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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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight is Matt Baer. Matt is an instructor at the ASBA Broomall and Cherry Hill facilities where he gives pitching lessons. Matt has been working for ASBA since September of 2011.

In high school, Matt was a standout pitcher for Eastern High School in Voorhees, New Jersey. He was a 2nd team All-Group 4 selection as a senior, and was also a team captain that year. He currently holds the school record for lowest single season earned run average. After graduating in 2007, Matt went on to star for Geneva College. As a sophomore, he was an All-PAC selection, and was a team captain as a senior. Matt graduated from Geneva in May of 2011. This past fall, Matt was an assistant coach for ASBA Broomall’s 14U team.

When we asked Matt what he likes about giving lessons, he said “I like working with kids because not every kid is the same. I like the challenge of figuring out how I can help them individually.”

In his spare time, Matt can be found on the golf course.

To schedule lessons with Matt, please call ASBA Broomall at 610-355-2411 or ASBA Cherry Hill at 856-433-8312.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Nick Umberger

After a winter hiatus for the All Star Baseball Academy Player of the Week, we are featuring ASBA Alum Nick Umberger, a senior left-handed pitcher for Shippensburg University. In three starts this season, Nick is 3-0 with a miniscule 1.29 ERA. Nick went the distance in two of his three starts, and already has two shutouts on the season. He also has walked just six batters while striking out 17 in 21 innings of work. We had a chance to ask him a few questions about his time with All Star, as well as his college experience and future plans. Here’s what he had to say:

How would you describe your experience with All Star?
It was very beneficial for me. I took a lot of pitching lessons, which really helped me out. I learned a lot from them, and I’m now able to make adjustments on my own during a game.

What ASBA teams did you play for?
I played for the ASBA Downingtown, Blue Claws, ASBA Downingtown Fall Ball, and an ASBA Fall Showcase team that played at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, New York.

Who were your ASBA coaches?
My coaches were Jim Freeman, Creighton Gubanich and Mark Freed.

What has been the highlight of playing college baseball for you so far?
I think the best part for me has been the opportunity to play with some of the best kids from around the state. You get to make lifelong friends because you’re around them all the time. It makes it a better college experience all around because they become your brothers.

How did your experience with ASBA prepare you for playing college baseball?
All Star Baseball Academy prepared me for playing at a high collegiate level. I was able to play against some of the best competition from around the country, which prepared me once I got to college.

What’s the hardest part about playing college baseball?
The number of games is a lot different. It’s a big jump to go from 15 games to 50 games. I’ve learned that conditioning and staying in shape is important in order to make it through the season. Usually I’ll make a start in a Conference game during the weekend and pitch in relief during the week, so I really have to make sure that my endurance is at a high level. Training throughout the year really prepared me for the jump.

What are you majoring in/what are your future plans?
Right now I’m majoring in marketing. I’m hoping to do something with promotional and community relations with a minor league or major league team. I would like to be involved with community outreach.

Congratulations to Nick for being named this week’s ASBA Player of the Week, and we wish him the best of luck as he continues his season. Stay tuned each week for the next ASBA Player of the Week. For more information, please contact your local ASBA facility.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY SPRING TRAINING

All Star Baseball Academy held its 3rd annual Spring Training trip at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina over President’s Day weekend. Eleven different ASBA teams made the trip down. The teams ranged in age from 9U to 12U.

The weekend started off with perfect weather on Saturday, allowing the boys a full days worth of baseball. The morning featured defensive practices and batting practice for all the teams, as they worked on bunt plays, cut-offs and relays, and 1st and 3rd plays.

After a break for lunch, the teams squared off against each other in games. Score was not kept, as the games were meant to be instructional. Coaches roamed the fields during game play, and stopped the games at certain points to make sure players were lined up correctly for cut-offs and bunt plays.

While there was a practice session scheduled for Sunday morning, the weather was uncooperative, forcing the cancellation of the morning practices. The teams were able to get their instructional games in that afternoon once the rain cleared up. Despite a drop in temperature, the games went smoothly, as the players began to understand their responsibilities on the field.

