Gameday Insider has merged with my son plays baseball.
Please check us out at www.mysonplaysbaseball on the web and "My Son Plays Baseball" on Facebook, we currently have over 50,000 people on our page and want to grow this to over a Million People.
All Team USSSA details will be located at www.usssateamsc.com.
Contact Kelly Ahrens kellyahrens5@yahoo.com for more info.
My Son Plays Baseball- New Site
My Son Plays Baseball will be replacing this site in the next couple of weeks. This site will have many benefits for all and has quickly become one of the most followed sites in the country with over 40,000 users.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/mysonplaysbaseball?v=wall&story_fbid=142176115825517
USSSA Team South Carolina Showcase/Tryout on October 30 and October 31- Register Now!
USSSA Team South Carolina tryouts will be October 30 and 31. Register today. For kids ages 9 to 18. Two teams at each age group will be selected and will travel to Florida to play in the winter world championships. More details to follow.
Register & Pay Here
WTTBL site is now www.mybigleaguers.com
www.mybigleaguers.com
2010 USSSA Team South Carolina All-Star Coaching Staff
2010 USSSA Team South Carolina tryouts begin August 3. Register today at www.leaguelineup.com/gamedayusssainsider! Read below for more details!
All-Star coaching staff announced to include 2010 National Champion USC's Bobby Haney (currently with San Francisco Giants), former Gamecock DeAngelo Mack, and many other current and former professional and collegiate baseball stars.
Itinerary has been released and this special event will attract the very best players in the state. Remember this event does not conflict with your normal travel team plans and only occupies your time the last week of November and in the month of December.
All-Star coaching staff:
Teams Coaches
9U American Justin Greene
9U National Bobby Haney
10U American Dee Jenkins
10U National Bob Paleski
11U American John Pitts
11U National Deangelo Mack
12U American Mike Lucas
12U National Doug Angeli
13U American Austin Lynch
13U National Korey Ahrens
14U American Thane Maness
14U National Jeff Jeffords
15U American Brandon Waring
15U National Kyle Lawson
16U American Jason Terry
16U National Kevin Davis
17U American Mark Davis
17U National Bobby Youngblood
18U American Tim Medlin
18U National Will Nobles
Each participant will receive a written professional evaluation
Each participant will play in two simulated games on Day 1 and Day 2
Event could be modified if weather issues arise
Register or find more information at www.leaguelineup.com/gamedayusssainsider
2010 Team USSSA Ages 9-12 Award Winners
9 & 10 HR Derby Winner Dylan Rogers
11 & 12 HR Derby Winner Douglas Angeli
9 & 10 First Base Skills Winner Dylan Rogers
11 & 12 First Base Skills Winner Gunnar Lucas
9 & 10 Outfield Skills Winner Tyler Stone
11 & 12 Outfield Skills Winner Ethan Few
9 & 10 Infield Skills Winner Clayton Darby
11 & 12 Infield Skills Winner Trevor Weisner
11 & 12 Catcher Skills Winner Josh Church
9U Most Promosing Player Award Joseph Conti
10U Most Promosing Player Award AC Heaton and Dylan Rogers
11U Most Promosing Player Award Drew Yniesta
12U Most Promosing Player Award Douglas Angeli
13U Home Run Derby Winner Grant Adams
14U & 15U HR Derby Winner Logan Phillips
13U 1B Skills Winner Blake O'Malley
14U & 15U 1B Skills Winner Steven Calcutt
13U Outfield Skills Winner Hunter Grover
14U & 15U Outfield Skills Winner Austin Bradley
13U Infield Skills Winner Joe Satterfield
14U & 15U Infield Skils Winner Parker Burt
14U & 15U Catcher Skills Winner Graham Hatfield
13U Most Promosing Player Joe Satterfield
14U Most Promosing Player Zack Heaton
15U Most Promosing Player Zackary Newton,Jake Martin
16U - 18U 1B Skills Winner Patrick Briody
16u - 18U Outfield Skills Winner Cody Kyzer, Jake Martin, Scott Burnley
16U - 18U Infield Skills Winner Webber Pike
16U - 18U Catcher Skills Winner Hanlon Maivelett
16U Most Promosing Player Award Adam Pizzuti
17U Most Promosing Player Award Hanlon Maivelett, Webber Pike
18U Most Promosing Player Award Matt Garnett
2010 USSSA Team South Carolina Team Selections
2010 USSSA Team South Carolina announces the unanimous choices for this years team which will compete in two tournaments the end of November and the first of December and will then go to Kissimmee, Florida to compete in the winter world championships.
The final tryout for 2010 USSSA Team South Carolina will be October 30th and 31st. Final selections for team will be on or before November 5th. The remaining selections will be chosen from participants who participated in the August tryout as well as those who come to the October event.
Two teams at each age group will be chosen. The participation with these teams is only for a time certain period and will not interfere with regular travel team plans.
Registration for the October event will begin the middle of September.
All evaluations have been completed, if you have not received your evaluation, please notify KellyAhrens5@yahoo.com.
Congratulations to the initial selections of 2010 USSSA Team South Carolina.
9U
Tyler Stone
Joseph Conti
Zachary O'Malley
10U
Frank Tolar
Dylan Rogers
Hunter Garris
Andrew Isgett
AC Heaton
Clayton Darby
Matthew Hawkins
11U
Alex Morris
Brendon Case
Mark Kneece
Anthony Minerva
Drew Yniesta
Gunner Britton
Seth Chestnut
Jas Bryant
12U
Doug Angeli
Ethan Few
Jackson Bahen
Trey Keels
Gunnar Lucas
Jay Beebe
Bo Gobin
Josh Church
13U
Cody Bell
Blake O'Malley
Tony Diaz
Joe Satterfield
14U
Zach Heaton
Steven Calcutt
Ross Hough
Hunter Zajicek
Dallas Collins
Chase Belk
Mattison Pike
15U
Graham Hatfield
Zachary Newton
Madison Aselage
Ryan Cherry
Landen Walters
Jake Martin
Aaron Dahm
16U
Jordan Eberle
Corey Sox
Blake Schultz
Adam Pizzuti
Scott Burnley
17U
Ryan Gajda
Cody Kyzer
Addison Hinshaw
Patrick Briody
Robert Stoltz
Webber Pike
Hanlon Maivelett
18U
Matt Garnett
Tripp Rollings makes USSSA First Team All American
Tripp Rollings was selected out of the regional tryout at Charleston Southern University to compete in the All American Games in Kissimmee, Florida at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex. Tripp is a rising sophomore at Andrew Jackson High School near Lancaster, SC. Mike Lucas, Tripp's High School coach recommended Tripp to the Regional event and this recommendation paid off.
Tripp dominated at the Regional level and did the same in the All American Games. 16 players were named to the First Team , two from West Virginia and the other 14 players were each from a different state. Tripp is the sole South Carolina representative to earn this designation.
Tripp hit well at the event as a defensive prospect however earned his birth as a pitcher. Tripp sat at 89 MPH and topped out at 92 MPH. He is a great competitor and defines what a pitcher is. Tripp has a great future and needs to stay healthy and continue to progress.
Congrats to Tripp!
David Houser #75 prospect in the country for the 2012 Draft and Chase Shelton Charleston Southern University commitment
USSSA Team South Carolina Tryouts
USSSA Team South Carolina tryouts are October 30th and 31st.
Register & Pay Here
USSSA Team South Carolina Tryouts/Showcase Event
Should I attend?
What is a showcase event? Why should my kid participate in a showcase event? At what age should my kid participate in a showcase?
Should you get an annual physical? Should you change the oil in your car every 3500 miles? Should you rotate the tires on your car every 6 months? Should you check the tire pressure on a weekly basis to ensure the best mileage and production?
Should you get your teeth cleaned every 6 months? Should change the air filter on your HVAC unit every 3 months? Should you take the PSAT before you take the SAT? Should you monitor your kid’s quarterly grades on his report card? Should you do a fall and spring cleaning to your home each year?
Should you have your house appraised every 5 years to better understand the value of your home? Should you monitor your investment account on an annual basis to ensure your funds are in the best investment for you and your family?
Do you take your kid to the eye doctor to get his eyes checked? If your kid went to the dentist and needed a filling would you get him one? If your kid’s shoes were too small and hurting his feet would you get him a new pair? If you got a report card that was not favorable would you apply a solution to improve the results?
