ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TIP OF THE WEEK

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Tip of the Week comes from Edwin Cieslak, an instructor at ASBA’s West Chester facility. Edwin played collegiately for Wilmington University, and gives lessons on hitting and catching. Ed’s tip for this week is on the importance of having a good long-tossing program.

Ed says that “Long tossing strengthens the smaller muscles in the shoulder, which in turn will help develop a stronger arm.”

Long tossing is started by a normal pregame throwing routine where you and your throwing partner will gradually move back stretching your arms out. As you start to move further and further apart, make sure you throw the ball properly (removing the ball from your glove, dropping your arm down past your hip, reaching back as far as you can, and releasing the ball at a point where the ball is thrown with no more than 35 feet of space between the ball and the ground) until you have reached your maximum long toss distance. Your maximum distance is achieved when you can’t reach your partner with more than one long hop. At this point, you and your partner should work closer together, throwing the ball head level to your partner. This process should be repeated 2 to 3 times per week during the off season, and before every game or every third day during the season. Here is an example of a typical long toss program:

45-60 Feet Throwing for 5 minutes

80-90 Feet Throwing for 5 minutes

110-120 Feet Throwing for 3 minutes

140-150 Feet Throwing for 2 minutes

Get as many throws in as possible during your time frame.

Stay tuned for our next Tip of the Week. If you have any questions about pitching or want to schedule lessons, please contact your local ASBA facility.

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INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Ben White

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight is Ben White. Ben is an instructor at ASBA’s West Chester Facility. Ben specializes in pitching lessons, and has been working at ASBA since October of 2011.

Ben, a local product, played high school ball at Coatesville High School. In high school, Ben received several honors as a starting pitcher, including being selected to the All-Ches-Mont, All-Area and All-Southeastern PA Teams. In high school, Ben had the opportunity to play in the Keystone State Games in 2005, where he won a Gold medal. After graduating from high school in 2007, Ben went on to play collegiately at Temple University, where he was eventually an All-Big 5 selection. After graduating from Temple in 2011, Ben signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent, and is still with the organization. He played for the Blue Jays’ Short Season A team in Vancouver and will be placed on a team when he reports for Spring Training.

When asked about giving lessons, Ben said that he enjoys the opportunity to pass on the knowledge he gained from his coaches.

“Nothing is better than helping players improve their skills and achieve their goals, just like my coaches did for me.”

To schedule lessons with Ben, please call our West Chester facility at 610-399-8050.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Evan Longino

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Player of the Week Award goes to Evan Longino. Evan is a first baseman and pitcher for ASBA Warminster’s 13U Team. Evan is in 7th grade at Germantown Academy, and hopes to make the school team in the Spring. Evan is coached by John Bellis.

Evan did very well at the plate for the weekend of the 19th and 20th, but his biggest accomplishment came with one swing of the bat. Evan hit a towering home run that traveled an estimated 350 feet.

Coach Bellis was in awe of Longino’s shot, saying “It was the farthest I’ve seen a ball hit by a kid his age.”

Coach Bellis also added, “The main thing I’m looking forward to seeing is how his swing develops. He’s already a big, strong kid for his age, and once he gets his swing down, it’s going to be fun to watch him play. I’m excited.”
Mrs. Longino was thrilled to hear of Evan’s selection as Player of the week, and has enjoyed her son’s experience with All Star.

“It’s been a very positive experience. He’s learned a lot of the fundamentals from Coach Bellis. Coach Bellis has done a wonderful job of making sure the kids learn those fundamentals. Evan has been challenged in a good way and has had fun with the team. Overall, it’s been a very positive and rewarding experience.”

For the season, Evan said, “It was a great experience, I got to make new friends, and I learned a lot about the fundamentals of the game. Coach Bellis was a great coach. He gave me confidence and helped me learn to be aggressive at the plate. He really helped me make the transition to the big field.”

Evan and his teammates are done playing for the year. Be sure to keep an eye out for them in the Spring!

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INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Marc Brown

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight is Marc Brown. Marc is an instructor at ASBA Downingtown, and gives lessons in all aspects of the game. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the guitar. Marc has been with ASBA since August 2011.

Marc attended Conestoga Valley High School, where he was a 4-year starter for the Varsity team. While there, he received a number of honors, including Lancaster-Lebanon League Pitcher of the Year in 2003 and Lancaster-Lebanon League Offensive Player of the Year in 2004. Along with these awards, Marc was named to the All-League and All-Section 1st Team’s in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He was a team captain in 2003 and 2004, and was named the Keystone State Games MVP in 2003, where his team won the Keystone State Games Championship.

After high school, Marc attended Coastal Carolina for a year, after which he transferred to Stony Brook University of the America East Conference. At Stony Brook, Marc had a very successful playing career. He is currently 5th on the all-time appearances list, and was a member of the school’s 2008 Conference Championship team, which made it to the NCAA Regional’s that year. In 2009, he was named a team captain, and his best performance came against Fordham University, where he racked up 10 strikeouts in 5 innings. He also received an Academic-Athletic Award, which is given to 4-year starters who maintain a GPA over 3.0. Marc was a double-major in Biology and Health Science. After college, Marc played for the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League in 2011.

On top of giving lessons, Marc coached Downingtown’s 14U Middle School Team. When asked about giving lessons and coaching, Marc said “The most enjoyable part about giving baseball instruction is seeing/hearing the player(s) not only grasp the concepts but consistently utilize them. They quickly understand that what is being taught is tremendously practical in their everyday game.”

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

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Shawn Moffitt

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Player of the Week Award goes to Shawn Moffitt of the ASBA Prospect Team. Shawn is a senior at Downingtown East, and is currently coached by Steve Van Note. Shawn is an outfielder for Downingtown East High School.

On Saturday, November 5th, Shawn’s team played ASBA Broomall’s 18U Team for a variety of college coaches. Coaches were invited based on player interest. At the plate, Shawn was 3 for 5 with 2 singles and a triple and 2 runs batted in.

“I was very pleased with the opportunities that Shawn got with this team,” Shawn’s dad said. “I think the main benefit for him was the chance to play against a high level of talent around the country, and he was able to gauge where he’s at for playing at the next level. Steve was always willing to do extra work with him outside of practice, and he was very accommodating. He went the extra mile with the little things for Shawn, and overall it was a great experience for him.”

“Shawn played very well over the weekend and has played very consistent all summer and fall,” Coach Van Note said. “Shawn takes pride in each at bat. You will never see him give up an at bat. Some players like to swing for the fences or give in easily with 2 strikes, but Shawn battles every time he’s at the plate. He swung the bat for power this weekend, as well as clutch hitting with guys on base. To go along with his bat, Shawn also has a very strong arm which makes him a solid, all around outfielder.”

