Fall Issue

FA L L I S S U E

IN THIS ISSUE:

WILLIE RANDOLPH: THRIVING IN A COACHING ROLE PAGE 8

OLYMPIANS COMING TO DIAMOND NATION PAGE 14

PATRIOTS WIN 5TH CHAMPIONSHIP PAGE 34

JACK CUST TALKS ABOUT HITTING PAGE 20

DIAMOND NATION M

A

G

A

Z

I

N

E

DIAMOND NATION MAGAZINE FLEMINGTON, NJ 08822

PUBLISHER ERIC CITRON

CREATIVE DIRECTION

CONTENTS 6

WILLIE RANDOLPH

8

WILLIE RANDOLPH

A Life In Baseball

Thriving In The Coaching World

10

THE OLYMPIANS ARE COMING

12

SIDE OF THE FENCE

BEN MASUR

14

FINCH’S ACES

PRINTING

16

THE NPF

18

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

22

PLAYER PROFILE - JASON KNAPP

24

HITTING WITH JACK CUST

28

CATCHING - TRAVIS ANDERSON

30

CATCHING SCHOOL

32

SOMERSET PATRIOTS WIN #5

34

SCOTT BRADLEY

38

PROBLEMS WITH YOUTH ARMS

40

SOMERSET LITTLE LEAGUE

44

WOOD VS. METAL

46

SPORTS MEDICINE

48

PLAYER PROFILE - EVAN DELUCA

50

DN SITS WITH JENNIE & JACK

54

DN BOOK CLUB

57

AFTER THE GAME

58

HALL OF FAME NEWS

58

HALL OF FAME NEWS

66

MUSCO LIGHTS UP DN

68

WINTER LEAGUE

ISLAND COAST PRODUCTIONS

HEAD WRITER

HAIG GRAPHICS

TO ADVERTISE CALL 908.455.1613

Diamond Nation Magazine is designed as a resource guide for the baseball community. Its intent is to present all types of businesses that cater to families. When you purchase or utilize a product or service that you saw within the pages of DNM let them know you found it in Diamond Nation Magazine. Thank You! In order to provide the Diamond Nation Magazine free to consumers that advertisements and this publication are paid for by the advertisers. Unless specially noted, no services, ideas, columns or concepts in Diamond Nation Magazine are endorsed by the publisher. Diamond Nation Magazine reserves the unrestricted right to refuse, edit or otherwise alter any advertisement submitted for publication.

All information in the magazine is copyrighted, including the text, the logo and the layout. All the content of the magazine or the website www. diamondnation.com may not be copied or distributed without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher of the publication does not warrant or make any representations concerning the accuracy or reliability of the information contained herein.

For information about having Diamond Nation Magazine distributed in your location or to advertise or submit a story contact 908-455-1613.

Softball Rule Change

Tony Tierno N.D., C.P.T. C.S.N.

First Of A Four Part Seriess

Rick Peterson & Gary Armida

John P. Kripsak, DO

Modern Medicine

90 Fot Thieves

W

elcome Back…

Well, it’s been a month since our last issue of Diamond Nation Magazine premiered and we have had tremendously positive feedback from countless numbers of people. It is always gratifying when you work hard on a project and people that you never met come up to you and tell you how much they enjoy it.

Looking back over the last month, we had some weather challenges, but still managed to get in most of the games. The high point for us at Diamond Nation had to be the Jennie Finch Aces Invitational on October 10 and 11. It was a tremendous success as Jennie was here. She signed autographs, posed for photos and even coached one of the Aces games. We were doubly lucky to have Jack Cust return from the Oakland A’s and spend the weekend with us. Although he is a constant presence here, the players and coaches were seeking out photos and autographs all weekend long.

Now that we are in November, most athletes have hung up their gloves for the winter and look forward to some rest or picking up another sport. For those diehard baseball/softball players who want to continue playing all winter long, you should come to our HealthQuest Sports Dome, the largest amateur sports dome in America.

The action inside the dome is nonstop all winter long with baseball, softball and lacrosse. It’s truly an amazing place to be during the cold winter months.

We are also very excited to bring to this area the Jennie Finch Softball Extravaganza. This is a two-day event featuring Jennie Finch and some of her fellow Olympic teammates in a coach’s convention and player’s clinic. This is all taking place inside our dome on December 5 and 6. For more information, go to www.diamondnationconvention.com.

We are thrilled to have brought you our cover story on Willie Randolph. You can look forward to many more exciting feature stories throughout the upcoming year.

If you have an interesting story you would like us to consider for publication, drop us a line at: editor@diamondnation.com.We value your input!

Also, make sure to check out the Diamond Nation Magazine blog at http://blog.nj.com/diamond_nation/index.html. It will link you to stories from the magazine as well as other stories going on in the baseball and softball world, at the amateur and professional level. It will give incite to what is going on around Diamond Nation and will hopefully spark a discussion on current baseball/softball events and issues.

Time to get ready for the holidays and we look forward to bringing you breaking news, articles and tidbits all winter long. Remember to visit our website: www.diamondnationmagazine.com to get up to the minute information on everything that is baseball and softball in New Jersey and the surrounding areas.