The final day culminated in coach-pitch games, much to the delight of the players. While the temperature at first pitch was in the 30’s, the spirits of the players were not deterred, as they cherished the chance to rough up their respective coaches.

Overall, the weekend was a great success. We received the following email in response to the positive outcome of the weekend:

I thought it was important to give personal recognition to the coach of the West Chester Select team, Edwin Cieslak. Ed has taken a personal interest in the team, fundamentals of the game, the mental aspect of baseball and most importantly in the individual character of each of the young men that are under his tutelage.

Most recently in our trip to Myrtle Beach, my son Brady found himself in a slump hitting. He had gotten away from his fundamental mechanics and was unable to adjust to find the appropriate correction. Even worse, it affected his mental approach to the game.

This mechanical issue was recognized by Coach Cieslak and immediately upon our return from South Carolina we scheduled a private session with Brady to make the proper adjustments. This lesson was done last night, on Edwin's own time. He spoke to Brady in a mature and reinforcing manner, and was quickly able to show Brady the mechanical adjustments he needed to make. More importantly, he imparted positive mental reinforcements to impart his knowledge of the game.

We have been around many coaches and teachers of the game. Edwin is by far the most effective in reaching the mind of a young man trying to grasp the nuances of a complicated sport. We witness it in our own son, as well as the team that Edwin is in charge of. His sacrifice of his own personal life to teach is commendable.

All Star Baseball Academy would like to thank all of the parents for making the trip down to Myrtle Beach, as well as their patience with the weather. For any questions or information, please contact your local ASBA facility.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TIP OF THE WEEK

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy Tip of the Week comes to us from Marc Brown. Marc is a hitting and pitching instructor at ASBA Downingtown, and starred at Stony Brook University. Marc talked about the importance of timing the pitcher’s rhythm when trying to steal a base.

When many pitchers throw with runners on base they fall into a pattern. The pattern can be recognized after the pitcher comes set. Most pitchers come set and pause for the same amount of time on every pitch before delivering the pitch to home plate. They can also fall into a pattern with how many times they look over to check the runner. Some guys will look just once and fire home. Other pitchers will rock back before they lift their front leg to deliver to home plate. Not only does this give the runner more time to steal a base, it gives them a cue for when to steal.

The opposing team can make this pattern a nightmare for the pitcher and catcher by counting the amount of time the pitcher stays in the set position, his number of looks, and seeing if he rocks back. If this pattern is seen, the runners can easily steal the next base.


When you or another teammate gets on base and the pitcher comes set, count the number of seconds that pass by until their first movement, along with how many times they look over. If the pitcher consistently throws home on the same amount of time and with the same number of looks, you have recognized the pitcher's throwing pattern. If given the steal sign, take off on the exact count and you will find yourself standing up at second or third before the other team knows what happened!

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

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INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Josh Rickards

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight is Josh Rickards. Josh is an instructor at ASBA Broomall, and gives lessons on pitching. Josh has been working at ASBA since October of 2011.

In high school, Josh excelled at Cardinal O’Hara High School. While there, he was named to the All-Catholic team twice, and was an All-Delco selection once, as well as being a team captain his senior year. Josh went on to have a great career at Marist College, where he was named to the MAAC All Conference Team as a junior. He was also a team captain for both his junior and senior seasons.

After graduating from Marist in 2009, Josh went on to play professionally overseas. In 2010, he was named the Pitcher of the Year in the German Bundisliga, and received the same award in 2011 in Italy’s Seria A. This summer, Josh will be playing for the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League.

We asked Josh why he likes giving lessons at All Star Baseball Academy. “I enjoy watching young players develop and get better at baseball, it’s my passion, that’s why I do it”.

Off the field, Josh spends his time fishing.

To schedule lessons with Josh, please call ASBA Broomall at 610-355-2411.

