TRYOUTS

We had 42 players sign up for the 7th and 8th grade baseball program. As most of you know, the school administration has directed the 7th and 8th grade program to cut down to total roster size of 28. The WA baseball coaches have been looking at a mechanism to conduct an objective baseball skills assessment. While the structure of the skills assessments (tryouts) has not been finalized, here are some broad guidelines of how it will be conducted:

• We are tentatively looking at the weekend of March 10th to conduct the tryouts. The is one week after official baseball practice begins on March 5th. THIS DATE HAS NOT BEEN FINALIZED.
• ALL players will go through a BASIC SKILLS ASSESSMENT. Players will be evaluated on three basic skills that all baseball players must possess: 1) Hitting Skills 2) Fielding/Throwing and 3) Base Running. All players will be given the same tests for hitting and base running. FOR EXAMPLE, each player may get to swing at 15 pitches from a batting practice pitcher, and each player may be timed in how fast they run from home to second. The precise method for conducting the hitting and baserunning assessments have not been finalized, but we are trying to devise a system that will provide the truest results.
• In regards to the fielding/throwing assessment, all players must choose whether they want to go through the infield or outfield assessment. The infield assessment will include fielding ground balls, and throwing across the infield. We will not distinguish between infield positions in regards to fielding balls. Those players who are left handed first basemen may demonstrate their throwing ability from first to third.
• Outfielders will demonstrate the ability to catch fly balls, hard hit ground balls to the outfield, and the ability to throw accurately and with strength.
• The three factors (hitting, catching-throwing, and base running) will be weighted appropriately. Each player will receive a total score.
• A supplemental skills assessment will be conducted for those players who want to be pitchers or catchers. Ultimately, approximately the top six pitchers and the top four catchers will receive bonus to their Basic Skills Assessment score.
• Players will be selected based on their performance in the tryout; past Little League/Teener experience, travel team participation, or private lessons will have nothing to do with selection. Players who have participated in voluntary conditioning sessions will NOT be given any preferential treatment. The voluntary conditioning sessions should be viewed as a way in which players can help prepare themselves for tryouts.
• Some time in February, more details will be provided regarding the tryout.

HOW TO PREPARE

• Official baseball practice does not begin until March 5. However, it will be in each player's best interest to work into baseball shape before that time. In particular, all players may consider throwing several times a week to get their arms in shape. When the weather and fields are suitable, players may consider practicing running the bases, home to second. Swinging a bat is also recommended.
• Many players come out of Little League having only played the infield. Players should recognize that these positions are highly competitive...in particular 3b,SS, 2B and 1B. For the most part, the most highly skilled players will capture these positions. By the time this 7th and 8th grade group are juniors and seniors, it is likely that four players will receive the vast majority of playing time in those positions. Because many players come out of Little League as infielders, the 7th and 8th grade teams often have a limited amount of talent in the outfield. If you can consistently track down fly balls--you may want to consider becoming an outfielder.

OTHER NOTES

• Players should understand that because they make the 7th and 8th grade team as a 7th grader--it does NOT guarantee them making the team the following year as an 8th grader. We will be looking to keep a reasonable number of 7th graders continually feeding into the system. So from this point on, players will have to prove their value every year.
• Similarly, there will be 7th graders who do not make the team this year, who may make the team as an 8th grader.
• Players must be committed to playing baseball for the school team first. Players will not be allowed to miss school games to play on travel teams or Little League games. At the end of the school season, there may be a week or two overlap with the Little League schedule. In this case, players can talk to the coach and may be excused from school practice if they have a Little League game.
• Players should not purchase gray sweats until they know they make the team. Therefore, any type of suitable baseball apparel will be acceptable for practice during the first two weeks.

Here's a rough schedule of what will be ahead in the 2012 season.