Thanks,

Eric Citron Eric Citron Publisher

WILLIE RANDOLPH -A Life In BaseballWillie Randolph grew up in Brooklyn, NY and graduated from Samuel J. Tilden High School before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh round of the 1972 Draft. He made his Major League Debut three years later and was at the age of 21 the sixth-youngest player in the National League. Over the course of his 18-year playing career, he would play for six teams but was best knowna for his 13 seasons with the New York Yankees (1976-88). When Randolph’s playing career was over, he ranked fifth in Major League history in games at second base (2,152), ninth in putouts (4,859), seventh in assists (6,336), eighth in total chances (11,429) and third in double plays (1,547).

In December 1975, Randolph was traded by the Pirates with Ken Brett and Dock Ellis to the Yankees for Doc Medich. In 1980, Randolph led the league in walks (119) and was second in the AL in on base percentage (.427), eighth in stolen bases (30) and ninth in runs (99) and won the Silver Slugger award at second base in the AL. In 1987, he batted .305 and led the league in at bats per strikeout (18.0), was fourth in the AL in OBP (.411) and ninth in walks (82). He also batted .366 in tie games and .345 in games that were late and close.

The following season, he was signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then in May 1990, he was traded by the Dodgers to the Oakland Athletics for Stan Javier. In 1991, he

6

signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers. That year, Randolph was second in the AL in OBP (.424) and third in batting average (.327). In December of that year, he signed as a free agent with the New York Mets. And in 1992, at 37 years old, he was the eighth-oldest player in the NL. In his last career game with the Mets, lifelong second baseman Jeff Kent moved to what has been his only career start at shortstop to allow Randolph to play his final game at second base.

After all was said and done as a player, Randolph was a six-time All-Star selection (1976, 77, 80, 81, 87, 89), two-time World Series champion (1977, 78) and won the Silver Slugger Award (1980).

Randolph stayed in the game, becoming a Yankee base and bench coach for 11 seasons, where he won four more World Series championships (1996, 98, 99, 2000). In 2004, Randolph was named the Mets manager for 2005 season.

Randolph ended his first season as manager with an 83-79 record, the first time the franchise had finished above .500 since 2001 and 15 games better than the previous season. The following season, Randolph managed the Mets to a league-best 97-65 record and the NL East Division title (the team’s first division championship since 1988). The Mets came within one game of reaching the World Series, losing the seventh game of the NLCS to the eventual world champion St. Louis Cardinals.

FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

Year Voting, losing to Florida Marlins skipper Joe Girardi. The following year wasn’t as joyous for Randolph, whose Mets lost a seven-game first-place lead to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East with 17 games to play. Then on June 17, 2008, Randolph was fired, with the Mets record at 34-35, which was 6.5 games behind the Phillies in the division. After the 2008 season, Randolph was interviewed by the Milwaukee Brewers for their managerial position. He was one of the three finalists, but the job ultimately went to Ken Macha while Randolph was given the bench coach position.

Randolph was the first manager in Major League history to have his team’s record improve by at least 12 games in each of his first two seasons. He came in second place in the 2006 NL Manager of the

Next season, Randolph will be joined, as he was with the Mets, by Rick Peterson, who signed with the Brewers as the pitching coach during the offseason.

Randolph currently resides in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey and has four children.

For Your Next Real Estate Transaction, Put Us On Your Team!

CORTES AND HAY, INC.

TITLE INSURANCE AGENCY OF NEW JERSEY

ABCO OF

NORTHAMPTON, LLC

TITLE INSURANCE AGENCY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Experience Professional Accurate WWW.CORTESHAY.COM 464 NEWARK STREET HOBOKEN, NJ 07030 (201) 714-7900

110 MAIN STREET FLEMINGTON, NJ 08822 (908) 782-8850

101 SOUTH 3RD STREET EASTON, PA 18042 (610) 258-6208

THRIVING IN THE COACHING WORLD WITH THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS

WILLIE RANDOLPH

By KEVIN KERNAN Willie Randolph continues to learn and continues to pass along the lessons that were taught to him by second basemen Billy Martin, Chuck Cottier and former Negro Leagues star Gene Baker, who was a coach with the Pirates, Randolph’s first organization.

Want to improve your hand speed for hitting and defense? Randolph has the perfect exercise for you. It’s how he became the kind of hitter and second baseman that played 18 seasons in the majors with four trips to the World Series and two World Championships.

“Billy was a fighter and he taught me to hit the speed bag,’’ says Randolph, the bench coach for the Milwaukee Brewers. “And I was good at it. You start out slow until you get the feel for it.

It’s a tremendous way to improve eye-hand coordination as a fielder and a hitter. Not only that, it builds strength in your hands and your wrists and it helps you focus.’’

Randolph learned much from Martin, who won four World Championships with the Yankees, playing alongside his good friend Mickey Mantle. As a manager, Martin, brought the World Championship back to the Yankees in 1977. His battles with George Steinbrenner were legendary. “Billy was something,’’ Randolph says with a smile. “He had a great passion for this game.’’

Randolph retired after the 1992 season. The sixtime All-Star played 13 years with the Yankees after coming up with the Pirates, but also had stops with the Dodgers, A’s, Brewers and Mets.

He was a Yankee coach for 11 years and became manager of the Mets in 2005, leading the Mets to within one game of the World Series the next season. After Randolph was fired by the 8

Mets in June of 2008, he could have stayed home and collected a paycheck, but he wanted to get back on the field and took a job with the Brewers last season. The Mets haven’t been the same since he left.