I have been searching for the most effective way to describe and provide tangible details for parents and kids to understand the purpose of this event. There are many purposes I want to shed some light on and give valuable insight that many parents and kids do not have the opportunity to be explained where it provides enough detail to make an educated decision.
The above questions point out things that are recommended and make sense however, these questions really are choices one has to make in the everyday cycle of life. All of these items being important, one has to prioritize based on timing, financial restraints and necessity.
USSSA Team South Carolina is the single most exciting baseball event one could participate in! This event is for kids ages 9 to 18. This annual event is a special assessment of ones baseball skills and is simply a measure to how your kid stacks up against players from all over the state of South Carolina and the world.
Will this interfere with my regular travel team? Absolutely not! The players that are selected to these teams only participate with USSSA Team South Carolina for the month of December. They do not have to miss any games with their primary teams.
The event is a Two-Day event which allows the kids to participate in skills testing against other kids their age as well as play in games against one another. There is a home run derby, a defensive skills competition, professional speakers and a professional group of baseball people managing and evaluating the talent at hand.
Skills are tested. Just like an SAT score or keeping up with ones Grade Point Average. One thing is for certain… Change! Kids will change as they mature and their skills will change as well. The more they work on their skill the more they will improve. This becomes more and more visual the older the kids get.
Each kid will get a professional evaluation/appraisal and a lot of good experience at this event. This evaluation can tell a parent and kid areas they need to improve on as well as what to do to make those improvements. The evaluation can be compared on an annual basis to track the progress of each player and how they stack up. One could easily tell if they are slipping to the back of the group or moving to the top of the group.
The process the kids will be a part of allows them to learn how to “Compete” and how to perform with eyes on them. It prepares them for a big travel team tryout, tryouts to high school, showcasing talent to college recruiters and ultimately showcasing their skills to professional scouts. This is valuable because they will need this skill and exposure to prepare for job opportunities and other skills that become a part of adulthood.
It will make them aware of their progress and what it takes to remain at the highest level and or to get to the highest level. It gives them a map that they can continually reference to see if they are progressing in the right direction. It gives the parents a tool to see what type of investment should be made based on the skill at hand.
What is the potential of your 9 year old, 12 year old, 15 year old? Does your opinion matter? Are you going to provide your opinion to the high school coach or college coach and would they listen? Evaluations done by professionals provide a great insight to what these guys are looking for.
Ask these questions. Son, what do you run the 60YD dash in? What is a good 60 time? How long does it take you to get from home to first? What is your velocity off the mound? How do you rate on fielding skills on a 20/80 scale? Catcher, what is your pop time to second base? If you do not now the answers to these questions, you are not in a position to provide an accurate assessment of your child.
The two day showcase/tryout event is filled with fun and excitement, anxiety and anticipation. Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Girlfriend, Neighbor….. Everyone wants to know how you kid did at this event. Kids get to see the guy they read about in the papers and are talked about by coaches and players may even get to play on his team and or against his team.
Making USSSA TEAM SOUTH CAROLILNA ! Wow what if your kid made the team? This adds even more fun and excitement to the event. Two teams will be selected from the kids trying out at each age group. So there will be two 9U teams an American and a National, two 10U teams and American and a National….etc. Up to 18U.
The kids selected will play in a tournament in Columbia area the last week in November and the first week in December. Each team will then practice two or three times at a central location in December. Then, these teams will go to Kissimmee Florida to compete in the Winter World Series the last week in December. Just think what you currently do the day after Christmas until the first of the year. Not a lot going on as everyone is waiting until the New Year. How about soaking up the sun in Florida ?
What if your kid could be on a team like the 2009 16U USSSA Team South Carolina who went to the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida and WON the winter world championships? Note that there were 14 kids on this roster and the team hit a continuous line up and free substitution for all seven games they played in. What does that mean? It was a total team effort, everyone got to play and contribute for their team!
Our 10U team and 15U team enjoyed competing against and beating Team Puerto Rico. They also enjoyed staying in the same hotel and building relationships with many kids from all areas of South Carolina and from all over the country. These kids will be spending time with the players who will be competing with one another throughout high school, college, etc.
What if my kid does not make the team? Since this is an annual event and the slate starts clean each year, your kid can take his evaluation, get some professional guidance and instruction to improve and make next year’s team. Again, change is certain. One will get bigger, stronger and faster or skills can actually decline which we see quite frequently. I feel skills decline because the kids do not receive the proper advice and or instruction to continue to improve and be shown what to and how to do things.
How are the selections made? A group of professional baseball people who own baseball academy’s across the state, who played college and professional baseball and who have coached college and professional baseball will be managing the event and making the decisions. The goal is to provide an equal platform for players from all over the state to be able to participate in.
Who will coach the teams? The coaches will be announced as agreements are made but they are coaches again who played or coached in college or professional baseball, therefore your kid will be great exposure from qualified coaches/instructors.
How do I sign up? Please go to www.leaguelineup.com/gamedayusssainsider and register for USSSA Team South Carolina Tryouts. Cost is $175.00.
Contact kellyahrens5@yahoo.com with any questions.
2009 USSSA Team South Carolina tryouts generated a lot of excitement and attracted the top talent in the State.
Spikes Baseball, Read All About it!
Carolina Spikes was created in 2007 by former Emerald High School Coach Mark Davis. Carolina Spikes is a performance academy for youth baseball and softball players in South Carolina. Carolina Spikes provides professional instructions to players who desire to reach the next level.
Carolina Spikes hosts Travel Baseball and Softball Teams from 8u to 18u. Spikes teams play USSSA and Showcase tournaments in South Carolina. Three divisions of Carolina Spikes are: Spikes Select (AAA and Showcase), Carolina Spikes Baseball (AAA/AA) and Carolina Lady Spikes Softball.
In 2010, Carolina Spikes Management will continue to add "Select" Teams, to be the most competitive teams on the market. In addition to the Spikes Select Showcase Baseball teams (18u/16u) Spikes have added Spikes Select 15u Showcase Team. The Select 14u and 13u are AAA USSSA. These teams are selected by the premier baseball coaches of our area. The players chosen to Select teams are scouted throughout the fall and summer seasons and chosen on ability, academics, attitude, and the will to play at the next level
All Spikes teams currently play a 5 tournament schedule in the Summer and Fall equalling 10 tournaments per year. In addition to the tournaments, we scrimmage local travel teams, high school teams, American Legion teams, and Showcase teams.
Any player on the Select Teams will be put through a Showcase Pro-Style Evaluation to record 60yd times, Pop-Time, Pitching Velocity, Arm Strength, Fielding ability, and Hitting for Power and Average. We evaluate our Select players on the 5-Tools in baseball skills. We then compile player profiles to send out to college coaches and scouts for our players. We begin this process with our 13u Select Team and begin unofficial college visits with players on our 16u Select Teams. By the team a player reaches our 18u Fall Select Team, they will most likely have a college baseball commitment.
All though our program is still very young, we have attracted players from all over South Carolina, from Hilton Head to Belton, with a majority of Players from Greenwood County and the Lakelands Area. The attraction to play for Spikes comes from the success of our program.
In 2009, our 13u was ranked #1 in the State and #5 in the nation. Our 14u, is currently ranked #3 in the nation and have played in 9 tournaments, Winning 7 Championships, 1 Runner Up, and Placing 3rd in the Global World Series. This season, our 13u has played in 2 tournaments winning 1 Championship and placing 3rd in the other. Our 15u has played in two Upstate Mavericks Showcases and have a record of 5-2 and only losing against 18u showcase teams. Our 16u Select Showcase Team went 3-1 at the Coastal Carolina Showcase and 4-0 in the Furman Invitational Showcase.
With this type of competitiveness, we will only grow stronger. Our Goal is to select Baseball Guys, not Guys who play Baseball!!
For information on our Program, Please Call or email Mark Davis. 864-992-9119
Coachmarkdavis21@yahoo.com
"The Natural" and it is not Robert Redford aka Roy Hobbs
Today at the baseball academy rounding up a lunch partner to go across the street to Zack’s sandwich shop, I noticed a young man in the batting cage swinging. I see many people in the academy on a daily basis and often see some good swings as well as some bad swings. All the professional guys come in and hit on a daily basis during the off season so I am able to study and analyze what a professional hitter looks like.
