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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