Randolph loves coaching, the one on one work with the players, and went back to it so he could become a better manager. It will not be too long before he gets another chance to manage a major league team and he is looking forward to that opportunity. “You keep growing in this game,’’ he says. When he arrived at the Brewers, Randolph made it a top priority to improve the fielding of second baseman Rickie Weeks and big first baseman Prince Fielder. “I don’t believe in changing styles,’’ Randolph says. “I watched Rickie and worked with his style. I wanted him to understand the rhythm of the position. With him everything was fast speed, when you are an infielder or outfielder you have to field the rhythm of the position. You have to have a clock inside you and realize some plays you have to speed up, some you have to slow down, you have to let the play materialize before you, and then you react to it. It’s basically knowing when to speed up, and slow down, knowing how to charge a slow roller and how to get rid of it. Knowing when to eat a ball and not go for it.’’ Randolph pointed to the error made by Angels second baseman Maicer Izturis in Game 2 of the ALCS that gave the Yankees a key victory. Explains Randolph, “I watched that and said, ‘What are you doing, son, the winning run is on second base.’ ’’ Randolph loves everything about Weeks. “He’s got a football mentality,’’ he says. “When Rickie got hurt in May it really took away a lot of the personality of our team.’’

Fielder is such a slugger that not much emphasis was put on his defense. Randolph changed that by bringing a sense of humor to the situation.

“With a name like Fielder,’’ Randolph told the Prince of Milwaukee, “How can you not pick it?’’

To improve defense, Randolph says, “You have to learn to dance a little bit. It makes the transition smoother. Then you play and play and play, any type of ball helps you become more athletic and develop that rhythm.’’

FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

Randolph says it’s imperative that players take “ownership’’ of both sides of the ball. “Prince did that this past year,’’ he says. “In baseball we don’t do that enough, we just think offense, offense, offense. So I try to challenge my players from Day 1 to buy into defense and playing both sides of the ball, dedicate yourself to your fielding as much as your hitting.’’

shift, when you rock back on your weight shift, just transfer your weight and use your hands.

Those drills always seemed to help me when I was really out of kilter. What it does is it helps you wait on the ball and you are not as vulnerable to breaking stuff. Spreading out and using your hands forces you to get your body out of the way.

On the offensive side, Randolph likes to start batting practice a certain way. “I very much like it when a guy is doing BP that he starts out by going from line to line,’’ Randolph explains. “A right-handed hitter would start by hitting to the right field line and then coming around. Really work hard at trying to hit the ball the other way.

You also hit through the middle. I think so much of what hitting is about is strengthening your hands, wrists and your forearms.’’

“Sometimes you can get in a lot of bad habits when you start using too much of your body, you jump out, your hips start flying out, your shoulders come out,’’ he says. “This way you stay square to the middle and let the ball travel and just be quick with your hands and then you get a little rhythm going.’’

There are relative simple ways to strengthening those areas, including squeezing hand grippers.

“Those are great to use while watching TV,’’ he says.

Another fundamental hitting drill that Randolph likes is “spreading out, a little bit more than shoulder length, so you feel comfortable, and just using your hands,’’ he says. “Very little stride, stretch out your feet, get a little weight

You also get a better view of what the pitcher is throwing you and that translates into more hits and walks. Randolph led the American League in walks in 1980 with 119.

“I’m not a big tee-guy, I like soft toss,’’ Randolph says. “When I do soft toss, I like to keep it under control, not swing too hard. You just want to pepper the ball back through the screen with nice controlled rhythm and not trying to hit the ball through the net.’’

Then when you’re done, go hit the speed bag.

THE OLYMPIANS ARE COMING

THE OLYMPIANS ARE COMING! THE OLYMPIANS ARE COMING!

INAUGURAL EXTRAVAGANZA Tired of sitting at coach’s clinics bored, listening to endless power point presentations? How about being stuck at a hotel or in a conference or ball room without a softball field insight? Remember that time you received instruction on things you already knew and left complaining how pointless it was?

JENNIE FINCH

Well, worry no more.

On December 5 and 6, Diamond Nation proudly presents Jennie Finch’s 2009 Softball Inaugural Extravaganza. The two-day exhibit show will take place at the HeathQuest Sports Dome in Flemington, NJ. Along with Finch, the featured presenters will include Doug Finch, the father and pitching coach of Jennie and inventor of the Finch Windmall, Olympic Silver Medalist Andrea Duran and threetime Olympic Gold Medalist Leah O’Brien-Amico .

ANDREA DURAN

But they won’t be just standing behind a podium, lecturing you while you try to take notes as fast as possible. There won’t be hand outs of papers with drills on them that get crumpled or thrown out. The best softball players in the world will be showing you through demonstration how it should be done. It will be an interactive and engaging experience. You will be watching Olympians in their element -- on the field. Coaches will get to see softball skills, drills and demonstrations in a softball environment.

LEAH O’BRIEN AMICO

More than 65 percent of the population are visual learners. Think of all the valuable information that gets lost when you are just a non-active listener. Coaches will have the ability to see what they are being taught put in motion. And if the coaches want to ask complicated questions, about mechanics for example, will get to see their answers demonstrated so when they relay all of the information back to their team, they will know exactly what to teach.

