02/21/2012, 6:49am (EST)
By Tommy Oschip

(North Ridgeville, Ohio) – Victory Park Ohio announced today a multiyear partnership with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission (www.ClevelandSports.org). The two organizations will work together on two events in 2012 (Continental Cup International Youth Festival and Ohio Senior Olympics) and three events in 2013 (Continental Cup International Youth Festival, National Senior Games and North American Gaelic Games).

Victory Park Ohio is a 67-acre privately owned sports complex in North Ridgeville, Ohio featuring eight baseball/softball fields, nine soccer fields, and four volleyball courts.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission”, said Joseph Borkey, managing partner for Victory Park Ohio. “They have a track record of enhancing the economy through sports and in the next two years, these major sporting events will bring thousands of people to the Greater Cleveland area.”

The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission has been responsible for attracting, creating and/or managing over 120 events resulting in an estimated economic impact of more than $370 million to Northeast Ohio.

“We are excited to partner with Victory Park Ohio and look forward to hosting many different sporting events together that provide a significant economic impact to our region”, stated David Gilbert, Presi-dent and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.

Victory Park Ohio is a member of the North Ridgeville Chamber of Commerce, Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, Visit Lorain County (Lorain County Visitors Bureau), and Positively Cleve- land (Cleveland Convention and Visitors Bureau).

“Our management had a vision of the impact a National sporting event could have on the local community”, said Tommy Oschip, Director of Marketing and Promotions at Victory Park Ohio. “With the support of the local Chambers and CVB’s, we now can make sure that we can promote everything that Northeast Ohio has to offer when these guests arrive.”

For more information about the events at Victory Park Ohio, please visit http://www.VictoryParkOhio.com. They are also located at http://www.facebook.com/VictoryParkOhio and http://www.twitter.com/VictoryParkOhio.

02/12/2012, 9:44pm (EST)
By Kevin O’Keeffe and Brandon Kurz

The Long Island Shamrocks are proud to name Justin Karn the Field Manager for the first year Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League team. Justin Karn is the Head Associate Coach at SUNY Ulster University.

Justin returns to the New York North Atlantic Baseball program, where he was an assistant coach for the New York Atlantics in 2011.

“He did a fantastic job for us all summer and we wanted to promote a coach from within our system that we know and trust. He also has the ability to have a great influence on players because he is young, yet grounded. He is a fun guy to play for if you are a serious ballplayer,” said Shamrocks and Atlantics owner Brandon Kurz.

Justin will be accompanied by two assistants to be named at a later date. For more information on the Long Island Shamrocks and the New York North Atlantic Baseball Program, visit http://www.nynorthatlanticbaseball.com.

02/01/2012, 8:41pm (EST)
By HCB
Discounted tickets available for Islanders’ Saturday matinee with Kings; HCB to host clinic
The New York Islanders will host Youth Baseball Day at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday, February 11, in the Isles’ matinee tilt against the Los Angeles Kings (1 p.m.).
Tickets can be purchased at more than 50 percent off the original ticket price. Lower level end zone seats, which ordinarily sell for $84 per ticket, cost Youth Baseball Day participants just $40. In addition, 300 level end mezzanine seats, ordinarily $40 per ticket, cost just $20.
Each ticket also comes with a free New York Islanders cap and a coupon for 20 percent off any summer baseball camp at All-Pro Sports Academy in Bellport. After the game, all children are invited to walk onto the ice and take a shot on net.
The largest Little League group to attend the game will also receive a free baseball clinic at their home field from Hamptons Collegiate Baseball coaches and players during the summer.
For more information, click on the PDF link below. For discount tickets, contact Bryce Mitchell at 516-501-6824 or at bmitchell@newyorkislanders.com. Ask about other fan experiences available, such as riding the FanZam or high-fiving the Islander players.

02/01/2012, 3:52pm (EST)
By Jeff Noreman (photos by Jeff Noreman)
World Baseball Coaches Convention

Derek Johnson, Pitching Coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores
The World Baseball Coaches Convention was held again this year at the Mohegan Sun Casino and Convention Center in Uncasville, Connecticut. This ninth presentation of the event was its most successful ever, with over 1,000 coaches and 90 exhibitors in attendance. Due to the quality of the presentations and the interest of the attendees, this is considered one of the most beneficial baseball coaches events in the country.

