Collegiate Baseball The Voice Of Amateur Baseball

Started In 1958 At The Request Of Our Nation’s Baseball Coaches Vol. 56, No. 2 Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 $3.00 Batting Discipline Hitting Guru Gary Ward Delves Into This Important Area Of Game With BBCOR specification the high test offenses have continued. Through discipline, the walk has played a vital bats, being selective at the role in scoring runs. plate is more important than “The walk has always been important,” said Ward. ever, says coaching legend. “It isn’t about taking pitches. A lot of people By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. get confused about going out and taking a bunch Editor/Collegiate Baseball of pitches. The reality is that you must value being (Final Of A 2-Part Series) disciplined at the plate. On the junior college level, you might find 3-4 guys who can cover the zone LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Discipline has always with the bat on a team. been the cornerstone of great hitters. “But the great majority of athletes, if you can Gary Ward, one of the top batting instructors teach them their zone within the strike zone, can in the history of college baseball, has molded have enough athleticism and bat speed to cover players into precision hitters who force pitchers that with some ability. So we have always worked to throw strikes. very hard at reducing the zone down and used Well before the book Moneyball was written, terms like ‘shorten the look’ or ‘center the ball which delved into the value of disciplined hitters more.’ with the Oakland A’s under General Manager Billy “Ted Williams’ book The Science Of Hitting Beane, Ward had been teaching hitting discipline was a great influence on me. It was written many, for decades. many years ago. When he played, he had that In 19 years as the head coach at Oklahoma combination of discipline, power and average that State, Ward’s teams led all NCAA Division I I felt was the ultimate offensive performer. teams in run production six times. “So we worked on having this type of hitter in His teams routinely produced staggering our program wherever I have been. The statistic offensive numbers (see stats on page nine). we valued was having a plan when you got to the For the past nine years, he has been the hitting coach for his son, Rocky, at New Mexico State as See SCORING RUNS CAN BE, Page 8 Gary Ward tackles the subject of hitting with passion.

Twelve Inventions Named Top New Products At Chicago ABCA Convention Unique Items Will Make Life Easier For Players With 310 exhibitors at ABCA Convention, 14th Annual best new products are BEST extremely special. Glove Guardian OF By JOHN & PAT PINKMAN & LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. SHOW Special To Collegiate Baseball 2013 ABCA CONVENTION CHICAGO — The 2013 seriously because this award has American Baseball Coaches become a valuable marketing Association convention in Chicago tool. featured 310 exhibitors and a We spend no less than 20 man number of innovative goods. hours walking the exposition Over 40 products introduced in floor evaluating both nominated the last year were nominated for products and those which are not Collegiate Baseball’s Best of Show nominated. awards. Each year the selection And 12 have been awarded this committee meets to discuss prestigious honor. potential winners after viewing Now in its 14th year, the Best new products during the first day of Show awards from Collegiate of the ABCA Convention. Baseball attempt to encompass Those products are again a wide variety of concepts, individually re-evaluated by applications and budgets. each member of the committee. TERRIFIC GLOVE PROTECTION — Hundreds of quality baseball products were on display at the This year’s trade exposition It is only after we all arrive at a 2013 ABCA Convention in Chicago. One of the top new inventions, as determined by Collegiate featured a high number of previous final consensus that a product is Baseball, was the Glove Guardian. This ingenious device dreamed up by catcher John Buck of the award winners New York Mets allows any type of glove to dry naturally at the exact position a player wants. We take the selection process See BEST OF SHOW, Page 2 Inside Collegiate Baseball Web Site: www.baseballnews.com ABCA Convention Highlights Louisville Slugger All-Americans Top H.S. Players State-By-State News, photos, products of 68th Top high school players heading Outstanding 2013 prep players in annual event in Chicago featured into 2013 season are named in every baseball playing state of the in special rundown/Pages 10-11 our extensive annual list/Page 12 union showcased by CB/Page 18 Page 2 Collegiate Baseball Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 Best Of