The first day will highlight coaching tips through demos of skills and instructional drills. Some of the topics covered will include new drills and games to keep practice interesting, how to teach the bunt & slap, what

10 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

is glove work and why it’s important, The Backyard Pitching plan, communication drills and reading the play, learning three pitches off one group and Q & A with a meet and greet with the presenters.

The following day will be a clinic just for players, whom will break up into groups and stations and learn; not by watching, but by doing. At the culmination of the day, there will be a Q & A, autograph and photo session.

All of this will take place in the HealthQuest Sports Dome, which is the largest air structure in the nation and is considered the east coast’s premier indoor facility for winter athletic programs. The approximately 140,000-square-foot, heated dome will allow plenty of room for the clinic.

No cramped spaces in hallways or in a gym at a high school. No sitting in

bleachers texting and zoning out.

The Jennie Finch Softball Academy staff will be on hand to help facilitate the demonstrations and the camp. The Finch’s Aces will be aiding in demonstration and will be attending the Player’s Clinic.

The registration deadline is November 30 and you can register online at www.diamondnationconvention.com. The price for coaches/adults for the first day is $99 and $49 for students. The price for the Sunday clinic is $99 per player, limited to the first 150 only. And all registrants are welcome to return as a spectator for Sunday’s clinic.

The weekend will be brought to you by Diamond Nation, the premier tournament and training complex for softball in the nation. For more information, check out: www.diamondnation.com.

p Today!

U n g i S

TIME IS RUNNING OUT...VISIT:

diamondnationconvention.com

Don’t Miss The Convention of the Year!

SIDE OF THE FENCE

HIGH SCHOOL PITCHING DISTANCE STEMS HOT DEBATE

SOFTBALL RULE CHANGE There are four changes the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is making to its softball rules for 2010. But there is one in particular that has left the softball community with mixed feelings.

Rule 1-1-2b reads: “Changed the female fast-pitch pitching distance to 43 feet effective with the 2010-11 academic year.”

Although the new pitching distance is mandatory beginning with the 2010-11 school year, NFHS-member state high school associations may adopt the 43-feet distance in 2009-10, if desired.

New Jersey was one of those states that have decided to make it mandatory this spring for freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams.

“New Jersey had been proposing this for about eight years and it never passed,” said Carol Parsons, the Associate Director of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). “Since we play in the spring, we chose to adopt it for the upcoming season. If the softball season was in the fall, we probably wouldn’t have had enough time to implement the change, but since we did have time, it didn’t make a difference if we chose this year or next year so we decided it was best to start this spring.”

NFHS had liked. If you had one dominant pitcher, you had a great team. The other reason was safety.

Pitchers are throwing harder and the balls are coming off the bats powerfully. There is more reaction time now.”

What the NHFS also likes about the rule is that it creates a better balance between offense and defense, getting everyone involved and enhancing skill development.

“I think it’s long past due, I’m really glad to see it,” said Ken Fry, head softball coach of the 18U East Coast Elite Gold.

Pat Spirito, Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of New Jersey Junior Olympic Commissioner polled most of her travel team coaches who were also in favor of the change.

But she does understand how there could be some concern among coaches.

“A lot of high school coaches have grave concern about this and how it will change the high school season in the state of New Jersey,” Spirito said. “A lot of teams with pitching talent at the 40-feet distance may not hold true now.”

The number of feet moved back was based on what it is at the college level, but matching the high school and college distance was not the sole reason for the change.

“Pitchers might not put as much speed on the ball, but also it will be that much more distance that pitcher can move the ball around,” said Pete Fick, the head softball coach at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. “Now they have a few more feet to play around with the action on the ball.”

“There were two major things that played into this change,” Parsons said. “One was pitchers were becoming so proficient that it really wasn’t much of a team sport as the

While Fick was confident in his team being able to adjust, a lot of coaches have concerns that girls who are 14 years old will struggle with the change. Barney Eskin, the

12 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

head coach of the 14U Top Gun softball team isn’t a fan of the rule change for that age group.

“At the 14U level, it’s hard enough for them to throw strikes at 40 feet,” he said. “At 40 feet, girls are walking five batters a game. The good pitchers can pitch from anywhere, but it takes away from the average team. At the 14U level, I think it should stay at 40 feet. More than half of the teams don’t have that style of pitchers.”

Fry, however, disagrees.

“I coach 14-year-old kids and yes, there’s an initial struggle but repetition, repetition, repetition will improve that,” he said. “It’s not a question of not being strong enough; it’s a question of working hard on it. It’s a combination of mechanics and finesse.”

No matter what side of the fence you are on, pitchers are going to have to adjust their game in the coming year.

“I’m going to have to work with them on their arm strength and changing release points,”

Eskin said. “It’s about control. The worst thing is when you have fielders sitting there while the pitcher is walking two girls an inning.”

“We’re encouraging coaches to get their players in programs this winter before the high school teams get started,” Spirito said.

“Address the issue now.”

Here at Diamond Nation, the 16U and 18U tournaments have the pitching mound at 43 feet. They are not pushing back the 14U mound until they hear from the ASA.

FINCH’S ACES

MORE THAN JUST SOFTBALL, FINCH’S ACES HELP SHAPE YOUNG ATHLETES

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES

The Pink and Black Provides a Golden Opportunity:

While walking around Diamond Nation in Flemington, NJ, you’ll see a group of girls wearing black and pink uniforms. The team stands out, not just because of the colors they wear, but what they represent.