Shawn enjoyed the opportunity to play in front of college coaches, saying “The overall experience was great and every player got a good look from college coaches.”

Shawn is done playing for the fall, but be sure to keep an eye out for him in the spring.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Cole Rupp

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Player of the Week goes to Cole Rupp for his performance the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd. Cole plays for ASBA Downingtown’s 10U Elite team. Cole is a pitcher and catcher for the 10U squad. Cole is a 3rd grader at Collegium Charter School. He is coached by Keith Falcone.

At the plate, Cole hit .500 for the weekend, collecting 7 hits in 14 at-bats with 6 singles and 1 double. Cole stole 2 bases, showing his speed on the base paths. He also scored 4 runs in 3 games. On the mound, Cole pitched 1 scoreless inning to get the win in a 9 inning marathon to defeat the New Jersey Howell Bombers.

Cole, who is league-age 9, just finished his third season with ASBA, and led the team in batting this fall. He hit .486 this fall, and struck out only twice in 41 plate appearances.

When asked about this weekend and his time with ASBA, Cole said “I thought I played well, and I got more confident as the weekend went on. I think Coach Keith has done a really good job of teaching us, and I love coming to All Star.”

Cole’s dad, Todd Rupp, is thrilled with All Star Baseball Academy, saying “Our experience with ASBA has been great. It’s a top notch organization, and Keith is the best coach that we’ve been associated with. We would recommend All Star to anyone. Overall, it was a fantastic weekend for baseball. The weather was great, and the guys played their hearts out. Keith has been great, and we as parents have him to thank for a great season.”

Keith has enjoyed watching Cole develop as a ball player and was very happy with his performance for the weekend.

“Cole did a tremendous job for us in the leadoff spot, consistently putting pressure on the other team’s defense by putting the ball in play and using his speed on the base paths. Cole’s done a great job playing for me this Fall, and it’s been fun to watch him develop. I look forward to watching him grow in the future.”

Cole and the 10U Elite Team are done playing for the Fall, but keep an eye out for him this Spring as he looks to continue terrorizing his opponents on the base paths.

To schedule lessons or learn more about our teams, please contact your local All Star Baseball Academy or check out our website at www.allstarbaseballacademy.com.

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INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Dave Housel

In this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight, we are featuring Dave Housel, an instructor at ASBA West Chester. Dave gives lessons for hitting and fielding. Dave has been a member of the ASBA family since September of 2011.

Dave, a native of New Jersey, played high school baseball for Menthan High School, which is located in the northern part of the state. In both his junior and senior years, he was selected to the All-State team (1999 and 2000). He was drafted out of high school by the New York Mets in the 47th round, where he played from 2001 to 2004, making it as far as High A-ball. While with the Mets organization, he was roommates with David Wright. After his time with the Mets, he continued to play professionally in the Atlantic League, where he played for several teams. He got his start there with the Atlantic City Surf, playing for them in 2005 and 2006. He continued to play for a number of teams in the Atlantic League until 2010, including the Road Warriors, the Somerset Patriots, the Lancaster Barnstormers, the Camden Riversharks, and the Long Island Ducks. While in the league, he was a member of two championship teams, and was named the starting third baseman in the Atlantic League All Star Game in 2007. In 2009, he became the first player in league history to homer from both sides of the plate in a single game as a member of the Lancaster Barnstormers.

While Dave is still relatively new to ASBA, he has been giving lessons on his own for years, and thoroughly enjoys it. He says that the best part of it is “watching the kids develop. I’ve been doing this since I started playing, and the gratitude I get from watching the kids grow as ball players is wonderful.”

Along with giving lessons, Dave has helped out with the Sandlot League, and will be coaching a team this spring.

To schedule lessons with Dave, please call the West Chester facility at 610-399-8050.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TIP OF THE WEEK

Today’s All Star Baseball Academy Tip of the Week comes to us from Brian Walker, a business manager and instructor at ASBA Downingtown. Brian, a left-handed pitcher for the University of Miami and in the New York Mets organization, talked about the importance of being able to locate all of your pitches for balls along with strikes.

Brian noted that when a lot of kids throw their bullpens, they work on throwing all of their pitches over the plate. When a pitcher is ahead in the count 0-2 or 1-2, the hitter is going to swing at anything over the plate to avoid the strikeout. This is a good time to throw a “waste pitch,” or a pitch out of the strike zone to get the hitter to swing and miss. By working on throwing strikes in the bullpen, it becomes difficult to throw a pitch out of the strike zone that the hitter will want to swing out. An example of this is an 0-2 curveball in the dirt. If you don’t work on hitting a specific spot, like the back corner of the plate, then chances are that you’ll throw it several feet in front of the plate, which is unlikely for the batter to swing at.

In order to practice this, pitchers should work on throwing all of their pitches for balls. In a game, every pitch has a purpose. While it is called a waste pitch, the purpose of this pitch is to get the hitter to swing at a pitch that he can’t hit. As Brian points out, execution in practice equals execution in games. When a pitcher throws his bullpen in between starts/appearances, he should set aside a series of pitches that are thrown off the plate and high and low outside of the strike zone. The pitcher should let the catcher know in advance what he is working on so that the catcher is ready to block the ball.

First, the pitcher needs to identify his “out” pitch. If his out pitch is a curveball or slider, he needs to be able to throw it down the middle of the plate, but low and in the dirt. He should try to throw it so that it lands on the back corner of the plate. He can also throw it so that it starts on the outside corner and breaks away from the hitter and off the plate. If his out pitch is his changeup, he should work on throwing it 4-6 inches off the plate to both sides of the plate. He should also be able to throw it in the dirt. For a fastball, he should be able to throw it 4-6 inches off the plate and to both sides of the plate as well, and he should be able to elevate it chest-high to the batter over the plate.

Stay tuned for our next Tip of the Week. If you have any questions about pitching or want to schedule lessons, please contact your local ASBA facility.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TEAM OF THE WEEK: Warminster 12U Select

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Team of the Week Award goes to Warminster-Hatboro’s 12U Select Team. They went 5-0 for the weekend of the 15th and 16th on their way to securing the championship in the Rhyno Pink Ribbon Classic in Berkshire, PA. They are coached by Brian Good and Mike O’Brien.

In the first game of the tournament, the 12U squad came out swinging, winning 10-0 over Max Impact Xtreme. They continued the offensive onslaught in their next two games, beating the Mt. Carmel Clover Hose and the Berkshire Sea Dogs 11-0 each. In the semi-final game they beat the Berkshire Red Sox 7-1, and in the championship game they came from behind to beat the Triple Threat Bearcats 9-5. They scored 8 runs in the fifth off of the Bearcats closer to rally for the win.