Today was a special day because it is not often one is treated to someone that possesses the skill and determination of Alex Urban. What I saw was special and not something seen every day. This kid has natural talent that sets him apart from all the other kids. Not only is the talent there but the work habits are as well. I sat and watched for 10 minutes as Alex hit ball after ball squarely off the advanced skill tee. As soon as he finished a swing, he was setting another ball up on the tee to hit, bucket after bucket of balls with an incredible focus on his mission.
I was in awe to see this young man swing his bat and then change it out for the 33 inch, 30 ounce bat in the cage as well as interchanging with a wooden bat that was left in the cage which too was a 33 inch 30 ounce bat. Interchanging between these bats he never missed the barrel nor hit the tee. Then, I saw him rotating between left handed swings and right handed swings, naturally a left handed swing; he sported a respectful right handed swing as well.
I could not watch any more with out learning more about this kid. I noticed an interested party watching and went and introduced myself to Alex’s grandmother, “Cindy Urban”. Cindy told me a little about him as I quizzed her about her grandson. Alex is 4’ 4 and 61 lbs. He is going into the 3rd grade and is a second year All Stars at Pinevew coaches pitch. I called him over an introduced myself.
I went to Zack’s and enjoyed a good lunch to come back and see Alex throwing balls into the pitching target. I spent a moment working with his balance point from the stretch position and then some foot work on his infield work. He picked up the tips quick and showed impressive arm strength way beyond his age.
I quizzed him further to find out what is making this kid tick, as I was hoping to learn how to get all kids at all ages that I work with to be as loose and natural as he was. Turns out he has been playing since he was 3 in T Ball and regularly practices up to three hours a day with his teammates and his father. Sometimes he is at the field, sometimes he is in the back yard. He often works on soft tosses, T work and ground balls.
Alex would like to be the short stop at USC for the 2020 school year. He has time to develop and is on the right track! I of course gave him an invitation to come tryout for the 2010 USSSA Team South Carolina 9U team in August. With what I saw today, Alex is on track to turn a lot of heads and be a special player.
He has loved tracking Bryce Harper’s story and is up to date on his world. He most likes to follow Jackie Bradley Jr. and Whit Merrifield with the Gamecocks and loves Chipper Jones with the Braves. His two favorite teams are the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees.
Robert Redford played a great role as Roy Hobbs. I would not count out a similar story as time moves forward with Alex Urban. Remember that name and keep your eye out for him at a ballpark near you.
Article Written By: Kelly Ahrens
Big Leaguers travel team registration and weekly participation.
Big Leaguers Weekly Registration Register Here
Big Leaguers First Time Registration Register Here
Shoulders that can carry you.
Shoulders that can carry you!
Everyone wants their kid to be a left handed pitcher. A big left handed pitcher is even better right? Meet 6’ 1” 215 lbs Hayden Gamarra who preps at AC Flora High School in Columbia, South Carolina. A look at Hayden’s shoulders will tell you that he should play football. Well, he does play football in addition to baseball.
Remember Jared Lorenzen, former QB for the Kentucky Wildcats and current back up QB in the NFL? Like Lorenzen, Hayden started as a QB and demonstrated the ability to excel at that position before growing to the size of a lineman. Hayden will play his senior year as a tight end on Flora’s football team. A left handed throwing and left handed hitting Pitcher/First Baseman, Hayden has just begun to make his mark on the diamond.
An above average student aspiring to continue his baseball career at Air Force Academy, Naval Academy or Citadel, Hayden will have to earn his stripes this summer and next season on the diamond. The books will get him there, he just needs to continue to develop and be given the opportunity to carry his team on those broad shoulders.
Hayden is a coach’s dream who is extremely tough, hard nosed and willing to compete. He will do what is asked of him and then some. Hayden’s father, Hugo Gamarra, is extremely tough but supportive of Hayden’s career. Hayden did not pick up baseball from his father who was a basketball player. Hayden did not pick up baseball while visiting his family in Boliva as there is no baseball in Bolivia.
Hayden is well traveled and bilingual. He can often disrupt base runners speaking spanish to them while he is playing first base. Hayden shows promise as a first baseman but projects better as a pitcher. An opposing figure on the mound, Hayden has a delivery that makes it hard for the hitters to pick the ball up.
Hayden had some great outings for AC Flora this year going the distance against Airport losing a 1-0 game and leaving a playoff game against Blue Ridge leading 3-1 in the 7th inning before Blue Ridge tied it up scoring off the relief pitcher. AC Flora eventually won the game but Hayden got a no decision.
If you ever wonder what a college coach is looking for, it is for someone like Hayden. This kid is a warrior! This rising senior is fresh and ready to succeed at the next level. He has not been overused at this point and if he can stay healthy his senior year, Hayden will gain the attention he deserves this year. Hayden won two games for 16U USSSA Team South Carolina in Kissimmee, Florida at the winter world championships. At only 16, Hayden is a very young rising senior who has the best yet to come!
I think Hayden can and will achieve the opportunity to carry a college team on his shoulders for a great college career. Opponents beware of this driven player who is getting closer and closer to his goals. Determination and desire alone are traits that will allow Hayden to be successful on the diamond and after his playing days are over.
Article Written By: Kelly Ahrens
Hola! Yo soy Ramón Osuna!
Standing at 6’ 1” and weighing 190 lbs from Guadalajara Mexico please meet Ramon Osuna. The right handed throwing and left hitting First Baseman/Third Baseman was selected to 2009 16U USSSA Team South Carolina. A very mature 14 year old who showed a tremendous amount of composure and skill was placed two years above his age group at a select level and proved his value.
The 16U USSSA Team South Carolina earned the winter world championship because of a total team effort. Ramon was a huge part of that effort, playing first base and third base during the tournament while batting over .500 with an on base percentage over .750. Ramon proved he belonged and showed promise as a future prospect dominating the opposing 16U pitching.
Ramon, humble and always smiling, has a bright future. Born in Mexico, Ramon is bi-lingual and is able to carry himself in a unique manner showing much maturity for someone his age. Ramon is a good student who moved to South Carolina when he was 3 years old. Ramon’s parents manage the Carona Mexican Restaurant in Greenville.
Ramon is a rising Sophomore at Maudlin High School. Ramon made an immediate impact as a Freshman for Maudlin as the starting First Baseman. He was able to win that position after originally starting off the season at Junior Varsity. Capable of putting up huge power numbers, Ramon only hit one home run his first year in High School. Ramon is unique in that he carries the size of a power hitting player although does not strike out often and always seems to hit the ball hard somewhere.
Very agile for his size and equally as good a talent at third base, first base is his College position. I look to see Ramon develop into a very heavily recruited first baseman as well as attracting some attention from professional scouts. We will anxiously await his development and can only hope to see this young man’s talent surface.
Ramon will be playing for the Upstate Mavericks 15U Black team as well as competing with the 2009 USSSA Team South Carolina who will be playing in the USSSA East Coast Championships and the USSSA National High School Championships this summer. Buena suerte Ramon!
Article Written By: Kelly Ahrens
Player Rankings to begin September, 2010
Player rankings will be compiled the first of September after the USSSA Team South Carolina Tryout the first week in August. In order to be ranked you must attend an ABR ID Camp or USSSA Team South Carolina preliminary event or the main tryout. Participant must also play on a team that is sanctioned through USSSA Baseball.
Coaches from all over the state of South Carolina from cooperating baseball academies will be issuing the rankings. Welcome To The Big Leagues Baseball Academy, Potential Sports, Spikes Baseball, Blue Chip Baseball, Strike Zone, Rock Hill Hitting Academy and Spartanburg Phillies organizations will make up the basis of evaluating and applying player rankings.
GDI will be ranking players ages 9 - 18.
Weber Pike carries a Big Stick!
Weber Pike secures 16U USSSA Team South Carolina championship game with a three-run “scud missile” over the left fielders head in Kissimmee, Florida. With the game tied in the fourth inning Weber Pike came up to the plate in a big situation and delivered a big clutch hit that propelled the 16U team to victory. As I watched him prepare on deck for his at bat I was admiring his approach and could not help but see the bat speed he was generating while taking his practice swings. I knew if he were to catch up to a ball, the results would be good and they were. I have seen many hard hit balls in my day but he absolutely crushed the ball, hitting a line drive that two hopped the fence at the Astros Spring Training Complex well over 400 feet away.