• As we enter February, and basketball and wrestling wind down, we will be looking to have some conditioning sessions in the high school gym or the multipurpose room. We will try to have these sessions two or three days in a week in February, usually from after school until 5pm.
• In February, we will also begin having pitchers throw. On occasion, there will be separate practices for pitchers and catchers.
• March 5th is the official PIAA beginning of baseball. It is the first day that we are allowed to have baseball practice. On that day, players will board a bus after school to Shoemaker field in West Wyoming. Practice will be conducted from 3pm to 4:30 or 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. In March, the weather and field conditions often force us to change our plans on a day to day basis. Practices may be held indoors if we cannot practice outdoors.
• Updated Note: Players do not have to purchase Gray practice apparel until they know they have made the team. Beginning March 5th, note that we will be practicing in a standard uniform. Once a player knows that he has made the team, he must wear a gray sweatshirt or gray outerwear on the outside practice field. It can say anything on it -- like, for example, "Penn State"--but it must be predominantly gray. Likewsie, we practice in gray sweat pants. No matter what the weather situation, ALL PLAYERS MUST BRING LONG PANTS TO OUTSIDE PRACTICES. If players to not have long pants at outdoor practices, they will not be allowed to practice. Argo's sell a standard Wyoming Area Baseball hoodie sweatshirt and sweat pants for a reasonable price--but gain, the practice uniform does not have to have Wyoming Area on it. When we practice indoors after March 5, players can wear any color shorts, but must have a gray T-shirt. (SEE THE PICTURES BELOW OF PLAYERS FROM LAST YEARS TEAM TO GET AN IDEA OF PRACTICE DRESS).
• Typically, we have at least 30 players on the 7th/8th grade baseball team. Over the last three years, we have split the teams up into two squads(Green and Gold). Some years we try to balance the talent, while other years, we separate out by ability. Players will not know what squad they will be on until around March 20th, right before the season starts. Players will not be put on a certain squad just to be with their buddies.
• Currently, we have about 20 games scheduled between March 22 and May 10th. This means that roughly the Gold Squad will play 10 games and the Green Squad will play 10 games. Generally, we will play on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturdays. Weekday games will be scheduled for about 4:00 PM while Saturday games usually start at 11pm and are two 5 inning games.
• 7th and 8th grade baseball games are considered "Exhibition" games, so do not expect a high competitive level.
• The school will provide hats, belts, and socks. Parents are to provide white baseball pants (either up or down is OK). Last year, the Diamond club subsidized the purchase of jerseys. I believe parents paid $5, while the Diamond club paid $5 for a jersey that the player gets to keep at the end of the year. More information will be provided on this when the time comes.

That's the general schedule for now. If parents have any questions, they can contact Coach Nick at 905-4041.

Every year, we have players that ask “Can I be a team captain?”   My first reaction to anyone who asks that question is: “That’s probably not the person that I want to be team captain.”    Here are a few qualities that I look for in a team captain.
- The captain ALWAYS puts the team’s well-being ahead of their own personal well-being.     A team captain does not ask the coach-“Where am I playing today?” or “Am I pitching today?”   The team captain is making  sure that the rest of the team is ready to play today.
- A captain makes sure everyone feels like they are important member of the team.    For example, the team captain may go out of his way to warm up with the weaker players on the team—instead of warming up with his best buddy.
- A captain should be the person who always exhibits a positive attitude.   The captain is responsible for the team’s attitude and cohesiveness.  The captain should be encouraging the team when the team is losing and needs to rally to come from behind.  He needs to work to make sure the entire team believes that they can come from behind and win.
- A captain needs to be the hardest worker in practice because the captain is one of the few players on the team that understands that practice makes you better.    When the coach calls for “Bear crawls”—the captain does not complain—the captain encourages everyone—“Let’s Go.”
- When a player strikes out or makes an error—the captain is the first one who tells that player—“Keep focused, forget about it…we’ll get him next time.”  A captain would never say something negative to a person who strikes out our makes an error.
- The captain has to have the attitude that, while on the field, no one will practice harder or play harder than him.      However, they must also be a leader in showing the rest of the team how to accept winning and losing with class.        
- A captain must enforce team discipline and focus—but do it in a quiet way.  If a person is fooling around during practice or before a game, or during a game—the captain needs to take that person aside and tell him to straighten up.   It doesn’t need to be done in front of the whole team—but the team will see what’s going on and get the message.
- A captain doesn’t have to be the most talkative guy on the team.  His actions will speak much louder than words.   The guy who hangs his head when things are going bad—that is not captain material.    The guy who takes someone off to the side-- after that player made an error or struck out—and encourages him to “get ‘em next time.”   That’s captain material.
Here is the irony about being a captain—the more that a player shows that it is not about himself, -- rather it is all about the team first—the more that player is respected as a person.    This is what being a captain is all about on the baseball field.   This is what being a leader is about in activities other than baseball.  Make it about “us” not “me.” 