Derek Johnson, pitching coach of the Vanderbilt University Commodores, held some of the most widely attended sessions. He spoke on “The Vanderbilt Pitching Foundation”, “Game Day Pitching Routines”, and “The Pitching Star: Understanding Connections in The Pitching Delivery”. Additionally, he was a panelist in the group discussion on “Getting Your High School Players Ready To Play At The Next Level.”

Mark DeJohn, Field Coordinator of the St. Louis Cardinals
Other presenters included Dana Cavalea, Strength and Conditioning Coach of the New York Yankees. His presentations were about “Getting Players Game Ready”, “Common Player Breakdowns and Exercises to Prevent Them”, “15 Minute Proper Warmup”, and “Baseball Speed Development”. He was joined by fellow Yankee, Hitting Coach Kevin Long, who lectured on the “Greatest Misconceptions about Teaching Hitting” and offered many hitting drills in another session.

The Cardinals organization was well represented again this year with Infield Instructor Mark DeJohn and scout Gary LaRocque. The Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Mariners, and Red Sox also had representatives speaking. Former player turned mental trainer Buddy Biancalana gave several presentations on how to succeed in all sports. Former catcher Don Slaught again used his RightView Pro software to offer excellent analysis and advice on spotting hitting deficiencies and how to correct them.

UConn coach Chris Podeszwa demonstrates bunting techniques
College coaches from many respected programs provided a great deal of the instruction. University of Connecticut coaches Jim Penders and Chris Podeszwa represented their school again. Sacred Heart’s Nick Giaquinto and Wayne Mazzoni, Fairfield’s Bill Currier, Wright State’s Rob Cooper, Maine’s Steve Trimper, Mike Leonord of Bates College, Roger Bidwell of UConn Avery Point, and Justin Blood of Hartford added valuable coaching cues to the wealth of information distributed at the convention.

Frequent speaker and Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine interviewed by Sox broadcaster Joe Castiglione.
The best attended session is the Friday night “keynote” given by longtime WBCC speaker and panelist Bobby Valentine. Valentine has always been lauded by the crowd at this event over the years, many of whom consider him “the best athlete ever to hail from Connecticut.” Most in the state consider themselves New Englanders, and after Bobby was named manager of the Red Sox, the enthusiasm for the keynote was very high. This year, Just two people were on the stage, Valentine and the radio voice of the Boston Red Sox, Joe Castiglione.

Castiglione interviewed Valentine for the first half hour, then both took questions from the audience for almost an additional hour. Valentine, never one to withhold his opinion, was asked whether the 2012 Red Sox might be playing more small ball than in the past. “I hate the term small ball,” replied Valentine. “Bunting, stealing, moving runners over, it’s called ‘baseball’. And I hope we’re going to see a lot of it in the American League East.”

The baseball convention is held at Mohegan Sun on Thursday evening, all day Friday, and until midday on Saturday. The World Softball Coaches Convention overlaps and follows this event, running all day Saturday.

01/31/2012, 4:25pm (EST)
By Kieran Black & Brandon Kurz

The Whalers organization is proud to congratulate Tommy Smith (St. Dominic H.S.), who verbally agreed to sign with Marywood University on Friday. Tommy was guaranteed a roster spot to play baseball.

Tommy is a very talented catcher, who specializes on defense. “You better get a great jump off of the pitcher if you’re looking to steal a base off Tommy,” said Whalers owner Brandon Kurz. “He can get rid of the ball quickly and make sharp, accurate throws. He is also an outstanding blocker and he receives the ball very well.”

Tommy is a team leader both on and off the field. “I’ve had the opportunity to coach Tommy for both the Whalers and St. Dominic H.S. Plain and simple, Tommy has given everything he has to us every time he takes the field. Marywood is getting a special kid,” said Whalers Director of Player Development, Kieran Black.

Tommy is also a difficult out at the plate. He has a strong approach and makes consistant contact, putting the ball in play almost every at-bat. His strong work ethic will help improve as a hitter, when he begins at Marywood.

Tommy’s Whalers career is highlighted by a recorded .271 batting average in over 400 career at-bats. He has been a Whaler since he was 15.