Weber, proving his versatility and team leadership, just completed his sophomore year at Beaufort High School and ended up catching all but one game due to an injury to the primary catcher. Pike batted .388 with 14 runs and 19 RBI’s as a freshman and followed up this year earning All- Region honors batting .416, with 10 doubles and one triple. Very efficient as a catcher he is most likely an outfielder at the college level but could end up playing third base. One thing is for sure, if he continues to swing the bat and advance his skills at multiple positions, Division I college coaches will want him on their roster. Simply put, Weber hits the ball as hard as any player out there.
Weber has always been known for his hitting, blasting balls out of the park at a young age, although he does not hit many home runs today, he has tremendous capability in becoming a dominant power hitter. It is not if, but when he figures out his swing plane and adjusts to hitting more downward towards the baseball to get more backspin.
Weber stood out as a shortstop in Dixie Youth but by the look of him and his “little” brother Mattison, he better projects as a third baseman or right fielder. With average speed and good arm strength, Weber will get most attention with his bat. Jim, Weber’s father, has been heavily involved with his son’s development as well as many other quality baseball players in the area. Supportive mother, Linda, is also heavily involved and coordinates travel to all parts of the state as most all tournaments and events are a 3 to 4 hour drive.
Mattison, Webber’s 13 year old “little” brother; also a member of 13U USSSA Team South Carolina, has shoulders like a Division I linebacker and can hit the ball out of any high school field he plays at already. Also a pitcher with a deceptive wind up, Mattison will be following in his brothers footsteps for sure. His problem will be getting pitches to hit as Weber will probably spoil that for him. Both of these guys will have to adjust hitting off speed pitches as seeing fastballs will not be a common thing for these two.
Who knows, these brothers could end up in Oakland as the “Real Bash Brothers” one day leaving people to ask who is Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire? Weber will be playing with the Diamond Devils this summer along with playing some Legion Ball. Believe me, many college recruiters and pro scouts will know his name by the end of the summer!
Friday March 5 article in Beaufort Gazette View Article
Article Written By: Kelly Ahrens
GDI needs your game results and summaries! Post your team and individual results.
Input Here
JIm Shepard's, Vipers and Shriners event is a huge success!
Jim Sheppard and the Orangebug community should all be recognized for the tremendous effort and fundraising that took place this past weekend at Mirmow Field in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Job well done! See Article
Who Was That?
Mulkey! John Mulkey! He is one of the top center fielders in the state of South Carolina. John has become well known among college and professional scouts. He has speed, has good range, quick, a great fielder, and hits for average. He is only a sophomore!
Coaches rave about his skills and unlimited ability. His high school coach, Stanley Moss says that John is one of the best players that he has ever coached. “He is a scholar athlete, honor student, and a player you love to have on your side.”
Kelly Ahrens, Director of Team South Carolina was highly impressed with John’s range and “all-out” style of play during the Team SC evaluations last fall. “He goes after it,” says Ahrens. John is the type of player that will stop at nothing to sacrifice his body to make a play. Ahrens also projects John to be a legitimate D1 prospect.
Jay Davis, a summer coach of John recalls the first tournament he coached him in. “The first time I coached John in a tournament, he was in center field. A ball was hit deep in the gap on the fence, I thought there was no way that ball would be caught. I looked out there, and in a smooth stride, here comes Mulkey to make an unbelievable catch on the fence. I thought he had snapped his neck in two.” Not fazed, Mulkey caught what turns out to be a routine catch for him. “He was a little banged up, but after that catch, I knew we had a special player.”
John Mulkey had another great season in his sophomore year. Offensively, he batted .359, 13 RBI’s, 4 2b’s, 23 stolen bases, and only 7 K’s in 94 at bats. He is a prototype lead off man. He finds a way on base every at bat. He worries pitchers to death with his speed and is a huge threat on the base paths.
John is a complete player who is only 16. He has two full years of showcase and high school baseball left to play. John was a very important component of the 16u Winter World Champions in Orlando Florida, for USSSA Team South Carolina. John led USSSA Team SC in hitting while on the Florida trip.
John Mulkey has worked hard on the field and in the class room to get notice and will be rewarded for his efforts. Many college recruiters will have the opportunity to analyze John further this summer and do not be surprised if he is asked to commit to a college by the end of 2010.
Article Written By: Mark Davis
Balance: What is it and why is it so darned important?
I am sure that all of us adults are guilty of occasionally using a word in front of children and not always making clear what the actual meaning of the word is. One word that I have found to be very popular among the young people that we see here at WTTBL is balance. Every young person that I work with admits to hearing adults use the word but they also admit to not knowing the meaning of the word, either through their own oversight or through the neglect of the adults to define the word. Actually I find that very few people, either young or old, know what balance is and how it relates to our sport. Balance implies equal. In order for an athlete to execute a skill he or she must have balance. Balance starts and ends with the feet and how weight is distributed in them. Every move that we make in sports starts with how weight is distributed in our feet. The most athletic part of the human foot is the forward portion known as the ball. This part of the foot possesses a tremendous amount of strength and flexibility. The term balance requires there to be an equal amount of weight on the ball as there is on the heel. This distribution of weight allows for a tremendous amount of stability. The only way a human can transfer weight to the balls of the feet is by tilting the spine forward so that the head moves out over the toes. If the spine tilts much further than this we see a loss of balance because the weight that was in the heels has now moved completely forward to the balls. At the same time, if we do not tilt the spine forward, but simply bend the knees, as we see in most young hitters, the weight is now completely in the heels. Again, no balance! A human is most stable when the entire foot is on the ground. Notice I did not write feet. In baseball the most complex moves are hitting and throwing. In both cases the most critical actions are performed with only one foot truly in contact with the ground. In hitting if the front foot is not stable we will have head movement, a loss of power, and, in general, a very unathletic move. This is one of the major reasons that we do not see many young hitters generate power. You must have something to hit against. The front knee will not be stable if the front foot is not on the ground. Next time you are watching a big league game notice the hitter’s front foot. Try throwing a baseball without the front foot flat on the ground. Good luck. Pay closer attention to your young person’s front foot next time you are watching them hit. You might just see one of their major mechanical flaws and be able to fix the problem yourself. Balance is what it takes if we are going to execute any skill in any sport and hitting a baseball is probably the toughest skill of all. Now you know.
Article Written By : Tim Medlin
Brandon Beans- Short Summer- Good Career Opportunities! (Photo By: Scott Huffer)
United States Naval Academy made Brandon Beans an offer and a challenge he could not refuse. Brandon will be starting at the United States Naval Academy in early July when most baseball recruits are just beginning to enjoy their summer.
Brandon is proud to accept a scholarship from the United States Naval Academy and looks forward to the challenges that come along with the opportunity. Brandon is a very complete baseball player but has great speed to go along with his other baseball assets. Brandon has been achieving since an early age and was able to maintain that success in the classroom as well.
A part of 7 World Series teams and being associated with the East Cobb baseball program out of Atlanta, Brandon is no stranger to stiff competition. Brandon is the fastest baseball player in the state having won a head to head competition against other prospects last summer, posting a time of 6.4 in the 60 yard dash. Speed is a great asset to have but he is a tremendous base runner who can change the game in a moment once he gets on base.
Brandon is very athletic having produced on the Varsity Football Team at Hartsville High School and will roam center filed for the Division One United States Naval Academy who posted a 29-21 record in the 2010 season. Statistics show the top base stealer on this year’s roster swiped 13 bases. Do not be surprised if Brandon steals close to 40 bases next year if he can stay healthy and make the adjustment at the next level.
Brandon’s father Brian and his wife Rhonda, moved to Rhonda’s home town, Hartsville, SC, last summer. As an incoming junior, it did not take Brandon long to win respect and put up some good numbers. Brandon’s brother Michael who just turned 12 is following in his footsteps after winning a spot on the 12U USSSA Team SC team this past year.
Brandon will compete for the leadoff position on next year’s team although he is typically hitting in the #3 spot. An accomplished hitter who uses the entire field, Brandon also shows the ability to hit for average and power. Having competed at the highest level that baseball offers since he was 12 years old, Brandon should continue to get better and morph into a dangerous college center fielder.