Show Awards Feature Quality New Products Continued From Page 1 slowly dries in the Glove Guardian fence because the game had a time and shapes to the form inside, Buck limit. designated as Best in Show. only used three catcher’s gloves “I thought about how embarrassed Without further adieu, here are in 2012. he was and how the players and the 2013 winners as chosen by How many times have you umpires needed to keep the game Collegiate Baseball. witnessed players as they pull a going,” said Burkhart who attends Glove Guardian crushed, folded glove out from the Moberly High School. PVTee The Glove Guardian, designed bottom of their overstuffed, dirt “I also realized how dangerous by New York Mets’ catcher John filled, bat bag that has lost both the throwing a ball back over the fence Buck (with a little beta testing original design and useful pocket? could be.” from his teammates) is a practical, In catching clinic sessions during At that moment, the genesis of common sense product that every the ABCA Convention in Chicago, the Foul Ball Return Station was player should seriously look at it was noted that high school and born. purchasing. recreational ballplayers tend to The good people at On Deck With players investing hundreds abuse the pockets in their glove. Sports heard of her invention from of dollars in gloves, the Glove As a result, they do not catch the a customer and contacted her about Guardian not only preserves that ball correctly. For the collegiate selling it. investment, but it is designed to player, this is a must-have item due Now the Foul Ball Return Station optimize the use of the glove. to the amount of travel they face is being introduced to baseball Originally Buck designed this throughout the year. coaches for the first time through easily in seconds. for his personal catcher’s glove, The Glove Guardian features On Deck Sports. The sturdy weighted base keeps a pedestal the shape of a half Foul Ball Return Station The unique design allows fans to but quickly players saw the value much slower in the protective case the PVTee in place time after and asked for Glove Guardians to baseball, which can be adjusted up return foul balls to umpires without time. or down, attached to the bottom at the precise angle he wanted. interrupting play. protect their gloves. The Glove Guardian is available In addition, it features a flexible During the 2010 season, Buck with Velcro in a zippered case. The And the sturdy design will last rubber tip guaranteed not to rip or glove pocket is placed directly in in one or two glove cases and is year after year. It is built from and teammate Brett Hayes discussed definitely worth the modest price. lose its shape. why the best gloves money could the center of the movable pedestal double powder coated hardened The tee was developed by a to ensure the glove stays open and Discover how it works at www. aluminum and stainless steel buy had to be replaced during the toigear.com collaboration between a hitter/ season. clean at the precise angle the player bolts. coach, a product designer and They both agreed that it was not wants. Infielders and outfielders at Foul Ball Return Station It installs in minutes and works a high end engineer/machinist only the 162-game schedule but the pro level like the design of the This ingenious device allows foul for baseball or softball and costs in an effort to create a tee with the relentless travel over the course movable pedestal. Some players balls to be returned into a holding $49.99. functionality and quality that is of a Major League season. They like flatter gloves while others like a unit on the fan side of a chain link Visit: www.ondecksports.com missing in the market today. decided to come up with a product higher pocket as the glove dries. fence behind the backstop. PVTee Visit: www.ondecksports.com Buck discovered that the reason Balls then can be accessed on that could withstand a vigorous An innovation in batting tee IconicSports’ Apps baseball season and protect their his gloves failed so frequently was the playing field side of the fence technology has been produced with that salt and sweat became infused by the umpire. IconicSports Technology (www. biggest asset — the glove. As their the PVTee by On Deck Sports. IconicSpoortsTechnology.com) has dream turned into reality, the Glove into the leather near his thumb. Two years ago, 14-year-old This tee was robotically lab Subsequently, the glove dried Rebecca Burkhart of Moberly, MO rolled out four remarkable apps. Guardian was born. tested with over 2,500 repetitive Used in conjunction with cell During the 2011 season, Buck quickly in an uncomfortable shape was watching her sister’s softball mis-hits without any wear on the that did not conform to his hand. game during a tournament. phones