While it was a team effort, Brian Schaub and Chris Farrell led the offense, which scored 49 runs in five games. Schaub was 6 for 12, scoring 3 runs and collecting 7 RBI’s. Farrell’s performance was just as impressive, as he went 7 for 12 with 6 runs scored and 4 RBI’s.

Even with this offensive outburst, pitching was the key for the squad, as they shut out three of their five opponents. Cole Nehring, Ryan Boyce and Eric Gross were all stellar, allowing just one run between them. Nehring was the most impressive, throwing 4 innings of no-hit baseball in a game that was shortened for the 10-run mercy rule. In his 4 innings he racked up 6 strikeouts and walked just 2 batters. Boyce nearly matched Nehring’s effort, allowing just 1 hit in four innings, striking out 5 batters with no walks. Eric Gross allowed just 1 run and 2 hits in is 5 innings of work, but collected a whopping 9 strikeouts.

Coach Brian Good was extremely happy with his team’s performance, saying “This weekend was extra special because it was a total team effort, top to bottom. The highlight of the weekend was in the championship game. We were down a few runs going into the fifth inning, and we rallied for 8 runs in the inning to take the lead off their (Triple Threat Bearcats) closer. Overall, it was a great weekend.”

The 12U Select Team plays again in the Oktoberfest Tournament at Sports at the Beach down in Rehobeth, Delaware. The tournament is the 22nd and 23rd.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TEAM OF THE WEEK: West Chester 11U

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Team of the Week Award goes to the 11U Team out of ASBA West Chester. They went 5-1 to win the championship at the Columbus Day Tournament held by Sports at the Beach in Rehobeth, Delaware. The team is coached by Brian Rorick.

On the first day of the tournament, the 11U squad put up 21 runs in 2 games, beating the NJ Naturals 10-5 and the Scranton Miners 11-2. On Sunday, they dropped their first game to the Ridley Royals by a score of 11-0, but came out swinging to beat the Scranton Miners for a second time, 14-0. On the third and final day of the tournament, the team was without 6 of their players, as not everyone had off school for Columbus Day, but still managed to scratch out a 2-1 victory over the NJ Naturals. In the championship game, the team got their revenge with a 6-2 win over the Ridley Royals to claim the championship trophy.

The team’s offense played a huge role in their tournament victory, scoring a total of 43 runs in 6 games. There were several offensive standouts, but Will Sanford, Charlie Sullivan, Duncan Attig and Adam Smith led the charge. Sanford was 7/11, while Sullivan and Attig were 6/12 and 7/9 respectively. All three chipped in with 2 RBI’s apiece. Adam Smith led the team with 6 RBI’s, and contributed by going 5/8 for the champions.

On the mound, the team got huge performances by Jonah Frankel and Chris Newell. Each pitcher threw 6 innings on the weekend, and each allowed just one hit. Newell allowed just 2 runs for the weekend, while Frankel was even stingier, allowing only 1 run.

Coach Rorick was very happy with his team’s performance, saying, “It was a tough tournament we were going into, especially since we were missing six of our guys Monday because of school. The guys did a great job of battling and persevering, and we were able to come out on top. They did an excellent job of coming up big at key moments in each game.”

The 11U squad plays again this weekend (the 15th and 16th) at Diamond Nation in New Jersey.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TEAM OF THE WEEK: Warminster 18U Showcase Team

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Team of the Week Award goes to Warminster’s 18U Showcase Team. They went 5-0 this past weekend to win the 18U Wood Bat Championship at Diamond Nation. They are coached by John Bellis.

On Friday, the 18U squad dominated Langan Baseball American, winning 13-2. The following day they beat the NJ Super 17’s 8-5. On the last day of the tournament, the team rattled off 3 more wins, beating the Taconic Rangers 3-2, the North Jersey Heat 9-1, and Wladyka National 5-1 to claim the title of tournament champions.

Despite having just four pitchers for the weekend, the pitching staff propelled the 18U squad to the championship. In particular, Casey O’Donnell and Matthew Martens led a pitching staff that let up just 11 runs in 5 games. Both pitchers had to make 2 starts during the tournament. Ethan Rode also chipped in with a strong performance.

The pitching staff was aided greatly by the 18U Team’s high-powered offense. While Coach Bellis said that there were no individual standouts for the weekend, everyone chipped in with timely hits. Bellis noted that the team did a great job of moving guys up a base when they needed to, and they were able to take advantage of mistakes by the other team.

When asked about his team, Coach Bellis pointed to the way they have come together this fall.

“In short, it’s obvious that the team has really come together and gelled as a group. There’s a great sense of camaraderie with these guys, and they love playing together. We’re 14-2 this fall, and we’ve won 12 straight games now. We’re a tough team to beat, and I think that says a lot about these guys. To come in and win a tournament like this with only 4 pitchers is impressive.”

The 18U Showcase Team plays again the 8th and 9th in Berkshire and the following weekend at All Star Baseball Academy’s Showcase Tournament at Villanova University.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jon Moldoff

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Player of the Week award goes to Jon Moldoff. Jon plays for the 11U team from West Chester. Jon is a shortstop and pitcher. He is a 6th grader at The Westtown School and also plays for East Side Little League. He is coached by Brian Rorick.

For the weekend of the 10th and 11th, Jon was 9 for 15 at the plate with 4 RBI’s. Jon led an offense that scored 49 runs in just 5 games.

“Jon just loves playing with his new team at All Star Baseball Academy,” Mrs. Moldoff said of their experience. “He just started taking lessons there, and he’s absolutely thrilled with everything he’s done there so far.”

When asked about the weekend, Jon was modest in his response, saying “It was a team effort, and we had a lot of fun.”

Coach Brian Rorick was impressed by Jon’s performance, saying “He did an excellent job with runners in scoring position. He’s a very hard worker and is very coachable, and he’s a great team player.”

Jon and the 11U team play again September 24th and 25th in the ECTB Autumn Fall Fest in Allentown, PA.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TEAM OF THE WEEK: West Chester 11U

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Team of the Week award goes to the 11U Team from West Chester. They went 4-1 the weekend of the 10th and 11th on their way to winning the Patriot Day Tournament in Aberdeen, Maryland. They are coached by Brian Rorick.

The 11U squad blew away the competition in the tournament, scoring 49 runs in 5 games. On their way to the tournament championship, they beat the Germantown Hawks 10-0, the Staten Island Legends 11-0, and the Franklin Rockets 10-0, with the lone loss being a 5-4 battle against the North Howell Bombers. In the championship game, they put up 14 runs in a 14-7 win against the Long Island Braves.

While everyone contributed to the offensive onslaught, Jon Moldoff and Adam Smith lead the charge with stellar performances. Moldoff was 9-15 for the weekend with 4 RBI, while Smith was 7-12 and chipped in 3 RBI.

