ALL STAR BASEBALL PLAYER/TEAM OF THE WEEK

All Star Baseball Academy is pleased to announce our Player of the Week Award, and also recognize the players who have been nominated by their coaches:


PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:


Jeff Norwood, West Chester 18U Prospect Team-- Jeff tossed a complete game 3-hitter to help the ASBA team go 4-0 at the Berkshire Baseball Tournament last weekend. He attends Concord High School.


Evan Emerich, West Chester 18U Prospect Team— Evan was the big gun for the ASBA 18U squad as he had 7 hits over the weekend, with a HR and 4 doubles. He also had 8 RBI’s, and helped Coach Mark Freed’s team outscore their opponents, 23-7, over 4 games!


Also Nominated :


Drew Taylor and Charlie Sheridan, Downingtown 18U Prospect Team—Both Drew and Charlie starred at the plate at the team’s tournament in Palmyra, PA. Drew had a HR and 5 RBI’s and Charlie hammered a HR and had 3 RBI’s, with two walks.

TEAM OF THE WEEK:


 ASBA 18U Team, Downingtown coached by Keith Falcone


The Prospect Team had a successful 2-1 weekend record at the “In The Net” Tournament in Palmyra, PA (near Hershey). Drew Taylor and Charlie Sheridan led the way at the plate and on the bases for ASBA with clutch hits.




Congratulations to all of our weekly winners! Look for Player and Team of the Week updates every week on our ASBA Blog!!

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BROOMALL 10U TEAM MAKES FINALS AT SPORTS AT THE BEACH TOURNEY!

ASBA 10u Broomall, Long Version from stacey bonnell on Vimeo.

The ASBA 10U tournament team did a super job at the recent Sports At The Beach tourney, earning a spot in the championship bracket vs. a strong Tri-State Arsenal squad.  Assistant Coach Ken Brown summarized the team's run to the finals below:

"We lost in the Championship game to Tri-State Arsenal, 15-0.  The kids just ran out gas.  It was their third game on Sunday (9 am, 1:30 pm & 3:45 pm)," said Brown, who coaches the 10U team with Head Coach Javi Rodriguez.  Ken's comments continue below:

1st game: (T) 9-9 vs Jackson Rebels

Highlights: We came back from a 9-3 deficit to tie the game in the top of the 6th inning.  Evan Matthews and Josh Jenkin went 2-3 with 2 RBI's and 2 runs scored.

2nd game: (L) 5-4 vs Delaware Vipers

Highlights: This was a tough loss for the team.  We gave up the winning run in the top of the 6th inning and we couldn't capitalize in the bottom of the 6th.

3rd game: (W) 7-6 vs Jackson Rebels

Highlights: CJ Raech went 2-2 with 2 RBI's & 2 runs scored (he hit a 2 run HR in 1st inning) and threw 3 innings of no hit ball. Jake Calamaro went 2-3 with 2 runs scored.

4th game(Semifinals): (W) 4-2 vs Ridley Royals

Highlights: Zach Burgess had the game winning RBI and Adam Fine weathered the storm and closed out the game with runners on 2nd and 3rd and the winning run at the plate.

5th game(Championship): (L) 15-0 vs Tri State Arsenal

Highlights: The team ran out of gas for the championship game.  We played well for 2 innings and the wheels fell off in the 3rd.  The team battled and gave it their all.  We're very proud of the players on our team for their efforts and determination.

Note: The ASBA Blog would like to thank Dr.Michael Nance (a team Dad) for the great photos he took at the SATB tournament.  See some of these great action shots on the slide show here.  We welcome ALL action photos of your teams for the Blog.  Send them to ken@allstarbaseballacademy.comwith notes on how your team did at area tournaments.  THX!

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ALL STAR BASEBALL’S TIP OF THE WEEK:

This week’s Tip is from Brian Walker, new Assistant Manager and instructor at the ASBA West Chester facility. Brian is from South Florida and starred as a left-handed hurler for the University of Miami. He posted an overall record of 26-5 and helped the Hurricanes win 2 CWS titles, in 1999 and 2001. He also served as the head pitching coach at the University of Delaware before joining ASBA this fall. To schedule lessons with Brian, call ASBA at 610-399-8050 or stop in today!


When someone asks me what the most important pitch in baseball is, my reply every time is Strike One!  The most important aspect of pitching is the ability to throw strikes and stay ahead of the hitters. So what are some basic concepts that will make this easier?

First, I believe it is of utmost importance to keep your delivery to the plate as simple and repeatable as possible. Your goal is to stay over the rubber as long as possible before you break from your balance point and deliver the pitch to the plate.


This means no huge steps, making sure your pivot foot is even with the rubber, and not turning your body away from the plate when you get to your balance point. Nothing that your body does before breaking from your balance point is going to help you throw any harder or throw more strikes. In fact, it just becomes tougher to repeat, which in turn leads to fewer strikes and less velocity over the long haul.