that have internet capability, went through seven catcher’s tee. here is a quick rundown on each gloves which routinely ripped As he re-inserted his hand back Rebecca’s 8-year-old cousin ran Its unique “flex” mechanism into the dry glove, he forced the to get a foul ball that was hit over product. near the thumb opening of the design brings the tee back to From your smart phone, you glove. Imagine the difficulty and leather back into position which the fence and tried to toss the ball position before you can put the caused stress cracks in the leather back over the fence several times can sign up for these apps in either awkwardness of breaking in seven next ball on. the Apple App store for iPhones or catchers gloves in one year. and eventually ripped. with no success. With its unique super-magnet Once Buck started using the A few of the fans began yelling Because of the way the glove design, you can break down the tee See Page 3 Glove Guardian, his glove dried at him to get the ball over the AMAZING APPS, Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 Collegiate Baseball Page 3 Collegiate Baseball Amazing Apps Showcased At The Voice Of Amateur Baseball 2013 Chicago ABCA Exhibit Continued From Page 2 IconicSports’ Apps Collegiate Baseball (ISSN 0530-9751) is published twice a month Google Play for Android phones. January-May and once in June, July, September and October (14 The apps for Android phones total issues) by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Inc., 2515 N. Stone Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705. Periodicals postage paid at Tucson, AZ. may not be available with several of these programs yet. But they are being worked on for future Postmaster: Send address changes to: releases. Collegiate Baseball Playergrid: This free service P.O. Box 50566 Tucson, AZ 85703 streamlines team communication, manages multiple teams with one Overnight Mail: 2515 N. Stone Ave. free account and gives automated Tucson, AZ 85705 notifications via text, e-mail or app. Past Publishers: Abe Chanin, Lou Pavlovich, Sr. In addition, you have access to an Single 1-Year Subscription Rate: $28 for 14 issues. activity calendar, team photo gallery Single 1-Year First Class U.S. Subscription: $45 and custom merchandise area to Single 1-Year Foreign Air Mail Subscription: $50 make for your team fundraisers. Special Team Subscriptions: 11 papers each issue sent to one If that wasn’t enough, it utilizes address — $88 (save $220 off the single subscription price), and 21 papers each issue sent to one address — $147 (save $441). Google mapping technology Other Multiple Subscription Offers: Please inquire with sub- to navigate you to unfamiliar scription department at (520) 623-4530. event locations. Jim Woodman, president and CEO of IconicSports Technology, recommends that Directory coaches or managers go to the Visit www.PerformanceHQ. IconicSports web site to sign com to find out more about availability. Area Code (520) up for the service so that initial information can be filled out easily Performance HQ features The Publisher: Lou Pavlovich, Jr. (Call 623-4530) Athlete War Room which closes Editor: Lou Pavlovich, Jr. (Call 623-4530 to report stories) on a regular computer. Then you can acquire the app for the communication gap between an Advertising Director: Diane Pavlovich (Call 623-4530) athlete’s coaches and trainers, thus Subscription Department: (Call 623-4530) Playergrid through the Apple App Fax Machine: (Call 624-5501) store for iPhones or Google Play providing a clear understanding, E-Mail: [email protected] for Android cell phones. and most importantly a sound mind, Web Site: www.baseballnews.com S c o u t c a m : T h i s v i d e o to let physical skills shine. analysis app records and analyzes With the Performance Team movements and skills. You can Forum, members of an Athlete’s 2013 Publication Schedule share or send them for remote “team” will be in constant analysis. You can utilize side-by- contact and remain on the same January 4 March 8 May 3 September 6 side comparison videos to compare page regarding an athlete’s January 25 March 22 May 17 October 4 development. February 8 April 5 June 14 against other athletes or previous February 22 April 19 July 12 versions of yourself. It also has a With Performance HQ, you patented dial technology and easy will be able to address every aspect of instruction as well as the JUGS Travel Screen labeling and retrieval from local design, it will not tip over in windy and cloud library. There is limited performance evaluation side, from Moving? video to supplement management, conditions. use of video. But for a nominal fee, And it weighs just 17 pounds. Make Sure CB Moves Along With You! you can utilize the Cloud service to from training calendars