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TIP OF THE WEEK

This week’s All Star Baseball Academy’s Tip of the Week comes from Brian Good, an instructor at ASBA Warminster. Brian played at Temple University, and today he stresses the importance of solid fundamentals and proper alignment in the swing and pitching motion.

“Solid fundamentals in the swing should start with the proper alignment,” Brian said. “The alignment of the feet, hips and shoulders will promote a linear hand path both on the mound and at the plate.”

To demonstrate this, Brian suggests having a young pitcher draw a line down the center of the mound, or placing a 2X4 in the batter’s box lined up with the batter’s feet. This will help younger players focus on their alignment. Another drill coaches can use with their players is the mirror drill. Younger players are not always aware of what their bodies are doing. Standing in front of a mirror allows them to see what their body is doing. Batters can take dry swings with a bat and no ball while looking into the mirror. Pitchers can go through their pitching delivery and motion using a towel or rag instead of a ball as they look into the mirror. This translates to the mound or the batter’s box by helping them visualize proper alignment. Coaches should also be diligent in checking for proper alignment when players are working off the tee, taking batting practice, and working off the mound.

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

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INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Frank Sirolli

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight is Frank Sirolli. Frank is an instructor at ASBA Cherry Hill and gives lessons on hitting and fielding. Frank has been with All Star since December of 2011.

Frank played high school baseball at Cinnaminson High School in New Jersey. While at Cinnaminson he was named to the Group Two All South Jersey team as an outfielder. After graduating high school in 2007 Frank went on to play collegiately at Burlington County College and then at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. During his time at BCC, he was named one of the top 5 players in the region. He was a First Team Garden State Athletic Conference selection as a sophomore, as well as being a team captain. That same year he received the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year Award. After two years at BCC he transferred to IUP, where his success continued. In his two years at IUP, he won two Gold Glove awards and was named to the All-PSAC West First Team as a senior, along with being named a team captain. Frank graduated from IUP in 2011.

We asked Frank what he enjoys the most about giving lessons. “I enjoy working with baseball players that are hungry to learn and want to work hard”.

In his spare time, Frank enjoys playing the guitar.

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

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ALL STAR BASEBALL ACADEMY TIP OF THE WEEK

This week’s tip of the week comes from Jim Thompson from ASBA Broomall. Jim gives lessons on hitting, fielding and catching. He is currently a scout for the New York Mets. Jim stresses the importance of preparing for your at-bats in the on deck circle.

Your at bat begins when you step into the on deck circle. Your time in the on deck is not the time to look for mom and dad in the stands or wave to grandma. This is the time to really focus on your upcoming at bat, and what job you’ll need to do. In addition to getting loose, it is your time to learn the pitcher’s rhythm and to set your rhythm. When you’re on deck, you should be in your stance, facing the same angle as if you’re in the batter’s box. As the pitcher goes through his motion, you should stride and load as if you are at the plate. Also, be aware of what pitches he throws, and when he’ll throw them. Be aware of how he started the previous hitter, and whether he uses a curveball or a change-up. Look for what pitch he throws if he’s behind in the count and when he has 2 strikes on the batter.

The start of your at-bat will likely depend on the outcome of the previous at-bat. For instance, if he walks the hitter before you, you’re probably going to see a first pitch fastball. If the previous hitter swings and misses at three curveballs, there’s a good chance that you’re going to see curveballs. Your approach at the plate, and what the previous hitter did, will affect your job at the plate. You might have to hit behind the runner and move him over, score him from second or drive him in from third with less than 2 outs. Again, you should know all of this based on the work you did in the on deck circle.

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

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INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: AJ Miller

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight is AJ Miller. AJ is an instructor at our Cherry Hill and Broomall facilities, where he gives lessons on hitting and catching. AJ has been part of the ASBA family since December of 2011.