The Whalers look forward to him competing for 18u in 2012 and then hope to sign him to play for the Whalers’ collegiate programs in 2013. Tommy will be named to the Whalers Hall of Fame upon his Marywood University arrival.

“The Whalers would like to thank Tommy and his parents for their loyalty to our program. Chris Smith, Tommy’s younger brother is also in our program. It’s a pleasure to watch the Smith brothers grow in our program. We wish Tommy all the best in college,” said Kurz.

01/16/2012, 7:35pm (EST)
By Kieran Black, Photo by YSPN Photography

Whalers 17U Middle Infielder, Lukas Pracher (Manhasset H.S.)
Vitamin Water and Baseball Player Magazine are proud to bring competitive amateur baseball tournaments to Nassau County.

Each tournament will be held at Mitchell Park, Eisenhower Park and surrounding Nassau County locations. These tournaments include Elite Championship Tournament Baseball (ECTB), Virginia Sports Complex, and Baseball Player Magazine Qualifiers with built in paid births to future tournaments.

Tournament Director, Kevin O’Keeffe said “we’re hoping to attract the top tier teams to these events by inviting Division I & II college coaches to the 17/18u tournaments and by including bids to future tournaments for all ages.

BPM is also proud to announce reduced tournament fees for 2012!

01/16/2012, 4:34pm (EST)
By Marist Athletics

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Marist Athletics Department released the 2012 schedule for the baseball program on Wednesday. Under the leadership o

f third-year head coach Chris Tracz, a 2005 Marist graduate, the Red Foxes will play 53 games in this coming regular season.

Marist will face a challenging slate which includes six games against 2011 NCAA Tournament teams, including a two-game series at perennial national power Virginia in mid-March. The season will begin with a three-game series at Campbell, with a single game on Friday, Feb. 17 and a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 18. The Red Foxes will play their first 16 games away from home, which will also include three-game sets at Old Dominion and Radford, as well as three contests in a tournament hosted by Coastal Carolina. Radford head coach Joe Raccuia served as head coach at Marist for two seasons, including the Red Foxes’ Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship season of 2005.

The Red Foxes open their conference portion of their schedule by facing defending MAAC champion Manhattan in the first three games to be played at newly-renovated McCann Baseball Field. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 24, and a single game on Sunday, March 25.

Marist will enjoy a nine-game homestand in April, which will include conference series against Saint Peter’s and Siena as well as a single game against Albany and a non-conference doubleheader against Binghamton. Marist will close out the home portion of its schedule the weekend of May 12-13 against Canisius, and will conclude the regular season on May 17-18 at Fairfield. The 2012 MAAC Baseball Championships will be held at Joe Bruno Stadium in Troy, N.Y., from May 24-27

01/15/2012, 9:43pm (EST)
By Kevin O’Keeffe & Brandon Kurz

The Whalers organization is proud to congratulate Steven Donohue (St. Dominic H.S.), who verbally agreed to sign with Franklin Pierce College after receiving a very generous scholarship offer.

Steven is a multi-talented ballplayer. “He is a big offensive threat, plus he’ll pitch with the best of them. He will make it difficult on you every time you face him whether you’re at the plate or on the mound,” said Whalers owner Brandon Kurz.

One of the reasons that Steven is a great hitter is that he features outstanding batspeed. “Steven can hit the fastball and he can hit it well,” said Whalers Director of Player Development, Kieran Black.

Steven is equally talented on the mound featuring an outstanding split finger fastball. “The splitty that Steven throws looks like a curveball. It falls off the table,” said Kurz. “He mixes his fastball, splitfinger and his changeup well and throws all pitches with command.”

Steven’s talents don’t stop there. He has above average foot speed, an above average throwing arm and he can play both corner outfield positions.

Steven’s Whalers career is highlighted by a recorded .317 batting average in over 500 career at-bats. He has been a Whaler since he was 14 years old.

The Whalers look forward to him competing for 18u in 2012 and then hope to sign him to play for the Whalers’ collegiate programs in 2013. Steven will be named to the Whalers Hall of Fame upon his Franklin Pierce arrival.

“The Whalers would like to thank Steven and his parents Janet & John for their loyalty to our program. It was a pleasure to watch Steven grow to become a great ballplayer and person,” said Kurz.