to the please write us 30 days in advance if you The frame is made of stable 5/8- To change your address, store videos. The cost for this app Athlete Dashboard. can. Mail to: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Performance HQ also offers a inch fiberglass bungie poles while Dept. Address Change is 99 cents. the base is constructed of sturdy one Hitter’s Log: Break down and Hitter’s Log and Scoutcam. P.O. Box 50566 Annual Cloud storage costs inch steel tubing. Tucson, Ariz. 85703 share your Hot Zones, Spray Chart It takes less than two minutes and stats with this quality app which $19.99 a year. 1. Please print OLD address here. to set up. costs $1.99. Statistics give you the JUGS Travel Screen Visit: www.jugssports.com NAME ability to see your statistics from all A fabulous practice Travel STREET APT. # teams combined or broken down Screen has been designed by JUGS The Perfect Mound In the current baseball climate CITY STATE ZIP by one particular team. The Spray Sports and can be used for offense, Chart and Hot Zone are meant to defense and pitching. with travel team tournaments and DATE OF show you why the statistics are At only $149, it is a remarkable showcases being held on the same field weekend after weekend, there MOVE: what they are. You can look at your price and comes complete with a history broken down into individual 30-inch nylon travel bag and flip- has been a great deal of importance 2. Please print NEW address here. games as well as a practice log to over strike zone. placed on field maintenance and manicuring. NAME compile important lessons learned The 7-foot Travel Screen features a huge 6.5-foot x 6.5-foot hitting Every attempt has been made to STREET APT. # for review later. Performance HQ: This free app sock. expedite the turnover time of these CITY STATE ZIP Because of the innovative for coaches and facilities has been See BEST OF SHOW, Page 5 created to take the instructional training business to a whole new $5 Million Grant Awarded level and help any athlete looking LUBBOCK, Tex. — The “The Moody Foundation has to separate themselves from the National College Baseball Hall a long history of activities in competition. of Fame has been awarded a $5 Lubbock,” she said. It currently is not available but million capital campaign grant from “The timing couldn’t be more will be in the near future. the Moody Foundation located in perfect to support the College Galveston, Tex. Baseball Hall of Fame given the The grant brings the total Moody history with baseball and CheapBats.com raised toward the campaign to economic development.” approximately $7 million, Although the grant from the 1-800-589-HITS not including the value of the Moody Foundation is vital to the Order today land committed by the City of success of the capital campaign, have it tomorrow Lubbock. local success also has been crucial, The total campaign goal is $13 said Jana Howser, Hall of Fame million, with $9 million needed vice president of development. for facility construction and a $4 “Generous support from within million endowment. Lubbock, across Texas and around “This is a momentous day for our the country are all important organization,” said Mike Gustafson, components in realizing this executive director of the College national treasure,” Howser said. Baseball Hall of Fame. “The decision by the Moody “This is a huge step forward Foundation to grant $5 million for the capital campaign and the dollars is spectacular. We are mission of the museum.” grateful for their generous decision Supporting the College Baseball and are excited about the road Hall of Fame and its mission of ahead.” preservation and education was The National College Baseball a natural fit for the foundation, Hall of Fame and Museum will be said Frances Moody-Dahlberg, dedicated to preserving the artifacts executive director of the Moody and stories that tell the history of Foundation. college baseball. Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 Collegiate Baseball Page 5 Best Of Show Winners Feature Innovative Products Continued From Page 3 and safety from miss hit balls. and South Carolina (2010, 2011). BowNet estimates that it takes a But there has been one big fields to help keep revenue coming person three minutes to set it up. problem. in as the field needs to be in tip top The key to BowNet’s design is The software available has been shape for the next set of games. in the bow of the polls, referred to for personal computers only. Having experienced the best as “EAS,” an energy absorption After years of customer requests, and worst of maintenance crews, system. This unique design allows Own The Zone Sports now has an it is easy to see why placing a a flexible, lightweight, durable and Apple Mac version of its software turf