AJ attended Manasquan High School in Manasquan, New Jersey, where he starred as a catcher. After graduating in 2007, he went on to excel at Lafayette College from 2008 to 2011 where he was the team captain his senior year. At the beginning of the season, he was named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List for the nation’s top catcher. He received several school and conference honors, including the 2011 Patriot League Player of the Year and Patriot League 1st Team Honors. He was named Lafayette’s Most Outstanding Senior Athlete, and was named the team MVP as well. On top of all this, he was a 2011 Collegebaseballinsider.com All-American Honorable Mention and was selected to the College Baseball Lineup Division I All-Star Team. In 2010 and 2011, he was named to the Athletic Academic Honor Roll. This past summer, AJ completed his first year of professional baseball, where he was a catcher for the Normal Cornbelters of the Frontier League.

When asked about giving lessons, AJ said “I am really excited to start working at ASBA. I have played all over the country and have met a lot of different coaches and I look forward to sharing my knowledge as well as learning from the players and fellow instructors.”

To schedule lessons with AJ, please call ASBA Cherry Hill at 856-433-8312 or Broomall at 610-355-2411.

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INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Steve Frederick

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight is Steve Frederick. Steve is an instructor at ASBA Downingtown, and he specializes in hitting and catching lessons. Steve has been a part of the ASBA family since October of 2011.

A product of Downingtown Senior High School, Steve was a 4-year Varsity catcher for the Whippets from 1999-2002. He went on to play at Franklin & Marshall College from 2003-2006. While he was there, he was a member of two Centennial Conference Championship teams in 2005 and 2006, and was an All-Centennial Conference Selection as a catcher in 2005 and 2006. He was also a team captain as a senior in 2006.

After graduating from college, Steve began coaching Downingtown West’s JV squad in 2008, and was the Paoli Senior Legion Head coach from 2010-2011.

In regards to giving lessons, Steve says “I love and respect the game of baseball and I hope to pass on my knowledge to future generations.”

In his spare time, Steve has made it the level of 2nd Degree Black Belt.

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

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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 Dave Housel. Dave is an instructor on hitting and fielding at ASBA Cherry Hill, and played professionally for the New York Mets organization, as well as several teams in the Atlantic League. Dave’s tip for this week is to have a game plan when you step in the batter’s box.

In order to have a game plan when you step into the batter’s box, you have to know what your strengths as a hitter are. For example, if you are good at hitting the inside pitch, but struggle at hitting the outside pitch, you want to look to hit the inside pitch early in the count. If the first pitch you see is on the outer half of the plate, let it go. That’s why you get three strikes!

When you’re at the plate, you want to hit your pitch and your pitch only, especially when the count is in your favor. As you get older, pitchers will start to throw their off speed pitches more, and with less regard to the count. It is important for hitters to identify their pitch so that know what to look for at the plate. To summarize, you want to hit your pitch, not the pitchers pitch.

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

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CLASS OF 2012 COLLEGE COMMITMENTS

WEST CHESTER, Pa., Dec. 6th All-Star Baseball Academy (ASBA), the Delaware Valley's largest organization for developing young athletes through instruction, competition and mentoring, announces today that 33 of its players signed letters of intent by the November 19th deadline to play collegiate baseball. These Greater Philadelphia region players have all been active participants in ASBA's programs and will be entering elite baseball programs across the country.

The ASBA players will be signing with colleges including the University of Virginia which played in the 2011 CWS, as well Princeton University and schools such as US Naval Academy, The College of William and Mary, Villanova University, The University of Richmond and Northeastern University.

"We would like to congratulate each one of these players and their families," said Mike Manning, director of ASBA. "We have a tremendous class of athletes this year and see many younger players following the same path to play college ball. Our program is designed to not only provide instruction to improve the skill sets of the players, but also help them through the recruitment process and prepare them for competition at the collegiate level. We look forward to following these players through their collegiate baseball careers."