The offensive performance was matched by the pitching staff, with 3 shutouts on the weekend. Pitching standouts were Jonah Frankel and Zach Cantrambone, who both threw complete game shutouts.

Coach Rorick was very pleased with his team’s performance, saying “It was our first weekend out, and I think it was exciting for the guys to come out swinging and throwing as well as we did. I was excited for the guys. We shutout 3 teams, we lost a close game and were able to win it all. I was very proud of the guys for the way we put pressure on the other team’s defense. We played very well defensively. We came out throwing strikes and swinging at quality pitches.”

The 11U Team plays again September 24th and 25th at ECTB’s In the Net Autumn Wood Bat Tournament in Allentown.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY RYAN HOWARD JERSEY WINNER: Matt Hennessey

All Star Baseball Academy capped off an exciting day with a special raffle prize given out by Powerade. That prize was an autographed Ryan Howard Jersey, which was won by Matt Hennessey and his family. As raffle prizes were given out all day, everyone was waiting for that last ticket to be called.

When asked about the day, Matt said “It was pretty cool that Ryan Howard talked about preparing to play, and he taught me how to mentally and physically prepare myself before the game, how to be relaxed. It was really cool that we won the jersey; we’re going to frame it and hang it up.”

His dad was just as thrilled, saying “He had a great time and enjoyed listening to Howard’s responses. Now all I have to do is decide if it’s going in Matt’s room or in the bar.”

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TIP OF THE WEEK

Today’s All Star Baseball Academy Tip of the Week comes to us courtesy of Mick Bigwood, a business manager and instructor for ASBA Broomall. Mick, a 4 year starter at Delaware Valley College, stressed the importance of warming up properly.

For Mick, warming up properly means Dynamic Stretching. Dynamic Stretching is defined as “a type of sports fitness routine in which momentum and active muscular effort are used to stretch and the end position is not held.”

A brief example of a dynamic stretching routine might look like this:
(note: each stretch goes down and back, 60 feet each way)
• Light jog
• High knees
• Butt kickers
• Walking lunge and twist
• Monster walks
• Walking knee hugs
• Quad Walk
• Power skips
• Shuffles
• Carioca
• Sprints (stealing a base)

Along with this routine, players can do ladder and cone drills to improve their agility.

When asked what advantage this gives players, Mick said “The more your body is warmed up, the better your arm and body will feel. Also, there is less risk of injury while playing.”

Please keep a look out for our next tip of the week. If you have any questions about a proper warm up please contact your local ASBA facility for advice.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY RYAN HOWARD DAY

Despite thunder, lightning and a steady downpour, Thursday, August 25th of 2011, will be a day that ASBA kids will remember as the day they met Philadelphia Phillies Ryan Howard and Mitch Williams. In a joint effort, they were able to give the attendees an in depth look into what it takes to be a professional ball player.

After it was evident that the weather was not going to allow the clinic portion of the morning, everyone took shelter. Mitch Williams, the former closer for the Phillies ’93 World Series team, arrived shortly after and launched into an impromptu question and answer session. Williams answered questions for about an hour, with questions ranging from “Who was the best player you played with?” (Lenny Dykstra to the surprise of many) to “How did you mentally prepare to pitch?” Williams answered each question like a seasoned pro.

After about an hour or so, Williams gave way to Ryan Howard, who was equally impressive in his Q&A session. Like Williams, he answered questions about how he prepares for a game and gets out of a slump. He managed to avoid the trick question of “If you weren’t on the Phillies, what team would you want to play for?” with ease.

After each Q&A session, both men were gracious enough to take pictures with all of the All Star Baseball Academy kids, as well as the ASBA staff who were in attendance. After the fanfare of getting their picture taken with Mitch Williams and Ryan Howard, it was time for the ASBA-Powerade HR Derby. Williams was kind enough to stick around and throw to the contestants, which included his own son. After the first two rounds, John Brogan and Dan Hoy were able to advance to the finals. The two sluggers were still tied after one overtime round, until Brogan was able to put one well over the fence to put the pressure on Hoy. Down to his last out, Hoy made his last two swings count, as he hit two long homeruns to claim the title of Homerun Derby Champion. Other participants included Shane Allen, Dan Rosenbaum, Ryan Hissey, Mitchell Williams and Luke Emling.

Overall, it was a great day for everyone. As kids got to meet a Major League slugger, parents got to reminisce about the ’93 Phillies and everyone got to see some great hitting and enjoy some good BBQ after.

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INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Sean Kirkpatrick

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy’s Instructor Spotlight is Sean Kirkpatrick. Sean is an Instructor at All Star Baseball Academy Downingtown. He gives lessons for catching, hitting, and fielding. Sean has been part of the ASBA family since August of 2010.

Sean played his high school ball for Council Rock South, where he was a standout catcher. While attending Council Rock South, he was a two year starter, and was named Team Captain his Senior year. After graduating from there in 2006, he went on to play baseball at Wesley College in Delaware, where he was the starting catcher for 3 years. In his first college appearance behind the plate, he threw out a runner trying to steal second on the first pitch of his college career. As a freshman, he hit .286, including 2 homeruns and 17 RBI. During his time at Wesley, he played on a team that was nationally ranked in the Top 25. He was voted Team Captain for his Junior and Senior years, in which time he led a squad that won the ECAC in 2010.

At All Star, Sean has had the opportunity to coach several different teams ranging in all ages. Along with working at All Star, he works as a physical education teacher at the Wilmington Friends School.

When asked about giving lessons, Sean says that “Patience is the key. Every player is different, and you have to be able to adapt to different players. Some kids respond to certain drills, while other players don’t do as well in the same drills, instead excelling in other drills.”

When asked what he likes the most about coaching and giving lessons, Sean said what he enjoys is “Seeing the player get a lot better over time, as well as getting to know them and their families on a personal level. Along with that, I’ve learned more about the game from coaching than I did from playing, and I’ve become a better teacher of the game while working as a coach.”

To schedule lessons with Sean, please call the Warminster-Hatboro facility at 215-672-1826.

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PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Stephen Ball

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Player of the Week Award goes to Stephen Ball, a pitcher and third baseman for ASBA West Chester’s 16U Team. Stephen is coached by Kevin McGrath, who has produced a number of POTW Award winners. Stephen is going to be a junior at Malvern Prep High School, where he is also a pitcher and third baseman.

In his lone start the weekend of the 30th, Stephen went the distance for the 16U squad. He allowed just one run in the effort, leading the team to the win. He recorded 5 strikeouts while scattering 7 hits, and gave up just one walk.