mound on a field is enticing. extremely portable series of screens available. Not everyone has access to a and catch nets. And it is just as fabulous as the professional grounds crew or the The Mini Backstop Hitting PC version with all the bells and funds to pay that crew or purchase Station sells for $200. It measures whistles. enough clay in order to properly JUGS’ College-6 Swing Training System 8-foot high x 12-foot wide, only Developed by two former college maintain the mound throughout Casey, Morris, Fox, Vanderhook, stadium seats. weighs a mere 22lbs. and compresses All-American baseball players from the year. That’s where The Perfect Horton and Brosius share their tee A specific model allows the seat in a 48’ x 14’ carry bag. Bow Net Western Oregon University in Liam Mound comes in. and soft toss drills used daily in to be easily attached to current flat offers a wide range of economical Woodard and Bryce Gardinier, Own The Perfect Mound has perfected their programs. aluminum bleacher type systems. and portable netting devices from The Zone’s easy to use software can the turf mound with two models, Oregon State’s Casey explains A further advantage is they can catch nets to backstops. be customized for both offense the Adult version which is 18 feet the Hop Back Drill which generates produce a fundraising identification Visit: www.bownet.net and defense so that you are in total in diameter, and the Youth Model load on the inside of the back leg plaque for that particular seat. Baseball Racks control of signs. which is 10 feet. The adult version so it can provide torque through The plaque identifies the name of If you have a dugout with poorly It works by using an advanced is engineered to meet Major League the swing. Coach Casey stresses a specific VIP season ticket holder constructed bat racks or benches, computer algorithm to randomly specifications. the importance of body movement and can be changed every year to there is a solution to this problem. assign each offensive or defensive The portable pitcher’s mound is while stabilizing head movement. accommodate a new fan. Or it can Baseball Racks from Evergreen play a unique 3-digit code. constructed of reinforced fiberglass North Carolina’s Fox discusses be renewed for an annual fee. Park, IL designs and builds fabulous Players wear a quarterback-style which is engineered for unlimited a tee drill with inside and outside As you can imagine, this concept, Major League style hand crafted wristband with a key indicating play. The adult version is made up ball placement difficulty. “The at less than $40, easily pays for itself storage for dugouts which houses what each code represents. of six pieces that easily interlock difficulty of the small ball and the within the first year. And by the helmets and bats. Because each code has been which allow for the mound to small barrel requires maximum way, it will pay for new executive In addition, they build stunning randomly assigned and every time be portable as well. The Perfect focus and concentration from the chairs for the entire staff! wood benches, coaches’ racks, the coach uses our software the Mound features a no lip design batter. In this drill, we practice Visit: www.dreamseat.com above bench storage, water cooler numbers/code rescramble, it is so the mound runs seamlessly hitting a pitcher’s pitch. That’s a for the embroidered seats and holders and bulletin and dry erase impossible for the opposing team into the turf, grass, or dirt playing pitch placed well on the inside and www.seatingsolutions.com for the boards. to pick the signs. surfaces. the outside of the strike zone.” stadium seat option. The designs of these products Visit: www.ownthezonesports. The no lip design will also prevent Miami’s Morris details a loading Backstop Hitting Station were made by Rob LeVan and Dave com the occasional bad hop or ankle turn drill, transferring of weight through We believe this product has Payton. RainedOut caused by the artificial mound. The the body. Cal. St. Fullerton’s specific appeal and value to high Each item is painted in your RainedOut is the leading free youth model is engineered from the Vanderhook explains the Knee school and travel programs. team’s colors with team logos mass notification service for sports same reinforced fiberglass and is Drill. This hand-eye coordination For years, coaches have used available to help each school push and events. assembled with only three pieces. drill purposely minimizes lower half portable catch nets constructed of its brand to fans. This service enables non- The Perfect Mound is an power involvement to concentrate PVC pipe which would break down “In our dugout, we selected a technical people to send instant investment. The adult model starts and maximize “the see