PLAYER/HIGH SCHOOL/SCHOOL
Beau Horan Princeton Day Williams College
Billy Krebs West Chester East Wingate University
Bobby Slagle Plymouth Whitemarsh Villanova
Brian Donnelly Council Rock South Rider University
Burk Fitzpatrick Episcopal Academy University of Maine
Casey Clauss North Penn Frederick CC, Maryland
Chris Coia Central Bucks South Radford University
Conner Crookham Hatboro Horsham Old Dominion University
Dan Hoy Germantown Academy Princeton University
Dan Rosenbaum Plymouth Whitemarsh University of Louisville
Dan Shea Salesianum Monmouth University
Drew Hayes Malvern Prep US Naval Academy
Evan Emerich Clearview Regional Long Island University
Jack Fritz Bayard Rustin Bloomsburg University
Jake Drossner Council Rock North University of Maryland
James Bunn Pennington Prep Virginia Commonwealth University
Connor Breslin St. Pius X University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Joe Gorman Newman Goretti St. Joseph’s University
Joe Ravert Malvern Prep Lasalle University
John Brogan Marple Newtown Millersville University
Kevin Long Lasalle College HS Lehigh University
Luke Emling Solanco Villanova
Luke Mogle Conestoga University of Maine
Luke Reilly Germantown Academy Lasalle University
Marty Martens Central Bucks West Marist College
Mike Kollhoff Downingtown East Millersville University
Pat Pittman Downingtown East Millersville University
Ray Lopez Lampeter Strasburg Virginia Military Academy
Ron Scull Monsignor Bonner West Chester University
Ryan Donnelly The Tattnall School University of Richmond
Ryan Hissey Unionville The College of William & Mary
Scott Williams Conestoga University of Virginia
Shane Allen Phoenixville Northeastern University

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INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Tom White

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight is Tom White. Tom is an instructor at ASBA Broomall, and he specializes in fielding and hitting lessons. Tom has been with ASBA since November of 2011. Tom is also a diehard Phillies fan.

Tom was a three year starter as a shortstop and 3rd baseman at Ridley High School from 2003-2006, and finished his time there as a team captain. He went on to play at Penn State Brandywine, where he was also a three year starter. He was a three time PSUAC All Academic Conference selection between 2008 and 2011, as well as a 2nd team PSUAC All Conference selection in 2009 and 1st team PSUAC All Conference in 2011.

In regards to giving lessons and coaching, Tom says “The best part about instructing is not only helping a player improve their skills on the diamond, but also the opportunity to create a relationship with the kids, making sure they enjoy themselves every time they come into All Star.”

Tom will be an assistant coach for Broomall’s 10U team this Spring.

To schedule lessons with Tom, please call ASBA Broomall at 610-355-2411.

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INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: Frank Gailey

Featured in this week’s All Star Baseball Academy Instructor Spotlight is Frank Gailey. As of December 12th, Frank is a pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Frank gives lessons in all areas, but specializes in pitching lessons. He has been a member of the ASBA family since December of 2011.

Frank excelled in high school at Archbishop John Carroll in Radnor, PA. While there, he was an All-Catholic League Selection, and was also selected to the All-DELCO team as a pitcher. He was recruited by West Chester University as a pitcher, and had a stellar career there. In his sophomore, junior and senior years (2005-2007) he was selected to the All-PSAC team, and was named PSAC Pitcher of the Year in 2007. He currently holds the school record for strikeouts, with 289 for his career.

After graduating in 2007, Frank was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. He was named the Blue Jays’ Organization Pitcher of the year in 2010, and was recently traded to his hometown team, the Phillies. He has a good chance of making it to the majors with the Phillies as a left-hander out of the bullpen.

When asked what he likes the most about giving lessons, he says “I like that I have the chance to give back. The opportunities for me when I was younger weren’t that strong, and I relished the chance to get lessons when I could. It’s nice to be able to give back and help kids get better at doing something they love, and to further their baseball career and take the next step.”

When he is not playing baseball, Frank is an avid golfer and fisherman.

To schedule lessons with Frank, please call ASBA Warminster at 215-672-1826.

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