Brandon was a member of the 18U USSSA Team South Carolina who went 3-1 in the winter world championships in Kissimmee, Florida this past December. Brandon has collected many accolades in his time as a player as well as maintaining a 3.7 GPA.
Brandon started at centerfield as a freshman making All County, All Region and played on the 15U East Cobb Astros which is considered one of the top baseball teams in the country. As a sophomore he again duplicated All County and All Region honors, this time playing with the 16U East Cobb Titans earning the MVP award of that team which finished #2 in the Nation.
Brandon batted .460 last year with 24 Stolen Bases to lead Hartsville to a winning season. Brandon had a great year at Hartsville this year leading his team into the playoffs only to get beat by White Knoll, the states best team.
I personally believe Brandon has the tools and the approach to be a very successful College Baseball Player. Time will tell and in four years, I predict you will see a very successful young man who epitomizes what the United States Naval Academy stands for!
Article Written By: Kelly Ahrens
Big Leaguer wins Home Run Derby in Rutherfordton NC!
Congratulations to 12U Chris Ellisor for winning a home run contest in Rutherfordton, North Carolina on May 1. Chris was selected from a group of players and hit 14 Home Runs to win the event and win a DeMarini CF4! Chris took this momentum into his regular season and hit is first career home run in a game this past week.
Chris plays for 12U and 13U Big Leaguers as well as with the Irmo Vipers. He has developed into a very good pitcher and shows promise at the plate. A fan of the game, no one is more deservant upon his accolade than Chris. Proof, hard work pays off.
Article Written By: Kelly Ahrens
Eric Clark- Upstate player to keep an eye on
ERIC CLARK 2011
Position: P/OF
Height: 6’2
Weight: 180
60yd: 7.0
High School: Emerald
High School Coach: Stanley Moss
Showcase Team: Spikes Select
Showcase Coach: Mark Davis
Coachmarkdavis21@yahoo.com
Offense: Hits for Average with some power, Great backside hitter
Defense: Strong arm, good range
Pitching: Real effective when he keeps the ball down. 3 pitches, fb, cb, ch., Vel. 83
Honor Student: GPA 3.5
Major: Bio-Medical Science
Eric Clark is a Junior who has blasted on the scene and quickly made a name for himself in the High School Baseball World. He is having an outstanding year with the bat. At times this season, he has hit well over .600. With a week left in the season, and playoffs to go in AA, he will continue to impress his coaches and opponents.
Eric is currently hitting .367 with 15 runs scored, 19 rbi’s, 6 2B’s, 1 3B, 11 BB’s, 4 HBP, 13k’s and only 1 error.
Eric is a strong player with a D1 frame. He has great range in the outfield and has a cannon of an arm. On the mound, Eric stats are currently, 1-1, 10.2 IP, 5 ER, 4BB, 8K’s and a 3.49 era.
Eric has started for Emerald for 4 years in their program after transferring from Ware Shoals. He is a very coachable player with a High IQ and hard work ethic. Eric is an honor student at Emerald and plans to play baseball in college while earning his degree in the medical field.
Eric will most likely play for American Legion Post 20 this summer and Spikes Select Showcase in the Fall.
Article Written By: Mark Davis
Tennis Anyone? By Tim Medlin
Baseball, Not Tennis…….No Topspin!
Tennis players learn at a very early age that by creating topspin with their racket they can swing aggressively and still keep the ball in the court. Topspin, or the ball rotating forward and down toward the target, will cause the tennis ball to move downward and inside the opposite baseline. The only problem is in baseball we want the ball to carry as far as possible. Every skill that we must perform in baseball is related to the type of rotation that we impart on the ball. When a pitcher throws a curveball he is creating topspin with the angle of the hand, the placement of the fingers, and the downward pull of the hand and arm. The curveball moves down in the strike zone because of the rotation of the ball and gravity. The action of a curveball is very similar to the topspin shot in tennis. This is the exact opposite of what we are looking for from our hitters. We hardly want the ball to travel a minimal distance rapidly spinning toward the ground. And yes, those weak ground balls that are hitting right in front of home plate are the result of the same swing plane that is causing those topspin “missiles.” Young players hear adults using the term “swing level” and they rationalize that they must drop the hands in order to match the plane of the pitch. The only problem is when they create this move they very seldom exactly match the plane of the pitch. They are always moving back up through the ball, like a tennis player hitting topspin, not level. The idea of level comes from the vision that we are trying to swing flat, and yes flatter is better than an upward plane. The problem is we are asking a hitter to make two very precise moves, down and forward, to match the plane of the pitch. When the hands move down the barrel generally drops below the hands and starts sweeping upward just like our Nadal ‘wannabe.’ A tennis player learns at a very early age that by dropping the racket below the ball and aggressively moving the racket upward through the ball they can create topspin. Because of the type of spin imparted they can swing very hard because they know the ball will move down as it crosses the net. We baseball folks, on the other hand, would like to see the ball carry as far as possible. That is why professional hitters work so hard to keep the barrel above the hands as they approach the ball. Even if they miss the center of the ball they can still hit a hard ground ball that may get through, not that topped ground ball that takes nine hops to the third baseman. Backspin is our goal and the only way to achieve it is by keeping the barrel above the hands, not below. You would not want your shortstop throwing a curveball across the infield and you do not want your hitters hitting topspin. Tennis anyone?!?!?!
Article Written By: Tim Medlin
Japan?? LJ Newman- USSSA All American
Playing in Japan? -LJ Newman- 16U USSSA All-American
Amateur Baseball Report hosted a regional tryout in Columbia last July and fortunately some very talented players were identified. LJ Newman from Wrenn High School in the Upstate received the nod to attend the All American Games in Kissimmee, Florida at the Houston Astros Spring Training complex.
The All American games were composed of players all over the country, these players were also nominated out of a regional tryout they attended. Primarily a catcher, LJ can also play anywhere in the field and is a good pitcher. LJ had great pop times and threw 84 MPH at the regional event, hitting balls out of the ball park from both sides of the plate.
At the All American games, 35 coaches& scouts identifying the top talent and out of the 600 players present LJ was selected to be a member of the 2010 16U USSSA All- American team. LJ was throwing 86 to 88 MPH at the event and was showing his athleticism by preforming well behind the plate as well as on the mound.
Building a roster of kids to go to Japan and compete, the scouts like the package that LJ brought, he is able to be productive at many different positions. LJ was able to impress former major league players, minor league players and current coaches and scouts with his demeanor.
LJ will be going to compete in Osaka, Japan August 10th. This will be a 10 Day trip competing against Japanese teams. His trip will start with a flight to Chicago going to Lewis University on August 8th to stay in the dorm with his teammates and practice until departing on August 10th for Japan. LJ will be accompanied on the trip with Coach Tim Medlin who will be making his first trip to Japan for international play.
LJ will return from Japan on August 18th and will have been able to experience a chance of a lifetime he has well earned. LJ will have to pay his way to Chicago and back and will need some spending money, other than that USSSA Baseball is paying the way for the entire 16U team. I am extremely excited for LJ and look for him to provide us with a daily journal while he is there so we can experience his trip with him.
LJ will be apart of the first ever announced USSSA All American team as well as the first team competing internationally through USSSA in this manner. This is quite an honor for LJ, his family, friends, teammates and all of USSSA Baseball family. LJ has spent many days on the fields in USSSA tournaments preparing him for a moment like this.
LJ has not slowed down since the All American Games. LJ’s high school team, Wrenn, is 22-2 and recently won the regional championship. LJ is batting .387 with 27 RBI’s and has only struck out 4 times. As a pitcher he has 6 wins against 1 loss, pitching 37 innings while recording 37 strikeouts sporting a 1.67 ERA. He was named All Region catcher for the second year in a row.
The good news does not stop here. If his athletic accomplishments were not enough for a proud parent, teacher and coach, let’s address his academic profile. LJ is currently carrying a 4.22 GPA in Honor classes and is ranked 69 out of 400 students. He has scored 1660 on the SAT and was selected to attend Palmetto Boys State in June. LJ is receiving interest from many colleges and will make a contribution wherever he decides to attend.
LJ’s experience through his participation in USSSA and this summer should prepare him for a bright future. USSSA, Amateur Baseball Report and Gameday Insider are extremely proud to have LJ Newman a part of their system.
