 2nd Team as a freshman and sophomore, and was a 1st Team All-Ivy League selection as a junior and senior. Dan graduated college in 2011, and currently holds the school’s career hits record.

When asked what he enjoys most about giving lessons, Dan said, “I love to see the improvement the kids make. To see kids go from lesson to lesson, building upon each one, it’s great.”

Outside of baseball, Dan is an avid hockey fan, and “absolutely loves” the hometown Flyers.

To schedule lessons with Dan, please call ASBA Cherry Hill at 856-433-8312.

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