They are the Finch’s Aces at the Jennie Finch Softball Academy.

Finch’s Aces provides an exciting and positive learning environment for the physical, social, and personal development of young athletes. The goal of the program is to help talented student-athletes realize their full potential on and off the field, give them the opportunity to play at the next level and achieve their ultimate goals.

The Finch’s Aces currently has one age group, 14U, but this winter, there will be tryouts for 12U, 14U and 16U. “What we have to offer is a dedicated and professional coaching staff coupled with a state of the art facility -- our Academy provides a softball environment that is unparalleled in the Northeast,” said Kathy Shoemaker,

director of the Jennie Finch Softball Academy at Diamond Nation and one of the coaches of the Finch’s Aces. “We are looking for players who dream big, practice hard, want to be the best and want to play against the best.”

But Finch’s Aces is more than just about softball.

The program hopes to advance the level of play in each of its students while teaching life lessons through softball that help shape young athletes into productive members of society.

“We prepare our athletes to handle success as well as failure, and in doing so teach them how to cope with the realities of life as an adult,” said Shoemaker.

But along with the players, even the adults reverted back to kids when the Finch’s Aces got a chance to meet with Jennie Finch in early October during the Finch’s Aces Invitational held at Diamond Nation.

At the Invitational, which you can read more about on www.diamondnationmagazine.com, the Finch’s Aces finished in third place with a 2-1 record. A great showing in its first tournament, the girls were more just as focused on what they could get their hero to sign. Whether it was a tee shirt, softball, picture or even cell phones and ipods, Finch was swarmed, but was more than happy to sign everything.

14 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

When not pursuing Finch around Diamond Nation or getting something signed, all of the teams listened and watched Finch teach a pitching lesson. She not only talked about techniques and things to do and not to, but talked about her life and how to not only make girls better softball pitchers, but better people.

The name Finch’s Aces is really a double entendre, not only named after Finch’s son, Ace, but also because the Jennie Finch Softball Academy is a first-class program.

You can contact the Academy directly to discuss how they can help you reach your full potential as a top flight softball player at www.diamondnation.com.

Always a hit with fans from all over the world...

(Less than a 5 minute ride from Diamond Nation) 8 spring street, flemington, nj open sunday and everyday www.flemingtonfurs.com

SOFTBALL

5 TEAMS MAKE UP THE NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH LEAGUE

THE NPF

National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), which was formerly the Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL), is the only professional women’s softball league in the United States.

The NPF is currently made up of five teams: Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Philadelphia Force, Rockford Thunder and USSSA Pride. There was a sixth team, the New England Riptide, but they announced they would not be playing at the beginning of the 2009 season, citing economic reason. And 2009 was the first year for the Pride, a replacement for the Washington Glory who folded outright.

“I find it personally and professionally motivating to be involved with the foundational development of women’s professional softball,” said Cheri Kempf, Commissioner/President of National Pro Fastpitch. “Further, at the end of the day, to have been a contributing part in the establishment of another viable professional sport option for women, will be something that each owner, staff member, and player, will always be proud of.”

The idea started in 1989, when former Utah State University softball player Jane Cowles and her collegiate coach, John Horan, developed a plan for a women’s professional fastpitch softball league. Eight years of research and planning finally culminated in May 1997, with the launch of Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF).

After completing two seasons as the WPF, officials changed the name to the Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL) in 1998. Play was suspended during the 2002 season to restructure the organization and allow the league additional time to develop and explore new expansion markets. On Nov. 21, 2002, WPSL announced a rebranding strategy and official name change to National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). Major League Baseball partnered with NPF as its Official Development Partner as a

continuation of MLB's efforts to connect with female athletes and women in general.

In 2004, the league re-launched in six markets and in December 2004, owners of the NPF teams announced a plan intended to transition operations of NPF from the founding Cowles family to an operating group consisting of team owners. The efforts of the new ownership group in 2005 focused on solidifying broadcast agreements locally and nationally, soliciting sponsorship support and aligning with national softball associations to bring meaningful competition to each team market and various grassroots events across the country. The group continues to recruit new teams and strengthen team ownership in each market, hoping to continually build the NPF name.

The New York/New Jersey Juggernaut took home Cowles Cup Championship in 2004, followed by the Akron Racers in 2005, New England Riptide in 2006, Washington Glory in 2007, Chicago Bandits in 2008 and Rockford Thunder in 2009.

The now defending champion Thunder defeated USSSA Pride 2-1 in the bestof-three series. The Pride, which went just 16-24 in the regular season, took the first game of the series before falling in the next two. While the NPF Spring Training Camp for all teams doesn’t begin to mid-to late May, with league play beginning in June, there has been some offseason news already this fall.

The most recent being that two-time Olympic softball gold medalist Crystl Bustos will be the new manager of the Racers. Bustos, who retired as a player for Akron over the summer after leading the league with a .382 average, is regarded as the top power hitter in women’s softball history.

“The time is now for this league,” said Kempf. “The time is now for professional softball to move to the forefront and gain the admiration, support, fan following, and worldwide attention that comes with any entertainment product that produces excitement and enthusiasm.”