Article Written By: Kelly Ahrens
Tyler Romanik-Young Gun
Gameday Insider (GDI) purpose is to locate special baseball players and allow them the spotlight they deserve as well as letting other baseball fans and players to read about it. As GDI continues to grow and provide coverage on players it is our intention to recognize the special talent at a young age. GDI will be spotlighting kids ages 9 through 18. USSSA is where players gain experience and works hard to retain the relationship with these players by offering services such as GDI ,Team USSSA and Amateur Baseball Report.
One poster child for GDI spotlight is Tyler Romanik, a Catcher/Third Baseman from Ridge View High School. I recently spoke with a college coach who had seen Ridge View play and asked him about Tyler. He said, “I like this kid if he is only a junior but not as much if he is a senior.” Many times recruiters and scouts look at the tools a player has and then tries to project them at higher levels of play based upon maturity and experience.
Have you ever seen a deer in headlights before? This his how the coach looked when he learned that Tyler , 6’1, 208lbs had just turned 13 and was a 7th grader. Batting .348 with 3 HR’s through his first season at the varsity level, it is obvious Tyler belongs and has a bright future. Tyler led his high school career with a Home Run in his first at bat against Rock Hill.
Typically you hear of success stories of players who are more mature or “bigger and stronger” than the talent they are playing against. Tyler played on the 2007 World Series Dixie Youth team who participated in Madison Heights Virginia. He was able to make his presence known by winning the World Series MVP. As the World Series MVP, he hit 5 Home runs (WS Record) two of which were Grand Slams (Tied WS Record), with 23 RBI’s (WS Record) with 9 RBI’s in one game (WS Record).
What does the future hold for Tyler? Tyler is a dedicated athlete who is also an accomplished basketball player. Tyler has shown a unique ability to dedicate himself to the mechanical needs of the game. There are few people across the state of South Carolina who can rest their head on the pillow and know they have done as much work as possible that day to get better. Tyler can sleep well every night knowing he has done as much as possible to improve that day.
Having personal experience in working with Tyler, I will tell you that he has incredible athleticism for such a young player in a big body. Natural ability helps however, he is able to pick up on instruction and apply it immediately. Mechanics play a major role in any player’s success but you would be impressed with the mechanics of this 13 year old player. Certifying, he is for real and will only continue to get better.
I saw Tyler hit a ground ball to the pitcher while at the Winter World Championships this past December. The pitcher easily fielded the ball and threw Tyler out by two steps. Yes, that is right, by two steps! Tyler sprinted through the first base bag at 100% and immediately stole my heart as well as all the other coaches at the event. The home runs and rocket arm are impressive; however the way he plays the game is even more impressive.
Tyler is an accomplished pitcher as well. Recently working double duty, Tyler pitched 5 innings to get the win in the Junior Varsity game and then played third base in the varsity game the next night making 5 out of 6 plays in the field. Tyler will surely produce on the mound but Tyler will need to make sure he does not get over used at an early age as his growth plates develop.
Tyler will be playing summer baseball with the 16U Big Leaguers Elite team where he will catch and play third base. He may pitch one inning a weekend just to get some time on the mound but will not be called upon to carry any of the workload on the mound. Tyler has already received an invite to the Regional Event on June 29th and 30th for Amateur Baseball Report at Charleston Southern University; he does not have to attend a local ABR ID Camp to qualify for this event due to receipt of the direct invitation.
Tyler will compete at the 14U level at this event to try to win a chance to go to Kissimmee, Florida home of the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex so he can compete in the All American Games. Tyler would like to add becoming a USSSA All American to his accolades.
Tyler will be working out with Edge Columbia for his Sports Performance training. This unique specialized training will help take him to the next level physically. If Tyler continues to put the work in and maintain the dedication he has shown to date, he is sure to be a highly recruited Division I prospect. Chances are the Division I coaches will be competing against many professional organizations wanting Tyler’s services.
Next time you are at the ballpark and are able to see Tyler play, please note the composure and way he approaches the game. You would not be able to tell if he hit a home run his last at bat or struck out, he plays hard every pitch and is a true team player. I watch a lot of baseball and see a lot of players, I can tell you the combination of skill and makeup that you will see in Tyler is a true inspiration to all players, parents, coaches, recruiters and scouts.
Article Written By: Kelly Ahrens
David Houser, catching is his game!
David Houser is a well known name with college recruiters and professional scouts. He is currently a sophomore at AC Flora High School and began to advance as a baseball player with the SC Sharks organization playing in USSSA tournaments.
Currently at 6’1 205 lbs, David is proof that hard work pays off. Over the last couple of years he has simply dedicated himself to be the best player he could be. He was able to put in some serious workout sessions with personal trainers and was able to maintain flexibility while building his core strength. The physical attributes compliment the baseball player that he is now and what he will be in the future.
Perfect Game ranks David as the #77 overall prospect for the 2012 draft. David recently attended a Pro Day and stole the show with power from both sides of the plate and incredible pop times. Most people getting attention like David tend to develop a big head and quit working or striving for the best. David is on a mission, as he has high expectations and is willing to pay the price.
David will be playing summer baseball with the nations #1 ranked program, the Canes out of Virginia. David will be playing with the 17U North Team. Most all of those team mates will be going to a Division I program or will sign professionally out of High School. David has received offers from many different Colleges and the phone is still ringing.
If David stays away from injury and remains healthy, the ceiling is very high for him to continue to advance to the highest level baseball offers. Sporting a 92 MPH fastball does not help his development as a catcher which will be his primary position. Staying off the mound and remaining behind the plate will ensure his development and will reduce chance of arm problems. If David continues the proper conditioning program and learns to play relaxed, he will be a top pick out of High School his senior year.
A humble person, always with a smile on his face, David is a great teammate and quality individual. Although an average magician, he projects to be a good baseball talent. Like all young high school kids with talent, he sometimes forgets good mechanics and try’s to do too much with his athletic ability. I look forward to the day when he works smart, relaxed and allows his natural ability to work in his favor.
We will be hearing more about David and will track his progress giving regular updates.
Article Written By: Kelly Ahrens
Experience of a lifetime...
USSSA TEAM SOUTH CAROLINA
USSSA Team SC was one of the greatest baseball experiences I have ever been involved with. From the try-outs, skills evaluations, selection of the teams, meeting the players, and of course the trip to Florida.
When the announcements came out for the 2009 USSSA Team SC coaches, I was much honored to be the head coach for the 16u. I was going to have the opportunity to work with the best 16u players in SC. As a coach, you could not ask for a better job. Especially when you win! For those of you who are not yet familiar with USSSA Team SC, all I can say is ask any player and parent who was a part of the 2009 team and let them share their experience.
It begins with two-day showcase/tryouts in Columbia, SC. The players are placed in a 5-Tool skills evaluation in the early session, and then placed onto teams and play competitive games against the other players in their age group. The second day is only games and speakers.
The players are coached by the evaluators who managed the showcase/tryout. Immediately after day one and day two, all evaluators meet and go through the rigorous process of discussing every detail about every single player that tried out. It was hard to try to narrow the teams down to 12-14 players, when there were so many great players involved. The teams are selected and the journey begins.
The coaches set up practices to gel the teams and instruct players. The teams participate in a warm-up USSSA tournament in Lexington, SC. Finally, the teams head to Osceola County Florida, (Orlando), to the Winter World Championships at the famous Houston Astros Spring Training Complex. USSSA headquarters is also on at this location.
The 2009 USSSA Team SC teams were very competitive in the Winter World Championships. The 18u went 4-1, the 10u were Runner Up, and the 16u won the Winter World Championships.
Each player who made it to Florida was awarded with a USSSA Team SC ring and some players left with trophies. However, all players, parents, and coaches left with an awesome experience.
If you want to be a part of this amazing process, make sure to be a part of GDI; Gameday Insider baseball camps this summer and also come to the USSSA Team SC showcase/tryouts the first week in August. There will be two teams formed from each age group ages 9 – 18. Please make plans to attend the showcase/tryout and if you are fortunate enough to have the ability and are selected to go to Florida, you will have a memory you and your family will never forget. If you attend the showcase/tryout and are not selected, being a part of this event will allow you to better understand where you stand in the crowd and what you need to work on to become a USSSA Team SC member.
Article Written By: Mark Davis
How much is too much?
With more and more baseball available to young people today this situation begs the question…how much is too much? First of all let me say that there is no exact answer to this question. Many variables go into this equation and I will try to touch on a few and give you some guidance when it comes to making a decision on when to rest and when to play.