“I’ve been taking lessons with Scott Grimes for 3 years, and he’s really helped me improve my power when I hit,” Stephen said when asked about his experience with All Star. “I’ve been taking pitching lessons with Dave Slusser as well, and he’s really helped me with my changeup, which is the off speed pitch I use most now. I thought we did very well as a team, we did make some mental mistakes, but overall we did well as a team. It’s an honor to be nominated because we have a lot of talent on our team. I really wanted to work on pitching this summer.”

Coach McGrath was very pleased with Stephen’s success for the weekend.
“Stephen did a good job,” said McGrath. “He battled for us and threw strikes. He’s a real hard worker and a great teammate, and he’s got great work ethic.”

Stephen’s dad has been pleased not only by his son’s play, but by the coaches as well, saying that “I thought Kevin and his other coaches did a great job with the boys this summer. They focused on development, making sure the kids improved on their primary positions. Lessons with Dave Slusser have helped tremendously. They have been a big positive for us, along with hitting lessons with Kevin. We’ve been training with All Star for years, and we’ve been pleased with this team. The coaches have been positive in the games as well, keeping their cool and not yelling.”

Stephen and the 16U squad are done playing for the summer, but be sure to keep an eye out for him this Fall and in the Spring.

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PLAYER OF THE WEEK: CJ Herron

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Player of the Week Award goes to CJ Herron. CJ plays for Broomall’s 17U Team, where he is coached by Mike Foley. CJ is also a senior outfielder for Conestoga High School.

For the weekend of July 23rd, CJ was 5 for 11. Two of his five hits were for extra bases, and he also chipped in with 2 RBI’s. Along with his offensive performance, CJ was solid in the outfield.

“He’s a very good player, and an even better kid and a joy to have on the team,” said Coach Foley about CJ. “He’s definitely a team first guy and will do anything asked of him to help the team.”

Mrs. Herron has been very pleased with CJ’s experience this summer, as well as the lessons he’s been taking. “He’s playing with Mike Foley, Javi, and Ken, and they’ve worked hard with him to improve his skills and overall field confidence. CJ has enjoyed playing on the 17U summer team with supportive teammates who have bonded nicely together as a team as the season has progressed. They’ve played very competitive baseball and have had a fine summer. We’ve had a great experience with All Star.”

“I’ve had a great experience with All Star Baseball Academy,” said CJ. “The coaches are very helpful, and my teammates are really supportive and great guys. I just stayed relaxed and worked my at-bats this weekend and had good results.”

The 17U Team from Broomall concluded their season the weekend of the 30th in Pittsburgh. Be on the lookout for CJ this fall and spring at Conestoga.

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PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tom Carey

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Player of the Week Award goes to Tom Carey. Tom is going into his junior year at Haverford High School. Tom primarily plays first base for West Chester’s 16U team, which is coached by Kevin McGrath.

Tom hit .417 for the weekend, going 5 for 12 with a triple. The first baseman also chipped in with 3 RBI’s for the 16U squad, and has been a key contributor all season.

“I really like playing for All Star, they have helped me out a lot over the years. I’m looking forward to this weekend’s tournament at Berkshire. I’ve been taking lessons at Broomall for the last 8 years, along with the Big League Experience, and I feel like that really helps me get ready for the season. I feel like I did well at the plate this past weekend.”

“He’s a really good ballplayer,” said McGrath. “He’s been hitting the ball hard all summer long, and he’s been using the whole field to do so. He’s been a great team player, doing whatever’s been asked of him. He’s a hard worker, and he’s a respectable kid.”

Overall, Mrs. Carey has been pleased with everything he son has done at ASBA.

“He’s having a good year with Kevin, he’s really enjoyed it and is having a good season,” said Mrs. Carey. “He’s been with All Star since he was 12, and he works out of Broomall a lot. We’ve been doing the Big League Experience with Shawn Pender at Broomall for the last few years, and he’s also been doing lessons with Javi Rodriguez. Along with that, he’s done the Advanced Infield Program and all of their (Broomall) different programs.”

Tom and the 16U team from West Chester completed there season this past weekend, but keep an eye out for them this fall.

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Instructor Spotlight: Keith Falcone

In the All Star Baseball Academy Instructor’s Spotlight, ASBA presents Keith Falcone. Keith is the Assistant Manager of our Downingtown facility. Keith also gives lessons on pitching, hitting, and fielding, and has been doing so for the last four years.

“What I enjoy the most about giving lessons is watching a player progress not only physically, but mentally as well,” said Falcone. “I also enjoy hearing about some of the great results that occur due to their hard work.”

In high school, Keith played four years of Varsity for Bishop Shanahan, and graduated from there in 1998. He was one of the top starting pitchers for a squad that made it to four District 1AA title games, winning two of them. When he wasn’t pitching, he was the team’s starting shortstop as well. On top of this, he was a member of Delaware Valley’s 1997 Bronze medal team in the Keystone State Games.

After high school, Keith went on to play three years of college baseball at York College, where he majored in Marketing. He was their number 2 starter in his junior and senior years. During his junior year in 2002, he was named the All-South Region Pitcher of the Year. That same year, the team was ranked 14th in the nation, and was one win away from claiming the South Region title. As a senior, he was named a team captain.

Keith joined the ASBA family in August of 2007, and has created a great reputation as a teacher of the game at all age levels. Along with giving lessons, Keith has also coached teams ranging in age from 9 to 18 year olds.

When asked for a fun fact about himself, Keith noted that he was a member of the first ever Uwchlan Eagles Jr. Legion Team in 1994. This was the team that he hit his first career home run for, which was a walk-off grand slam.

To schedule lessons with Keith, contact our Downingtown facility at 610-518-7400, or stop by the academy to sign up in person.

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Charlie Manuel Day

July 7th, 2011 will be forever known as Charlie Manuel Day for several young ballplayers. Manuel, the manager for the Philadelphia Phillies, was on hand at West Chester East’s Price Fields for a special one day hitting clinic for kids who played on All Star Baseball Academy’s spring teams. After touching down in Philadelphia around 3 A.M. the previous night, Manuel was in top form while dishing out hitting tips, answering questions, and signing autographs for the young fans.

Overall, it was a great day for the kids, which several parents noted that this was a great opportunity for their children.

“It’s a fantastic way to end the All Star Baseball Academy season. The kids got to see each other again. The event was extremely well organized, and each kid got to experience one on one time with Charlie, and they’ll never forget that. Thank you to everyone at All Star Baseball Academy for making this happen,” said Tom Dodds.

Brian Andresen was just as pleased, saying “It was good, and it was a fun experience for my son. He was able to interact with his pals and with Charlie Manuel. I didn’t expect Charlie to spend as much time with the kids as he did. I think it’s good they had different stations so they could work on other parts of the game.”