the ball, hit into many individual pieces stored bench designed by Dave at Baseball alerts to the entire community for at $10,995 (turf not included) and the ball” concept that assists the in a bag. Racks and could not be happier,” improved communication. the youth model starts at $3,895 hitter to visually track and move BowNet’s Mini Backstop Hitting said University of Oregon Head It is used to cancel events, change (turf not included). his hands to ball impact. Station and portable pocket net Coach George Horton. plans, send reminders and more. However, when you think about Oregon’s Horton focuses on soft solves the do-it-yourself nightmare “We demand the best for our As a cloud-based service, the amount of time and money that toss drills, and Linfield’s Brosius described above. program, and they met all of our messages can initiate from any goes into field maintenance over the demonstrates inside and outside This product appeals to us needs.” internet connected computer or course of year and throughout the swing development, waiting on not only because of it’s sturdy Visit: www.baseballracks.com from the field using a cell phone. life of the Perfect Mound, money the outside pitch and inside pitch construction, ease of breakdown, With one intuitive interface, will ultimately be saved. Pick Proof Signs training. durability, and cost effectiveness, RainedOut instantly and Visit: www.ThePerfectMound. For years, Own The Zone has Visit: www.jugssports.com but it processes several important simultaneously broadcasts alerts com been synonymous with innovative Dream Seat safety features. pick proof sign software. to subscribers’ mobile phones (via College-6 Swing Trainer Have you ever seen a baseball The traditional design of a Own The Zone is the No. 1 SMS text message) and e-mail JUGS Sports has introduced the coach’s office that could use a better pocket net has the unit vertical and wristband sign system in the world accounts, and to the organizations’ College-6 Swing Trainer which executive chair? perpendicular to the ground. with hundreds of programs using own web pages, RainedOut has been endorsed by six high Nothing sends a stronger The BowNet concept adds three the software. page, Facebook page and Twitter profile baseball coaches, including negative message to potential additional sides (two vertical and Five NCAA Division I national account. Mike Fox (North Carolina), Pat recruits or parents than an ancient one horizontal) that flare out from championships have been won by Visit: www.RainedOut.com Casey (Oregon St.), George Horton duct taped, blanket draped, squeaky the sides and top. teams using it, including Oregon St. (Oregon), Jim Morris (Miami, coach’s chair. This provides (particularly in an (2006, 2007), Louisiana St. (2009), Fla.), Rick Vanderhook (Cal. The $200 Dream Seat can resolve indoor setting) further protection St. Fullerton) and Scott Brosius that image problem immediately (former major leaguer and now and create an attractive addition to skipper at Linfield College). the office. The program includes the This company not only provides Swing Trainer bat (a 33-inch, 30- a very comfortable chair, but they ounce solid aluminum bat with a will embroider your mascot logo on cushioned polyurethane grip but the front, and for an additional $50, with a 1-inch eye-hand training on the back of the chair. barrel, three smaller 8.5 inch, 3.5 Its sister company Seating ounce soft leather baseballs and a Solutions also manufactures 30-minute instructional DVD with all six coaches demonstrating tee, toss and live-arm drills. GUERRERO “If you can perfect your swing BASEBALL GLOVES when using a bat with a 1 inch barrel, imagine what you can do * 14 PRO MODELS * using a standard size bat,” said J.R. * TEAM DISCOUNTS * Reichenbach, product development * IN STOCK * executive with JUGS Sports. Who wouldn’t like to receive (517) 242-1924 advice from a coaching staff with 4,675 wins, 19 Coach of guerrerogloves.com The Year honors, and 5 national championships?

First Rounder Listened To This 1,000 Times? Yogi said it best “90% of the game is half mental.” But how much time do we spend working on the mental game? Next to none. Let’s face it, it’s hard to work on. But, what if you could just pop in a CD or turn on your iPod and have one of the most sought after mental game coaches in the game coaching you? He’s no book worm either. He’s a veteran of 14 professional seasons and currently a performance coach with a MLB team. Learn more here www.MentalHitting.com “My sophomore year at Notre Dame, I was given your CD. I wish I had it when I was a sophomore in high school. I have listened to it over 1,000 times! Thanks.” A.J. Pollack 2009 1st Round Pick, Arizona Diamondbacks

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