Remember, keep it simple and you should notice a dramatic improvement in your ability to throw strikes. Get ahead in the count and success will follow!

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ALL STAR BASEBALL PLAYER/TEAM OF THE WEEK

All Star Baseball Academy is pleased to announce our Players of the Week, and also recognize the players who have been nominated by their coaches: 

All STAR PLAYERS  OF THE WEEK:

Dan Santoleri, ASBA 17U Futures Team--  Dan went 5 for 5 at the plate with 3 walks at the University of Maryland Tournament and also threw out a baserunner trying to steal. 

Jake Calamaro and CJ Raech, ASBA 10U Team, Broomall— Jake was 5 for 11 hitting with 8 steals and 5 runs scored from the lead-off spot at the recent Sports At The Beach Tournament.  Teammate CJ was 3 for 11 with 5 RBI’s and 4 runs scored in the SATB tourney.  He also tossed 3 innings of no-hit ball as a standout pitcher. 

Also Nominated: 

Sean O’Keefe and Jeff Norwood, ASBA 18U Prospect Team, West Chester—Both Sean and Jeff pitched complete games at the Dynamic Tournament at the University of Maryland, helping their team earn a 3-1 record.  

   

TEAM OF THE WEEK – ASBA 18U Prospect Team 

The All Star Team of the Week is the 18U Prospect Team coached by Mark Freed.  The squad excelled with a 3-1 record at the Dynamic Tournament in Maryland and averaged an amazing 8 runs a game for the weekend.  Troy Sarpen and Matt Catania blasted HR’s to help the team outscore their opponents.

RUNNER-UP TEAM OF THE WEEK—ASBA 10U Team, Broomall

The team made the finals of the Sports At The Beach Tournament, losing to a strong Tri-State Arsenal squad.  ASBA defeated the Ridley Royals 4-2 in the semifinals, thanks to great efforts by Zach Burgess and Adam Fine.  (See action photos from the SATB games here on the Blog!)  

Congratulations to all of our weekly winners!  Look for Player and Team of the Week updates every week on our ASBA Blog!! 

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"COLLEGE CORNER" with Steve Van Note

Communicating with College Coaches-- Several Do's and Don'ts.....

There are three basic ways a player can communicate with a college coach-- by e mail, phone and in person. All are very important and should be done by the player and not the parent. A college coach wants to hear from the player. The player will be the one on campus for four years, not the parent.  A coach wants to hear from your son's voice that he is interested in the school and that their school is a place he could see himself attending. To be very honest, when a coach sees too much involvement from a parent, it will register as a red flag in their mind. 

When sending a coach an e mail, you need to understand that they receive many e mails every single day.  Being direct and to the point will be your best bet. The e mail should be factual and be sent as soon as you have interest in the school.  If you have an upcoming season approaching, that is an additional plus.

You will want to give them facts on you (name, grade, school, GPA, SAT scores (if taken) and your team's info (name, coach's name and number).  Attaching an upcoming season schedule will be helpful and highlighting a big game in the season is important.  It may entice the coach to come out and watch.  If there are multiple players to watch, he may decide it's worth the trip. Do your research and address your note to the recruiting coordinator if this is a new email. I would definitely have someone in the baseball business check your e mail before you send it.  Your parents have your best interest at heart but in this area they may not know what to add.  For example, adding your Little League stats may be a turn-off for the coach. Having the parent assist with the e mail is OK but please make sure it does not look like a NY Times best seller!  Remember the coach wants to hear directly from the player.

A couple of important points to remember:

1) A coach will not be able to give you or ask you any recruiting info over e mail before your junior season. 2) Some coaches may even hold off on responding because they do not want to hit a "gray area" in the rules of recruiting.  So please do not be alarmed if a coach does not respond right away.

When talking to a coach on the phone, please make sure it doesn't sound like you just woke up.  If you call the coach, please have an idea of three or four questions to ask. If you can keep the conversation going, then your personality with show. Ask questions about the upcoming season, big games, travel trips. This will give you an idea of what direction the program is heading. When the coach asks a question, please be honest. You need to find out if this school is the right fit for you. A few rules to remember:  A coach can start calling your son July 1 going into his senior year. At that point he will only be able to call you once a week. You can call the coach as many times as you want, but the coach can only call back once. Before July 1, you can call him as well but just remember, even if you leave a message, he can't call you back.  

When speaking to a coach in person, make sure he has your full attention. If you do not know the coach, introduce yourself. Walk up and say hello. State your name, reach your hand out to shake hands and look the coach in the eye. This is OK to do at a showcase, camp or campus visit. During a tournament, a coach will not be able to speak with you, so understand he is not being rude, it is just against the rules. If you know the coach please remember a few things about him. Try not to make it seem like the first discussion every time you speak.