“I thought it was a great opportunity for the boys to meet Charlie,” Lil Nase said. “I think it’s great that All Star Baseball Academy sets up events like this for the boys. My son has said that All Star Baseball Academy makes him feel like part of the ASBA family, and the coaches and staff always treat the boys with respect, and we’re looking forward to the next one.”

To view more pictures, check out the All Star Baseball Academy Facebook page.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TEAM OF THE WEEK: West Chester's 14U Team

This week’s Team of the Week award goes to the 14U Elite Team for their performance at the Bayside Bash at Sports at the Beach in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware. They went 2-3 for the weekend. After winning their first two games 7-4 and 11-1, they dropped their next two by scores of 5-4 and 12-8. This gave them the 15th seed for the championship bracket and netted them a first round game against the third seeded team. They played a tough extra-inning game that they would eventually lose 5-4, but they were able to hold the top-scoring team in the tournament to just 5 runs.

The 14U Elite Team averaged over 6 runs per game, with Michael Deitz leading the offensive outburst. He was 10 for 17 on the weekend with 7 extra-base hits and 10 RBI’s. Patrick Meenan was 6 for 12 with 3 RBI’s, while Tyler Kight and Sean Philips each contributed 5 hits to the potent offense. Accompanying the hitting attack was a display of situational baseball, which head coach Creighton Gubanich noted as the main reason for the team’s success on the weekend.

“The kids are starting to learn how important situational baseball is, such as moving the runner over so the guy behind him can drive him in. They’re not being selfish and trusting each other. They’re preventing extra bases by hitting the cut-off men, and really just playing fundamentally sound baseball. They’re starting to learn what baseball is really like.”

On the mound, the team got stellar performances from Charles Bears and Daniel Schupper. In 9 innings, Bears held his opponents to 4 runs, 3 of which were earned. He recorded 9 strikeouts while scattering 10 hits. Schupper was just as sharp, allowing only 2 earned runs in 6 innings of work. He limited his opponent, the team that scored the most runs in the tournament, to just 6 hits while racking up 5 strikeouts.

The 14U Elite Team is off until July 16th and 17th. They play at Ripken Baseball in Aberdeen, Maryland.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Billy Greenfield

This week’s Player of the Week award goes to Billy Greenfield, a left-handed pitcher for the ASBA Futures Team. He is coached by Brian Walker. Billy will be entering his junior year at Radnor High School.

Billy went the distance in his start this weekend, giving up just 2 runs on a pair of hits and a walk to earn the win. He also recorded 9 strikeouts in his 7 innings of work.

“Billy has been working with me since the fall on improving his delivery and he showed off his hard work this past weekend with a masterful performance,” Coach Brian Walker said about Billy. “His fastball sat in the low 80’s, which is very good for a left-hander, and he was able to mix in his breaking ball and change up effectively as well. Billy has a bright future ahead of him, as long as he continues to work hard.”

Billy has been very pleased with both his experience with the team and his lessons with Brian.

“Playing with the team’s been a ton of fun and I’m really looking forward to our next 2 tournaments. I was happy that the team pulled out a few wins in Maryland, and I hope that our success continues. Brian helped me make a mechanical change before my last start and it really helped me out.”

Billy’s father, Jim Greenfield, has also been impressed with how much the lessons with Brian have helped his son, and with the team.

“Brian made some mechanical adjustments to use his legs more, and apparently it worked well. Using his lower body has really helped him. The team is starting to come together, and it’s a pleasure to watch them play, and we’re looking forward to watch them play in the 16U Impact World Series in North Carolina.”

Billy and the ASBA Futures Team play again in East Cobb, Georgia, from July 16th to the 23rd.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TEAM OF THE WEEK: West Chester's 14U Team

This week’s Team of the Week award goes to the 14U team from our West Chester Facility. They went 2-1 at Diamond Nation for the weekend of 11th and 12th. Their wins came against the Diamond Nation 14U team and the Diamond Nation Super 13’s, with the lone loss against the eventual tournament winners Wall Baseball. They are coached by Creighton Gubanich.

Tyler Kight picked up the complete game win against Diamond Nation’s 14U squad, as the ASBA 14U team won 5-1. He allowed just 5 hits and one earned run to earn the win, his first of the year. In a 12-10 slug fest against the Diamond Nation Super 13’s, Vincent Drake got the win, throwing 4 solid innings. Daniel Schupper was able to close it out, picking up his first save of the year for the 14U team.

Despite a 13-5 loss to Wall Baseball, who went on to win the tournament, Gubanich was pleased with his team’s effort.

“We lost to the team who won it all, but the score of that game was not really indicative of the way we played. This weekend was our first time playing together as a team, and I think we really started to gel as a team in this game. For our first tournament together, I would say that we came out a little slow, but it was a good learning experience, and I think we’re set to have a great season.”

Offensively, Korey Leidheiser, Matt Harrison, and Gabe Hofferman were standouts, as they combined to go 12 for 22. Leidheiser hit .571 for the weekend, while Harrison was 5 for 9 with 5 RBI’s. Hofferman contributed with 3 hits and 3 walks, as well as scoring 3 of the teams 22 runs. As a team, they hit .313 and had a slugging percentage of .413.

The 14U team is off until July 16th and 17th. They play at Ripken Baseball in Aberdeen, Maryland.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: James Bunn

James Bunn, a centerfielder from Princeton, New Jersey, has been named All Star Baseall Academy's Player of the Week for the week of June 11th. Bunn, a Rising Senior, is a speedy centerfielder for ASBA Warminster's 17U Showcase Team and for Pennington Prep (NJ).

For the weekend of June 11th and 12th, James was 10 for 16, including a home run to center field in a showcase tournament at the University of Pitt. James is coached by John Bellis, who was very pleased with his performance for the weekend, as well as for the season.

"The best part about James is his combination of raw talent and knowledge of the game, more specifically his knowledge of mechanics. He has a very easy swing, it's very smooth and quick. He covers a lot of ground in center field, and his speed is a large part of his game," Bellis says.

When asked about his experience with the 17U Showcase Team, James has enjoyed it and expects it to only get better.

"I really like the team I'm playing for, it's been a great experience for me. We haven't had a ton of success so far, but I know we're going to win a lot of games this summer, and we're going to have fun doing it."

His parents have also been impressed with the program, as his mother emphasized.

"We're very impressed with the quality of the teams they've played, as well as the level of play of the team. We're also impressed with the knowledge of the college recruiting process that the coaches possess. We've learned a lot about the process from ASBA, and the kids that James is playing with have been great as well."

As of June 14th, James was also named the Prep Player of the Year for the state of New Jersey by The Trentonian, as well as being named to the all-area first team. He is currently talking to Bucknell, Lafayette, and Stony Brook to continue his playing career at the collegiate level. The 17U Showcase Team plays again Friday at Diamond Nation in Flemington, NJ. at 1:15 P.M.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY IS NOW ON FACEBOOK!