16 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

BELOW ARE THE LEAGUE LEADERS FROM THE 2009 SEASON:

Wins: 1. Lisa Norris 2. Catherin Osterman 3. Eileen Canney 4. Sarah Pauly 5. Kristina Thorson

Average: 1. Crystl Bustos 2. Amber Patton 3. Kelly Kretschman 4. Jackie Pasquerella 5. Tammy Williams

.382 .362 .350 .342 .340

Home Runs: 1. Samantha Findlay 2. Crystl Bustos 3. Kelly Kretschman 4. Oli Keohohou 5. Amber Jackson

11 10 8 7 6

Strikeouts: 1. Catherine Osterman 148 2. Lisa Norris 99 3. Eileen Canney 98 4. Sarah Pauly 85 5. Kate Robinson 77

Runs Batted In: 1. Samantha Findlay 1. Crystl Bustos 3. Jenny Topping 4. Nicole Trimboli 5. Kelly Kretschman

27 27 24 23 22

ERA: 1. Catherine Osterman 2. Eileen Canney 3. Sarah Pauly 4. Lisa Norris 5. Allison Kime

2010 NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH CHAMPIONSHIP The Series has been awarded to Sulphur Louisiana and will be held August 26-29 at McMurray Park in Sulphur. The event will be hosted by, and with the cooperation of, the Sulphur Parks and Recreation Department and the support of the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention &Visitors Bureau.

The top four Team finishers in the regular season League standings qualify for the Championship Series.

The format is a best of 3 series between the #1 and #4 seed, along with a best of 3 series between the #2 and #3 seeds, with the winners of those two series’ facing off in a best of 3 Championship final.

This will be the first time the event will be held in the state of Louisiana.

12 11 10 9 7

0.42 1.54 2.19 2.39 4.30

THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS SPECIFIC TRAINING AND NUTRITION

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

By Tony Tierno N.D., C.P.T. C.S.N. Director of Fitness and Human Performance HealthQuest Fitness Center.

USPF Certified Official.

Part 1: Strength and Conditioning Baseball and softball are sport’s that require short bursts of speed, power and agility. In between these bursts of activity are usually relatively long periods of inactivity. For example, a batter at the plate may take an explosive swing (hip/torso rotation and core stability) at a fastball and miss. Strike one! For that at-bat, the athlete may not swing at another pitch for one to two minutes or even longer. The same is true for the defensive position players. If they’re lucky, they’ll make a play on a ball (total body power, accelerating from a stationary position) once every five minutes. Even though these bouts of activity are intermittent, the athlete needs to be prepared to swing, run, jump, react, move laterally and change directions with maximal effort.

You lift weights to improve performance and reduce the risk of injury. All gains developed in the weight room must be functional.

If your training program doesn’t help you move quicker, throw faster, swing harder, and avoid injury, it’s not functional. Don’t train for just the sake of getting bigger or stronger. Strength and size without a functional purpose are worthless.

Baseball and softball players don’t need to lift huge amounts of weight to be successful.

Functional strength and muscles symmetry are more important than absolute strength.

Strength is functional if you can swing the bat with authority, throw with zip, and move your body more efficiently. Symmetry improves function and helps protect you from injury. Work to achieve a balance between the muscles on opposing sides of the body and between the opposing muscles groups.

How you train, what exercises you do, the order you do them, how often you work out, how much you lift, how long you rest between sets, and how long you recover between workouts determine whether your training will be useful. Training should be specific to baseball and softball. The body functions as a whole, not as the sum of its parts. In baseball and softball, the “power zone” includes the hips, legs, trunk, and back. Sport-specific movements (lunges, step-ups, leg curls, calf raises, sit-ups, lat pulls, and rowing) should be trained more often.

For an athlete to achieve the highest level of potential his fitness program should include strength and conditioning, speed and agility, nutrition and supplementation, total core stabilization and flexibility and last but not least structured rest.

Anyone can play baseball or softball, some have more talent; others have less. Talent, your genetic potential, is a gift. You can’t take credit for it. You didn’t earn it, you inherited it. Being born with talent is like winning the lottery. But having talent, even lots of it, is no guarantee for success. Success depends on how you use your gift. If you take it for granted and are content with being on a team and making occasional contribution, you’ll never achieve your true genetic potential and be successful.

18 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

Skills are learned. The mechanics of running, sliding, hitting, fielding, and throwing are skills acquired through hard work, repetition, and practice. Skills, like talent, can affect your level of success. Poor skills limit performance. Excellent skills enhance it.

The strength and conditioning program for baseball and softball is designed to improve performance and reduce the risk of injury. To improve performance you have to increase sport-specific strength, speed, endurance, flexibility, and power. To prevent injuries you have to condition the total body to perform the explosive and repetitive tasks encountered in the game. How you train is important. For maximum results and steady gains, use a comprehensive, year-round program based on a periodization model that systematically varies the exercises performed, intensity of the work, and volume of work done from week to week and month to month throughout the year.

TROY GLAUS OF THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

There is no off season this applies to both male and female athletes. A supervised progressive training program should include preseason, in season and post season phases.

The program has to be designed so the athlete can move freely and spontaneously through the three planes of motion and four axes, in a game or practice situation the athlete starts to respond to this action in 1/100 of a second. The importance of specialized training program that strengthens tendons, ligaments and connective tissue plays a very important role in injury prevention and faster rehabilitation. Functional training bridges the gap between the training room and playing field.