Always a good habit:  When you're at a field, showcase, or on campus, always look good!  Coaches are always judging and evaluating their recruits. Have you hat on straight, your shirt tucked in and have your turf shoes laced up.  Your appearance sends a message by itself, so look sharp and be sharp.

  

By understanding these communication rules and guidelines, you'll maximize your opportunities with the colleges of your choice.

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THE IN BOX…… Testimonial Letter received by ASBA

(The following letter was received recently by John Bellis, ASBA Regional Manager, from a family that has utilized our Warminster-Hatboro facility on a regular basis.  We welcome letters, game summaries, and action photos for the ASBA Blog.  Send news and photos for your team to ken@allstarbaseballacademy.com.  Thank you!)

This letter is a long time coming.  I’ve wanted to express officially how grateful and thrilled we are with All Star Baseball Academy’s Tournament Program, as well as your individual training sessions that we’ve taken advantage of over the past two years.

I stumbled upon ASBA over two years ago when my husband and I decided to locate baseball training facilities that would offer training year-round.  It became apparent to us that our son, Brendan Cellucci, had a definitive gift for baseball including the ability to (lefty) pitch a wicked fastball at a very early age.  In my research of different facilities, I would actually visit on site to check out what was offered.  I signed Brendan up right away when I walked into All Star.

Your coaches are simply top notch.  Some are actually professionals in the industry, such as pitchers, scouts, and mangers/coaches.  To find left-handed pitchers that could work with Brendan and hone his skills was invaluable!  That Brendan completely enjoyed his training sessions with your personable staff is an even bigger bonus.  The crew at ASBA feels like family, and they laugh and joke with Brendan like he’s one of their own.

We have often joined some of your special holiday weekend “crash course sessions” with guest coaches, which are superb as well.  You really do find the best people in the industry.  But the crème de la crème was the Winter U11 Tournament team which you, yourself coached.  If Brendan had a deep knowledge and gift for baseball before we started on this team, then the growth was ten-fold by the time the session was done.  Intensive drills, excellent batting practice and techniques, pitching exercises and individual demonstrations took his game to a whole new level.

I realized after the Winter Session was over that there was a special nuance about ASBA and the training that it offers to our children.  Your excellent coaching includes intensive training, fair treatment of all team members, the gift of respect to the children as well as teaching them respect for themselves, teammates, coaches, umpires and adults in general.  And you know what was refreshingly absent from the equation?  There is no ego involved, no personal agenda from any of the coaches: most of all you, John.  That is the difference that I couldn’t put my finger on while it was happening.  It only dawned on me later, when we see so much of that during his regular season.

You’re new facility is gorgeous! I’m thrilled for all of you and wish you the best in your endeavors to grow the business and make ASBA a household name with us baseball fanatics.  I know we will be repeat customers for years to come.

Warmest regards,

Barbara Abrams

Michael Cellucci

(Parents of Brendan Cellucci, ASBA U11 Winter Tournament Team 2010)

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ALL STAR BASEBALL TIP OF THE WEEK.....

This week's Tip is from Javi Rodriguez, popular instructor and coach at our Broomall location.  To schedule a lesson with Javi on hitting, throwing or fielding, contact him at 610-355-2411

or by e mail at basba@allstarbaseballacademy.com.

START WITH THE HANDS AND LINE DRIVES WILL FOLLOW!

Hitting is a difficult concept to understand. It takes discipline, body control and "freedom" to be a top hitter. My definition of freedom is not worrying about  what is going to happen during your attempt. The easiest way to go about hitting a baseball starts with the hands (load your hands) and then go about making contact.

This approach eliminates hesitation to a certain extent. Worrying about your body and hands at the same time will cause the player to get caught up in his set-up too many times.   I preach this concept a majority of the time because the hands will make up for the body's mistakes.

By understanding your hands, and focusing on your hands coming through the hitting zone, it will become a lot easier to make adjustments as you go. If this concept is understood, frustration will be eliminated. Now, the player will have an easier time understanding his flaws and correcting them more quickly.  Line drives and RBI's will follow!

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CHARLIE MANUEL VISITS ASBA WEST CHESTER FOR TIPS AND FILM CLIPS!!

Charlie Manuel Greets Boys from a local Downingtown 11u Team at the ASBA Facility in West Chester, PA.

Popular Phillies'  Manager Charlie Manuel visited All Star Baseball Academy in West Chester during a rare off day for the Phillies in August. 

 

Charlie's visit included a film crew from MyPHL Channel 17, and new segments of "The Charlie Manuel Show" were filmed here during his visit.

Charlie also gave hitting tips to young area players, with lots of "soft toss" to the players-- who loved every minute of it!

The Phils' Manager was great about signing autographs for the area youngsters, too.  See the photos that show Charlie's day here at ASBA.... and look for his Tips on the Charlie Manuel Show (Channel 17) over the coming weeks!!

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