Become a FAN of ASBA and Check Out Our New Facebook Page!

All Star Baseball Academy is now listed on Facebook, so you can get the latest photos and news about our Camps, Lessons, Showcases and events on the new Facebook page.

If you like ASBA, sign up as a friend today!  Check out our new listing at :

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18606899440&v=wall#!/pages/All-Star-Baseball-Academy/186839508001233

"Our Facebook listing will help our customers keep up to date with all of our popular camps, clinics and showcases," said Steve Van Note, Director of Special Events for ASBA.  "Facebook has taken off so much over the past couple of years.  Our players and families have been very interested in seeing All Star Baseball on Facebook, and we've already received some great feedback on our addition.  We have almost 200 'friends' on Facebook since we signed up last week, and the count grows every day."

Check out our new Facebook site, and you may see yourself in one of the many photos of our College Coaches Camps or Showcase events!

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ALL STAR BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tyler Coleman

Senior star Tyler Coleman (center) signs his Letter of Intent to attend West Chester U. next year, while Quakertown High School coaches (at left) John Makoul and Steve Cherrybon look on.  ASBA Coach John Bellis, who has coached Tyler on tournament teams, is shown at right.

Tyler Coleman, standout student-athlete at Quakertown High School, has been named this week's All Star Baseball Player of the Week.  A senior who has starred on the mound and in the infield for Quakertown, Tyler recently signed to attend West Chester University next year on a baseball scholarship.  He has also starred for the past 3 seasons for ASBA tournament teams.

His All Star Coach, John Bellis, is a big supporter of Coleman's many skills.

"Tyler has the 'work ethic' factor down. Most players work hard, but not when they're alone," said Bellis.  "I've been to Tyler's house and have seen his garage set-up, with the catch net, balls, tee, and the different hitting equipment. It was worn out in there, so worn that I'm sure thousands of swings were taken!

His personality is that of a winner," continued Bellis.  "Failure motivates him as opposed to what it does to most young players. A lot of players have talent. But talent only gets you so far as an athlete. Character, work ethic and an individual drive is what makes a player really excel, and Tyler possesses all of these traits." 

"I'm very happy to be going to West Chester next year and get the chance to play for Coach (Mark) Jackson," said Coleman.  "West Chester has a great program year after year, and they feel that I will fit in well as a middle infielder or at third base.  I'm really looking forward to it."

Coleman has starred at several infield positions and also served as the closer for the Quakertown High School team last year.  He has a strong arm and a consistent, quick bat.

"I think my arm strength and my hitting are probably my two biggest plus factors in baseball," said Coleman.  "I really enjoy hitting and work hard at it.  I'm more of a gap hitter, and not really a home run hitter.  I've got some power but I don't try to hit home runs-

I try to drive the ball into the gaps."

How did West Chester's coaches first notice Tyler and how did he catch their eye?

 

"I was not really on West Chester's radar until last August when I played in the All Star Baseball Showcase in Lancaster," noted Coleman.  "I did well in the drills and then in one game, I hit a homer and two singles.  It was a good game for me and they took notice and talked to me.  That Showcase in Lancaster really made a difference and it's worked out great for me."

"Tyler played for one of my first teams at the 15U level, then again at the 16U level for two seasons and then for my Showcase team last summer where he peaked," said Bellis. "He played mostly shortstop and third base, however he also has strong pitching abilities. This past summer, Tyler was throwing 85-86 mph, topping at 88 several times through the summer. 

"Where he plays positionally in college will be up to Coach Jackson at West Chester, but I believe he is being brought in to compete at the third base position," Bellis pointed out. "I have no doubt Tyler will succeed over his four years there.  When will be determined by how much exposure he gets early on to that level of baseball. If Tyler continues to work hard, which I expect he will, his success will continue to grow for as long as he plays."

Congratulations, Tyler, for being named All Star Baseball's Player of the Week and best of luck as you continue your baseball career this fall with the West Chester Golden Rams! 

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ALL STAR BASEBALL TIP OF THE WEEK

This week's Tip is from Jake King, Business Manager at our ASBA facility in West Chester.  Jake is a former high school and college pitcher and he now coaches ASBA tournament teams.  To schedule a package of private lessons with Jake, call our West Chester staff at 610-399-8050 or stop in and sign up this week!


Taking Primary Leads and Secondary Leads -- Important Tips to Follow:


Primary leads are now something that players at a younger age have to practice.  It used to be once you hit 13 years old and played on the larger 60/90 foot diamond that you started to learn how to take primary leads and secondary leads.  But now, 10 year old players should learn how to take proper leads.

I am a strong believer that players must learn how to do this properly at a young age so that muscle memory kicks in and it is second nature to them when players move to the larger diamond. You must practice this over and over to make sure that you KNOW where you need to be and how far off the base you can be.


Primary leads off of first base should be...4 1/2 steps in length.  Start with your body square towards second base and your right foot on the base.  Make sure you start your lead in the front part of the baseline.  This creates the illusion of being closer to the base.


Your first step is a large step with your LEFT foot towards second base.  Take your second step by squaring up with your right foot, in line with second base.  From there you take 2.5 shuffle steps, and with that you do not hop.  You stay low to the ground and shuffle.  This is your primary lead!  This needs to be practiced with your head up at all times.  Do not look down at your feet-- you should have your head up,looking at the pitcher at ALL TIMES.


Secondary leads:  Once the pitcher starts into his delivery, you take 3 shuffles, making sure you land on your right side with your weight distributed 60-40 on your front (right) foot.  This allows you to be in a moving position if the ball is dropped by a catcher or the ball hits the ground.  A good secondary lead is key to being able to put yourself into scoring position easily, and stealing a base on a wild pitch or passed ball.


Practice the base running tips above and how to take proper leads, both primary and secondary.  You'll become a better base runner and more valuable to your team!

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ALL STAR BASEBALL TIP OF THE WEEK....

This week's Tip is from popular instructor Sean Kirkpatrick of our Downingtown location.  Sean is a top instructor of fielding skills and he provides some super infield tips below for young players to follow.  To schedule a lesson package with Sean at Downingtown, call our staff at 610-518-7400.

Fielding Grounders Can Be Easy If You Follow These Steps:

Fielding a ground ball can be a very simple task when the mechanics are done right. It all starts before the pitcher even pitches the ball. The fielder must begin by taking his "creep steps" toward home plate-- this consists of two short steps forward, as soon as the pitcher lifts his leg to go to the plate.