Must See Pickoff Moves for Pitchers- ALL PITCHERS MUST WATCH THIS

One of my favorite hitting tips that I tell players every day is to "hit the ball up the middle?" Does that mean that you should be hitting every ball to center field? NO. What it means is to train yourself to time your swing so if you see a pitch in the middle of the plate--then you can hit a line drive to center field (or, if you happen not to make great contact, there's a good chance that you'll hit a ground ball that will get by the picher and be a tough play for a shortstop or second baseman.

So, before the pitcher pitches, you should be thinking "up the middle." If you are "thinking up the middle" and you get a pitch a couple inches inside the middle of the plate, you will naturally be able to drive the ball hard to your pull field (left field for right handed batters). If you get a pitch on the outside part of the plate, because you are thinking "up the middle," you will naturally drive the ball to the opposite field gap. (right center for right handers.)

Let's say in Little League that you liked to pull pitches to left field as a right handed hitter. As you progress in baseball, that strategy will no longer work. Pitchers will increasingly pitch you on the outside corner. If you try to pull the outside pitch, you will hit a weak grounder to shortstop. A righthander consistently hitting ground balls to shortstop is a clear indication that you are trying to pull outside pitches--something that will seriously hurt your batting average.

Look at the best professional hitters in baseball who hit for average in their career. Derek Jeter(.317) , Ichiro(.331), Albert Pujols(.331)--they all hit the ball to all fields. If you want to hit .300+--you need to start thinking and practicing that way.

As a pitcher, it's nice to have a 90+ mph fastball, however, that's not all it takes to become a great pitcher. If you have the talent to locate your pitches where you want them, you can become a great pitcher. The number one example of this fact is the great pitcher Greg Maddux. He won over 300 games in his career and barely had a 90 mph fastball. The key to his success was pinpoint accuracy.

Let's look at the above Ted Williams chart again. If you have the ability to throw the ball low and away consistently, you can become a very successful pitcher. If Ted Williams only hit .230 on pitches that were at his knees on the outside corner, then high school hitters will hit only .100 on those pitches.

So, the harder question is, how do you develop that kind of pinpoint control? Pitching is all about balance. If you can have a balanced repeatable motion in your delivery, you can learn to pitch the ball where you want it. Most pitchers in the major league have very "quiet" deliveries--they are compact and balanced, and legs and arms are not flying far from their bodies. Anytime you pick up a baseball and pitch, even in warmups, you need to focus on hitting the target (the catchers mitt). If you just think about throwing strikes down the middle in warmups--well that's what you will do in the games. PRACTICE HITTING YOUR TARGET LOW AND AWAY. Then when you see the hitter leaning over and start crowding the plate--then you make the perfect pitch on the inside corner--all without a great fastball.

Every year, I'll have some player who is a great hitter and fielder feeling sorry for themselves about how slow they are when it comes to running the bases. Speed is a very important asset in baseball. However, you can become a good BASE RUNNER even if you have below average speed. First, it is important to understand that BASE RUNNING refers to all facets of getting around the bases, while BASE STEALING involves... just stealing bases. So, what are some things you can do to become a good BASE RUNNER, even if you are not particularly fast?

1) Work on your running/sprinting form in practice. Make sure your posture is correct. Keep your hands from clenching as you run. Look ahead and keep your torso straight and arms at a 90-degree angles. Pump your arms close to your body. There are also many exercises that you can do to increase speed.

2) Work on getting out of the batters box quickly after hitting the ball. If the ball is a hit, make a correct, and efficient rounding of first. If you are trying to beat out a ground ball, be sure to sprint through the bag and be aware if the ball gets by the first baseman.

3) On first base, keep your eye on the pitcher and get a good primary lead directly in line with 2nd base. Do not move too far toward the outfield when you are taking a lead. For your primary lead, wait until the pitcher gets on the rubber, then get off of first base with the correct technique: Left, right, shuffle shuffle. Be balanced, ready to dive back to first, steal second, or head toward second on a ground ball. When beginning toward second cross your left leg and left arm over your body to get a good start.

