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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