First of all you must consider the mental make up of your child. The ability to focus and give ultimate concentration to the tasks in this game is critical. When a young person is enjoying some success they want to continue to participate. When the game and practice becomes a chore they will look for other avenues to spend their time. Quality reps in practice and on your own are crucial for development. By simply playing a lot of games and not getting quality practice time bad habits will creep in and frustration will follow. Especially for young players there must be a blend of games and quality practice time. You cannot just play games! You must also consider the physical make up of your young person. Bigger does not always mean stronger. Strength in this game is measured by the individual’s ability to move his own body weight through the tasks that are required. No matter how large a 12 year old is he may not have the core strength to properly execute the swing mechanics or drive his body directly toward the plate on the mound. This is another reason that multiple activities (ex. – basketball, football, soccer, etc.) will help build overall fitness and strength. If the body fatigues the arms will take over and in this game that is a phenomenon that spells disaster. No matter how strong a young person appears to be the parent and the coach must monitor pitch counts very closely. Remember, these young people are in a physical state of development. They are growing. Overuse of the pitching arm is a dangerous situation for every young person no matter how big and strong. Proper rest and a comprehensive throwing program will ensure that damage is not done to a promising young pitcher. Parents must oversee the physical well being of their children. You would not let your young person step off the curb in front of an oncoming bus would you? Do not let them overuse that throwing arm.
Remember, professional and college players take time off and they are much more physically developed than any 10, 12, 14, or 16 year old. Use some common sense and take care of your young person. Even position players need to rest that throwing arm. Adults are in charge because they are the grown ups, not the children. You would not let your young person skip the dentist, the doctor, or school. Base your decisions on sound thinking and logic. Common sense will tell you that everyone needs a break sometimes. Keep them healthy and they will enjoy the game and continue to work to get better. Baseball is the toughest game of all and that is why it is the based on development, not results, for young players. Major League parent organizations do not allow their young players, including the big time prospects, to be overworked. Common sense for a big investment.
Article Written By: Tim Medlin
Give everyone a chance to pitch.....
The best way to avoid overuse in your young pitchers is to develop a deep staff. Too often amateur coaches tend to find a couple of “horses” that they can ride to the promise land of championships and they fail to realize just how much damage they are doing to those young arms. Boys between the ages of 8 and 16 are not equipped physically to go out and throw 60 –120 pitches in an outing. We are talking about young bodies that are still very much in the developmental phase of life. No matter how big and strong they appear to be, the all important tendons and ligaments are still very much at risk. All too often the adults who are in charge simply get so caught up in winning and losing that they forget why they were put in charge to begin with. Develop players. Teach them something to build on. Do not get caught up in the wins and losses at the expense of a young person’s future in the sport. Overuse at age 10, 12, or even 16 or 17, tends to not show up for quite a while. By the time the pain and discomfort start to surface the damage is done and surgery is waiting just around the corner. The only way to avoid this is to bite the bullet, stuff your pride in your hip pocket, and experiment with everyone on your 12 or 14 player roster. If you cannot teach basic pitching mechanics seek professional help. Do not let the ‘thrill of victory’ create the pain of injury and no future in baseball. Please take the time to think about what a disservice you are doing to a young person with a promising future just to win a single game. Your goal should be to ensure that your young people have a quality experience and that they are healthy enough to come back next year and the next year and …..well, you get the idea. Who knows? That little kid who likes to ride a skateboard and wear those baggy pants might be the next Tim Lincecum. You’ll never know if you are not willing to give him a shot and see if he can throw the best pitch in the game. You know……a strike! Please, take a chance; develop them all if you can. At least you won’t ride a couple of horses until they drop. You will have a larger, healthier herd. And after all, isn’t that what this is really about?
Article Written By: Tim Medlin
USSSA League? Tell me a little about this!
New Trend in USSSA
There is a “New Trend” in USSSA. Many people are accustomed to weekend tournaments, World Series events, National Invitational Tournaments, etc…USSSA also offers League Play and the Upstate is catching on!!
Greenwood, Ware Shoals, Ninety Six, Abbeville, Iva and Due West are currently participating in All Sports Organizations (ASO) USSSA league. This league follows USSSA rules with few local exceptions. ASO has hundreds of players in both Baseball and Softball with competitive teams facing each other weekly. Many of these players are also your regular weekend warriors who play tournament baseball. “With our league following USSSA rules, our teams are prepared for the competition on the weekends. They do not have to jump back and forth between rules or organization guidelines that are confusing and hinder players to learn the real game,” stated ASO President Patrick Moore.
ASO began this season with 4u-14u baseball and 8u-15u fast pitch softball. ASO is also sanctioning Adult League Softball. ASO has USSSA sanctioned umpires who also call games for weekend tournaments.
USSSA and Gameday Sports began hosting tournaments in Greenwood last year and have had very successful tournaments at the Wilbanks Complex. According to Donnie Dowis, the director of Greenwood County Parks and Recreation, “USSSA is the best baseball around. I have been involved with USSSA and we had one of the first teams around that played AAA/Major and were very successful. I have been all for USSSA baseball every since then. That type of baseball and competition is why the majority of the players we had on our team from that year are now playing College baseball.”
“With our USSSA league, we are helping players prepare for high school baseball and softball at a younger age. It is a progression from 4u up to 14u where players are developed with the correct rules to help them succeed as they grow,” stated Jay Davis, League Director.
ASO’s USSSA league is a traditional style league with a regular season, tournament playoffs, and ALL-Stars. ASO will choose the top 12 players from their league teams and will set them up to play in the USSSA Global World Series in Charleston, SC. “We felt like this would be the best environment for our league players. With us sending them to the World Series our All-Stars will be involved in opening ceremonies, skill competitions, and play a huge tournament with a six game guarantee. You can’t beat that,” stated President Patrick Moore. This format provides a better overall experience for the kids and families. It is common for All-Star teams to practice for three weeks, play in an All-Star tournament and be eliminated in two games. Many kids only get two or three at bats during the entire tournament.
The USSSA league has been a huge success in the Upstate so far and Greenwood County hopes that others will join in.
Article Written By: Mark Davis
Pitchers and Pitch Count
Protecting pitchers throwing arm is essential so young players can develop properly. There are a lot of factors involved with the management of a youth player who pitches. First thing to be aware of is “overuse”. Many kids pitching for recreation teams during the week and travel teams on the weekend can cause stress for their throwing arms.
What is the most important factor? Proper Mechanics? Recovery? Pitch counts? They are all important but the most important factor should be utilizing common sense. Always err on the side of caution and never err in judgment when you are not quite sure the status of your son’s throwing arm.
Keep a journal of your son's pitching activity. Count pitches that he throws and record them, maintaining this information for making proper decisions. Kids 13 and younger should never throw more than 85 pitches in any one game. It is best to keep the pitch count at 75 or less for each outing.
If a pitcher throws more than 50 pitches in one game, he should not throw again the next day. He should have at least two days of recovery before throwing again. Many times pitchers are asked to come in to a game on Sunday after pitching on Saturday. I personally believe this is where the majority of arm injuries, tendonitis and little league elbow occur.
Coaches need to do a better job grooming pitchers and not putting a saddle on one or two kids riding them to injury. Good pitchers will perform better and the poorer pitchers will get better with more innings. This also takes the pressure off of a young player trying to do more than they are capable. I would advise each parent to consider the strategy of their son’s team and be concerned if their son is called upon to pitch too much.
In my opinion, people seem to worry about the wrong things. “Kids should not be throwing curveballs at a young age”. This is an obvious scenario but not typically what causes injury to players. Overuse causes the most injuries. Another view I would like to share is that pitchers that are “Hard Throwers” typically are the ones with arm issues. Pitchers that do not throw with a lot of velocity typically do not have arm issues
Hard Throwers use maximum effort to produce each pitch thus causing more trauma on the entire body. Once the body gets tired and the mechanics falter, a Hard Thrower creates taxing issues to their arm, shoulder and the rest of their body. If a pitcher has weak hamstrings and is not properly exploding to the plate with his lower half, the upper half will pay the price.