4) On all bases, get a good secondary lead. After the ball is pitched toward home--shuffle beyong your primary lead and be ready for what happens...A ball, a strike, a ground ball, a line drive, a popup. Have all these situations worked out in your mind.

5) When you are a baserunner and a flyball is hit to the outfield--BE READY FOR ANYTHING; Advance when it drops for a hit; advance in a force situation when it is dropped; get back to the base if it is caught.

6) When running from home to second trying to get a double--round first base in the correct manner using the cutout method. The same for going from first to third, or second to home. Use the most efficient base path.

7) After making it safely to a base--immediately be aware of where the ball is. Very often there might be a play at second or third and the baserunner thinks the play is over after sliding. As a baserunner, find the ball immediately--there's a chance it squirted away from the infielder and is rolling in the outfield.

8) When in doubt SLIDE! If there is a force play at second--a stea--a play at the plate. IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO SLIDE. You will never look foolish if you slide. You will look foolish coming across home plate and being tagged out and not sliding.

9) Learn how to slide and where to slide. We will ALWAYS slide FEET FIRST. No head first sliding in 7th/8th grade. (Except diving back to a base on a pickoff move).

10) Always come around third base hard, expecting that you are going to be sent home by the coach. The coach might make a quick decision to hold you--but always expect to keep coming and being sent home.

CREDO - "A Set of Beliefs"

Here is the CREDO that has been developed by the players and coaches of the 2011 7th and 8th Grade Baseball Team

PRACTICE

• We will practice like we play.
• We will listen to the coaches and take their advice to heart.
• We believe we should look, play and act like a team.
• We believe we should always take our "A" game to practice.
• We believe that we will always take practice seriously.
• We will wear gray tops and bottoms to practice so we look like a team. We believe there are no exceptions to this rule.
• We believe that practice makes perfect.
• We believe we should respect our coaches and other players at practice.
• We believe that our coaches are here to help and we shouldn't take them for granted.
• We believe we can work hard in practice and still have fun.
• We believe we should inform Coach Perugini if we cannot make practice.

UNIFORMS

• We believe that we are proud to wear the baseball uniform of Wyoming Area.
• As a team, we have each others back--we are a brotherhood.
• We believe that we want to always look like a team and wear our uniforms completely and properly.
• We believe that we will not wear flip flops or sandals to games (Coach Perugini)
• We believe that we should always have our uniform shirts tucked in when we are practicing before, or playing a game.
• We believe that we are proud to wear our team hats.
• We believe that we should not wear necklaces or jewelry during games or practice.

GAME CONDUCTWe believe we can win every game--and we will play hard to win every game.

• We believe in good sportsmanship.
• We believe we should have fun playing baseball.
• We believe that every time that we step into the batters box, that we are going to get a hit. We believe that we can hit any pitcher.
• We believe that all players with the exception of pitchers and catchers should sprint (not jog or walk) on to the field to take their positions.
• We believe that each player should sprint to first base on any routine ground ball or fly ball and not assume the ball will be caught for an out. We believe that all baserunners should run out every ball in every situation because we know that the other team might drop a routine ball.
• We believe we should show respect for everyone associated with the game; our coaches, our fellow teammates, our opponents, the umpires, and the fans.
• We believe we should not question an umpire's call. We should do nothing to show up an umpire--especially after a called third strike or a questionalble call on a base.
• We believe we should never blame an umpire's bad call for losing a game. We need to be accountable for winning and losing and we shouldn't blame anyone else.
• We believe we should respect our opponents and we will do nothing that will show up our opponents.
• We believe that we will try to keep our emotions in check during a game and not show that we are discouraged or frustrated. We know that showing frustration will help lift the spirits of the other team.
• We believe that if we make an error or strike out, we need to forget the bad stuff and know that we still may have an opportunity to help the team on the next play or at bat.
• We believe that we can improve as baseball players with every game we play.
• We believe that we should not criticize a teammate after they make an error or strike out. Rather, it is important that we offer encouragement.
• We believe that we should keep our heads up no matter what the score is.
• We believe in teamwork. Together we will do great things. We have each other's back.
• After every game, we will look each opposing player and coach in the eye when we shake their hand and tell them "Good Game"-- no matter what the other team's behavior has been like. We will conduct ourselves like good sportsmen--no matter what the other team says or does.