Part II: The Female Athlete

JACK CUST OF THE OAKLAND A’s

Female athletics are increasing in popularity every day. Because of this, female athletes must prepare their bodies for the demands of their sport just like any other athlete. In my opinion, strength training is the most powerful training tool that a female athlete can perform. Not only does strength training help to improve their performance, but more importantly, increased strength drastically helps to prevent inherent injury risks in females.

Strength development is especially important for females because they have an increased

FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM 19

risk of ACL tears and knee problems due to their hip to knee “Q-angle.” A strong “core,” hips, quads, and hamstrings can drastically decrease stress on the knee joint when female athletes land from a jump or change direction on the athletic field.

Females also have an imbalance between their hamstrings and quadriceps. This imbalance is yet another contributor to their growing incidence of knee injuries. Correcting this imbalance with proper exercise selection is yet another way to drastically reduce a female’s risk.

Participating in sports such as softball, field hockey, volleyball, soccer and basketball where there is a great deal of jumping, cutting, twisting, turning, stopping and starting, increases the risks. There are many reasons why; conditioning factors, environmental issues, neurological and biological conditions. Girls need to get stronger, learn how to move in their sport, learn how to jump and land and run more efficiently.

In 1972, only 294,500 females were playing high school sports compared to 2.6 million males. Thirty-some years later, the female and male participation are about equal in number on the high school level at about 2.6 million each.

Of course, with an increase in women’s participation, there has been an increase in women’s injuries. One injury that has gained the national attention of sports medicine providers, coaches, parents and athletes is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

The instability that results from ACL injury can result in significant knee impairment and disability. The associated sequela with this injury can include meniscal damage, chondral surface damage and eventual osteoarthritic conditions. The economic result of ACL injury can be staggering. It is estimated in 1995 that the cost of ACL surgical reconstruction and rehabilitation is $17,000 per injury. It is estimated that these injuries can result in a staggering annual cost today of two-billion dollars.

An estimated 10,000 ACL injuries occur annually in women’s intercollegiate athletics

and another 25,000 occur at the high school level. Study after study has indicated that women suffer ACL injury at anywhere from 2.5 to eight times more frequently than their male counterparts, a truly amazing disparity. Most female ACL injuries are noncontact in nature. They usually occur in activities requiring rapid cutting, pivoting, and decelerating maneuvers. The risk factors are divided into four categories, anatomical, environmental, hormonal and biomechanical variables.

Part III: Diet and Exercise Since the beginning of mankind, the idea of diet and exercise has always been in place.

From the time when the ancient Greeks and Romans started the Olympic Games, the athletes had their own special regimen for great performance revealing the importance of combining proper nutrition and exercise.

Scientists are continually interested in learning more about this abiding subject.

Sports nutrition is the study and practice of nutrition and diet as it relates to athletic performance. Sports nutrition is a science that produces or provides and maintains the food (or dietary ergogenic aids) necessary for health, growth and physical performance. It deals with nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, supplements and organic substances such as carbohydrates, proteins and sugars in serious athletes of all sorts who want to make use of nutrition for their benefit.

An athlete’s dietary regimen plays a vital part in accomplishing his/her goals because it allows the athlete to reach his/her maximum performance. An athlete should apply the necessary nutrition in order to benefit from training and to maximize his/her capability during exercise and activity. Thus, every sport and type of physical activity varies in its appropriate diet which benefits the athlete. Sports nutrition also consists of many different concerns such as the amount of certain foods and fluids one should consume that are specific to training. Without proper nutrition, the full potential of the athlete will not be realized because performance will not be at its peak, training levels may not be sustained, recovery from injury

20 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

will be slower, and the athlete may become more susceptible to injury and infection.

Understanding sports nutrition leads to optimal athletic performance and lifetime health benefits and can be evaluated by the intake of certain nutrients and supplements when exercising. Sports nutrition has many goals to enhance performance. First, it improves performance by improving body composition, which increases speed, quickness, mobility, and strength. Second, it will help the speed of recovery, which in turn create more capacity for practicing and competition as the body is becoming more fit and adjusted to the coupling of the good nutrition incorporated into the workout regimen.

Third, it will allow one to increase energy for both practice and competition, which will definitely help one’s performance.

Strategic sports nutrition will also increase immunity, allowing one to stay healthy and be able to continue and intensify practice and training. Most importantly, it will improve your overall health as proper health is essential to all aspects of life.

A proper balanced nutritional program must have the proper percentage of the three important macro nutrients, protein, carbohydrates and fat in every meal and snacks. A balanced sports nutrition program will be responsible for 75 % of your success. Missing meals will store fat and slow down your metabolism. This will greatly affect your performance and recovery while raising your percentage of risk for injury. You will never reach your peak performance with poor nutrition and lack of important vitamins and minerals and hydration. An example I always use is if you were a corvette with a high competition horse power engine what fuel would you put in the tank at the gas station? Regular or high octane? Answer would be high octane! If you put regular fuel it will still run but it will run poorly and not even come close to performing at its optimal horse power. The same holds true for your body. You need to fuel with proper nutrition. It’s your choice if you want to be an average player or be the best you can be by combining proper sports related training and nutrition.

PLAYER PROFILE JASON KNAPP

EDUCATION STILL TOP PRIORITY FOR INDIANS TOP PROSPECT

Jason Knapp was taken in the second round, 71st overall, by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2008 Draft, right after he graduated North Hunterdon High School. An alumnus of the Jack Cust Baseball Academy and the Diamond Jacks, Knapp is currently taking classes at Glendale Community College in Arizona before continuing his pursuit to get to the major leagues.