I would advise to have your son receive pitching lessons from a professional in order to ensure proper technique is in order. I would also advise to keep the journal of your son’s activity on the mound and make sure to communicate that to their recreation and travel team coaches. Planning between the two is imperative. Make sure you son has enough recovery time and always communicates issues with soreness, injury, etc.
If your son does complain of shoulder or elbow pain you need to error on the side of caution. It is normal to have “Soreness” after pitching. So take precautions, always ice shoulder and elbow after each pitching outing no matter how many pitches are thrown. If soreness exists more than a week, go see an orthopedic doctor as soon as possible.
Competitiveness many times overshadows common sense. It is the responsibility of each parent to protect their son. Each coach should also properly manage their pitching staff and make sure they do not overuse their top pitchers. Do not get caught up in the moment and allow common sense to be forgotten!
The views in this article neither are solely the thoughts and ideas of Kelly Ahrens and are by no means medical advice nor intended to contradict or discredit any other professional views. Process this information as you see fit.
Article By: Kelly Ahrens
Last night at Matthew's little league game, he did not play well
“Last night at Matthew's little league game, he did not play well. As an overly concerned mom, I think it might have to do with Matthew not being old enough right now to switch gears from travel ball to little league within the same week. My husband doesn't really think so, but I am just baffled sometimes at how Matthew can play fairly well on Sunday against 11 year olds and then play so badly on Wednesday against 8, 9, and 10 year olds. Again, could just be the mommy in me. :) Even Matthew commented to me that in travel ball the kids throw the ball faster and he then had trouble hitting the ball in little league when the kids throw the ball more slowly. Does that make any sense or is Matthew just making excuses? “
I received this email earlier in the week and thought it would be great to share this with all Gameday USSSA Insider readers. This topic is one that comes up often and leaves parents and kids searching for answers.
It is typical for coaches to throw batting practice and work on hitting with kids at practice or even on an individual basis. It is not common for coaches and their players to work on hitting “off speed” pitches. These “off speed” pitches include, change ups, curveballs, sliders and knuckle balls.
Seeing the baseball is the most critical element of hitting, however, a batter’s timing is indeed critical to the success of a good hitter. Batter’s are typically very tense and put forth too much effort in an attempt to hit the ball as hard as they can. This happens not realizing that a looser more relaxed swing will generate a better result.
Today’s baseball player, coach, scout and fan is caught up in what “Velocity” the pitcher is throwing. This causes pitchers to try and throw the ball as hard as they can thus causing pitchers to overthrow. Hitters get all geared up to hit the pitchers best fastball as they have practiced this and have much anticipation before stepping in the batters box.
The travel ball players are typically the better pitchers and throw harder than a standard recreation pitchers. The caliber of pitcher determines the velocity of the pitch. Understanding the typical recreation pitcher throws slower than the typical travel team pitcher, a travel team player is facing “off speed” pitching when participating in the recreation game.
Bottom line is hitters do not work enough on hitting off speed pitches and only prepare to hit fastballs. This causes the batter to be “out in front” of the ball, not showing the discipline to wait for the ball “to get deep”. These terms are used when instruction to a player is given so kids understand the terminology used to build a foundation for development.
Most parents and hitters hear, “stay back”, “let the ball get deep”, but they do not understand the true meaning of what is being said and how it applies to their approach at the plate. The players typically do not know where to make contact with an inside pitch or an outside pitch thus causing an issue when they face very slow pitching or very fast pitching.
The parental concern is common and I am writing this article to share these thoughts because I know many other parents wonder on a regular basis what this parent is wandering. Matthew is going through the normal learning process of a player his age and will need to learn to make adjustments in order to succeed going between recreational ball and travel ball. This same battle will continue in high school, college and professional baseball.
The act of hitting a baseball is the hardest act in all of sports today. Remember, if a player achieved three hits out of every ten times at bat throughout a career, that player would be in the hall of fame.
Article written by: Kelly Ahrens
Player Spotlight- Who is Tanner Petrey and what is his story?
USSSA Team South Carolina was preparing for a event on November 21, 2009 when Chase Shelton (1B/LHP) for Brookland Cayce High School came to me and asked if his friend and teammate Tanner Petrey would be able to tryout because he did not register and just basically showed up.
Preparing for the participants in attendance I said sure and allowed Tanner to participate. I did not recognize his name and knew nothing about him except what Chase told me. I knew his name was Tanner and he was a junior at Brookland Cayce who had never played varsity baseball before.
As the pitchers began throwing I noticed a crowd gathering around Tanner and went to investigate. Tanner was being clocked at 86 MPH and his ball was running all over the place. A unique sinker type pitcher made me think of my former teammate, Patt Rapp, who played in the big leagues for 10 years.
Tanner was consistently throwing 85 MPH to 86 MPH and was very loose showing a lot of action on his fastball. In addition to this fastball, he showed good speed in the 60YD and looked like a promising prospect in the infield.
Tanner threw well in the simulated games and impressed all coaches in attendance receiving rave reviews from Tim Medlin who loved the movement Tanner was able to get on his live fastball.
Tanner received the Most Promising Prospect Award from the Team USSSA Showcase/Tryout event and took his plaque home. After the event, as the coaches were discussing certain players, Tanner's name kept coming up with questions like "Where did this kid come from"? Basically a young man who had never played varsity baseball and was on no ones radar.
Tanner was placed on the 18U USSSA Team South Carolina that went 3 and 1 in the Winter World Championships in Kissimmee, Florida at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex. Tanner played well but got the loss in the fourth and final game as he did not have his good stuff.
Fortunately, his father, John Petrey, made the trip to Kissimmee and was in attendance to watch Tanner play and pitch. John was a standout at USC Aiken and had recently been dealt a bad hand dealing with brain cancer. There was nothing more rewarding to shake John's hand and be thanked for providing his son with an opportunity. Assuring John, Tanner had earned his spot, he felt blessed to witness his son's coming out party. In poor health, John bundled up in unusually cold weather and watched his son compete. Tanner proved he belonged and made his father and family proud.
I received a call one morning from Brookland Cayce head coach Brian Hucks stating he wanted to discuss one of his players. Turns out he had heard through the grape vine that Tanner was clocked at 86 MPH and received the Most Promising Player Award at our event. He of course new Tanner but had doubts about the accuracy of our radar guns. Bottom line was Tanner had grown four or five inches in just a few months and picked up some new found velocity that was welcomed.
As an infielder/pitcher for 19-3 Brookland Cayce Varsity's team, Tanner is batting .435 with 16 runs, 5-2B's, 1-3B, 1HR, 21 RBI, 5-SB's and has three wins versus no losses on the mound in 22 and 1/3 innings pitched, with 19-K's with a 2.19 ERA.
Obviously, Tanner is being rewarded, Brookland Cayce is being rewarded and John Petrey, family and friends are all being rewarded with these achievements. Aside from the baseball accolades, everyone should note that Tanner Petrey is a good young man who has been raised properly. College recruiters, opposing coaches, opposing players and the baseball faithful, now know who Tanner Petrey is! GDI wishes Tanner, John and family all the best and is praying for good health.
Article written by: Kelly Ahrens
Amateur Baseball Report ID Camps to be announced this week and will appear on Gameday USSSA Insider. Regional event has been booked for June 29th and 30th at Charleston Southern University. This event will have the most talented players from South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia and Nothern Florida competing for a chance for an invitation to the National event the USSSA All- American Games at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
Do you have what it takes to become a USSSA All- American?
What is the Amateur Baseball Report (ABR)?
The Amateur Baseball Report (ABR) was developed to provide High School and Youth Baseball participants a way to measure National player status, gauge yearly progression, and provide an opportunity to gain national recognition and exposure from College Coaches and Scouts. ABR’s final ingredient in its comprehensive program lies within the USSSA All-American Games and the “Journey to the Dream” regional qualifiers; thus providing a venue for personal recognition and achievement on an International basis that no other competitor offers. Through the orchestration of ABR Events, media content, and interactive Player Profiles, ABR provides individuals of all levels the ability to track national player progress and offer constructive feedback on specific areas of the game.
With the involvement of USSSA (United States Sports Specialty Association), the ancillary International Programs & the ABR National Magazine, the ABR stands alone as the only comprehensive exposure vehicle available to the High School & Youth baseball community today.
ABR’s main focus is helping individuals reach their fullest potential. Our programs constantly evolve based upon assessed feedback from players, parents, coaches & scouts.
Our priority is the player.
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