Following the creep steps, and after approaching the ball, the fielder should break down into his fielding position, which consists of:  Feet shoulder width apart, knees bent, and glove on the ground and out front with the throwing hand on top of the glove hand palm. It's very crucial for the player to have his glove on the ground and out front for two reasons: (1) It will ensure that the ball will not roll underneath the glove and, (2) when the glove is out front, the player will be able to see the ball right into his glove. It’s also equally as important to have the fielder's throwing hand on top of the glove hand palm so that the ball will not bounce out of the glove. Coaches, we associate this by telling our players to make the "alligator mouth" with their glove and throwing hand-- this helps players visualize the trapping of the ball.

As soon as the ball is hit, we stress the importance of attacking the ball, keeping our feet moving through the ball as we field, and keeping our body in front of the ball. By doing this, the player will have more time to throw the ball and ensure he fields it properly. 

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ALL STAR BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sean O'Keefe

All Star Baseball Academy is pleased to name Malvern Prep senior Sean O'Keefe as our Player of the Week.  Sean is a hard-throwing righthanded pitcher who starred for Malvern this past spring and then also played very well for ASBA tournament teams over the summer and fall seasons.


Recently, Sean committed to play baseball for Johns Hopkins University in Maryland and he'll be joining the Blue Jays' outstanding program.  Congratulations to Sean for winning the Player of the Week award from ASBA.

"I'm really excited to be playing for Johns Hopkins next year," said O'Keefe.  "It's a great academic school and the baseball team is very strong, so I'll be going to a winning program and helping them stay on top in the Centennial League."

O'Keefe was not always a star pitcher, as he played much of his earlier baseball seasons as a shortstop and a third baseman.  Then he grew several inches in one year, and filled out to 6-4 in height and over 200 pounds.  Hello, pitching mound!  He took lessons with All Star as a high potential pitcher, worked hard on his form and control, and developed into a regular starting pitcher for Malvern's top-notch program.


"Sean began with All Star Baseball when his Malvern Prep Coach, Fred Hilliard, suggested in the fall of his sophomore year that because of Sean's height and velocity he should take some pitching lessons at All Star Baseball," said Sean's Dad, Dick.  "Prior to that, Sean had always played middle infield. He started lessons with Mark Freed. Mark quickly identified Sean's potential and invited him to play for the Futures Team during the summer prior to his junior year of high school with Coach Steve Van Note.

"Sean has grown as a pitcher and all around baseball player through his instruction from Mark, Steve and all the coaches at All Star Baseball.  Mark's knowledge really helped us to navigate the recruiting process and was a great influence on Sean in many ways. Sean was accepted Early Decision to Johns Hopkins University and is excited to be playing  for Coach Babb. We could not be more excited for Sean and the opportunity he has been given," summarized Dick O'Keefe.

"Sean O'Keefe has put himself in a great situation. He has developed well over the last two seasons, both in the classroom and on the baseball field, and found himself a great home at Johns Hopkins," smiled Mark Freed of ASBA's staff.

"Hopkins has a great baseball program and education, and Sean will fit in well. He has built his confidence and he demands perfection on the pitching mound. 

"I am truly excited for Sean and his family for this accomplishment and look forward to following him in his college career," said Freed.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Shawn Pender

Shawn Pender

All Star Baseball Academy is pleased to have Cincinnati Reds Major League Scout Shawn Pender as a member of our staff.  Pender, a local Haverford, PA resident, has been running camps and programs for ASBA for many years, and is a valuable member of our instructional team.  A former minor league player in the Pittsburgh Pirates' system, Pender was a standout athlete at Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square and he later starred for Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

 

All Star Baseball has teamed up with The Haverford School to offer a Pre-Season Baseball Training Camp in February, and Pender has been busy planning the Camp for area players in grades 4 through 9.  ASBA Blog Editor Ken Leidheiser recently sat down with Shawn to review his teaching background and focus areas, as well as to preview the Pre-Season Camp at Haverford School.

 

ASBA:  How long have you been running baseball camps and teaching young players?

 

Shawn:  I've run camps and baseball clinics for 25 years now.  I love doing it and helping young players get better.  With my experience in baseball, I organize the camps so that they

really help players with their fundamental skills.  It's great to see them get better and then track their progress.

 

ASBA:  Are there certain drills and focus areas in every camp that you run?

 

Shawn:  Yes, there are 3 important focal points to every camp that I organize and run.  First is quality instruction-- teaching the players good baseball fundamentals and key skills to be successful.  Number two is make it fun!  I like to run short indoor games and competitions, and make it fun for the kids to participate.  And the last thing is mentoring.  We talk about the importance of schoolwork and sports, and we emphasize academics in addition to baseball training.

 

ASBA:  What about player/coach ratio and coordinating the camps for different age groups?

 

Shawn:  We always offer a good player/coach ratio and feel that's very important.  We want to teach in small groups to show the players how to repeat key skills.  Repetition is a big thing in all of our camps, and it's big in every single level of baseball, too.  We also do age group sorting, so that the groups are right and players are with others of the same age group and skill sets.

 

ASBA:  How long have you been with the Reds?

 

Shawn:  I've been with the Reds on Dusty Baker's staff for 4 years now.  I work as a Major League Advance Scout, scouting other teams and individual players for the Reds at the Major League level.  I love it, it's been great.

 

ASBA:  Did you play pro ball?  Were you drafted?

 

Shawn:  I was signed by the Pirates as an undrafted free agent.  I played outfield in college but then I played the middle infield positions and liked playing second base. In the minors in Class A ball, I played every single position in one game, so you could say that I was a good utility player.  I played for a couple of seasons in the Pirates system, and then got hurt.  I enjoy the game so much that I decided to go into coaching and scouting, and it's been a great experience for me.

 

ASBA:  As a coach and "teacher" of baseball, what is your approach?

 

Shawn:  I believe in the "building block" approach and not completely tearing a player down to start over.  Start with the lower half (legs, hips and "core") and work up from there.  You need to have a strong lower half to be a successful player, no matter what level you are playing.  It's not all about your arm strength or your bat speed.  I like to start with what the player does well, and build from there.

 

ASBA:  Are you looking forward to the Pre-Season Training Camp at Haverford School in February?

 

Shawn:  Yes, absolutely.  We have a great staff with Haverford School Head Coach Bob Castell working closely with me, and we also have top coaches from All Star Baseball Academy too.  The Camp is February 20-21 in the indoor sports facility at Haverford, and the timing is really good for players who want to learn new skills and tune up for their upcoming spring seasons.  We encourage area players to sign up with their friends, or even as teams, as this will be great spring training!  Players in grades 4 through 9 are invited to sign up wth ASBA and attend.

 

ASBA:  Sounds like a great Camp!  And good luck with the Reds this year.  Are they looking tough again for 2011?

 

Shawn:  Yes, we've got a super team and we'll try to give the Giants and Phillies a run for their money in the NL this year!!

 

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