The 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher hit a small speed bump in his path, as he underwent arthroscopic surgery in mid-September, just weeks after being traded to the Cleveland Indians organization from Philadelphia.

He had planned on beginning his academic journey this off season anyway. But shoulder surgery created a situation where he can actually take classes for two semesters before reporting to spring training next year.

An MRI detected bone ships in his throwing shoulder and rehabbing will take him deep into the winter before he can even think about throwing again. So instead of throwing away much of his time after rehabbing at Cleveland’s spring training facility in Glendale, he’s beginning to work toward a degree in either business or marketing.

His professional baseball career began in the Gulf Coast League, and this past season he played Class A ball in the South Atlantic League. He started the year with Philadelphia’s Lakewood BlueClaws and after the trade -which sent 2008 Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee to Philly -- Knapp finished with the Lake County Captains in Ohio.

Combined, Knapp finished 2-7 with a 4.18 ERA in 21 starts, struck out 123 and walked 47 in 97 innings. Only three games into the year, he had an impressive outing for Lakewood, striking out 14 while going seven innings.

Soreness began to surface later in the season, however, and the diagnosis was tendonitis. Eventually shut down, he was actually on the disabled list when the trade was made.

“Obviously it doesn’t make me happy,” Knapp said about the interruption of his career. “But stuff like that happens.

Things were great up until then. You don’t expect to have surgery and sit out, but it didn’t surprise me too much because I’m a hard-throwing pitcher. Other than that, I think

this is a minor hiccup and my career will pick back up on the same track it was. Hopefully I’ll come back stronger than I started.”

Until he’s back on the mound, he’ll be carrying books across campus.

“I took an online class last year, but I was not a fan of it,” the 19-year-old said. “I really wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to take classes in person. I spoke to the team and they set things up for me.”

In negotiations with the Phillies, his contract included a generous package to complete his college degree. “I grew up in a house where education was always important,” Knapp said. “It’s just how I was raised -- the same as my sisters (Tara, 17, and Heather, 9).” Knapp passed up a scholarship to the University of North Carolina last year, but he wasn’t choosing professional baseball over a college education. He was choosing pro ball over college ball.

“It was a tough decision,” he said about passing up the college experience at UNC. “But again, I wasn’t skipping college. I just made the decision to skip college baseball.”

His parents, Jeff and Susan Knapp, had no doubts he would eventually get around to pursuing a college degree.

“I do believe, and my wife as well, that education is an important ,” Mr, Knapp said. “We did try and reinforce the importance of focusing and doing the best he can no matter what he was pursuing, academically as well as athletically. I think he may not be giving himself enough credit in regards to his own motivation and commitment.

“He’s always been very capable and now as he’s maturing. I think he understands the benefits and value associated with an education. We’re very proud of him, with his level of commitment to baseball and academics.”

So where does Knapp see himself after all of this in five years?

“I hope to be in the big leagues, pitching in a rotation and helping the Indians win a pennant,” he said.

Don’t be surprised if he also has the diploma.

22 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

JACK CUST OF THE OAKLAND A’s BEGINS A 4 PART SERIES ON THE ART OF HITTING

g n i t t i H ... JACK with CUST First of a Four-Part Series

By Jack Cust, Oakland A’s Part I: Mechanics Part II: Approach (Mental) Part III: Hitting for Power to All Fields Part IV: Dealing with Pitchers Hitting is a process that takes many years to perfect. You should approach learning how to hit with patience, determination, and an understanding that failure provides opportunities to learn from your mistakes. When I was young, my father devised a plan for me that I still use to this day. In fact, it is used at our academy and has been the foundation for success for many of our students.

There are many different styles of hitters. Some hit for power, some hit for average, and exceptional complete hitters like Albert Pujols hit for both. Additionally, the circumstances of hitting can impact your approach: hitting with two strikes versus hitting with less than two strikes and situational hitting such as hitting a ball to the right side to advance a runner or hitting a fly ball with a man on third to possibly score on a sacrifice fly. Situational hitting should be learned after you develop a solid foundation.

We will now discuss developing your foundation. Please bear in mind that because of the limitation on the length of these articles, I can’t go into as much detail as I would like. These writings are simply an overview that you can

use under the advice and direction of an experienced hitting instructor.

To be a successful hitter, you must understand that there are three parts of hitting that must be worked on to enable a player to play and successfully compete in high school and beyond.

The three areas of hitting that must be mastered to be able to succeed at the highest level are as follows: 1) Physical side of hitting (mechanics) 2) Approach to hitting (mental) 3) Dealing with the pitcher A fourth area is hitting for power to all fields. Players that achieve this type of ability are very valuable to their team. This will be covered in more depth in a subsequent article.

For now, in this first of four parts, we will deal with mechanics, or the physical side of hitting. When we teach mechanics, we try to make it simple. With young players, we emphasize that it is important to understand the proper movements of their body. I should point out here that the mechanics we stress are designed to ultimately provide the player with the foundation to hit for power to all fields. We believe this is critical because offense is so important in the game. With the advent of the aluminum bat, there is no reason why every player with a little strength training and good eye/hand coordination should not be able to drive a ball to any part of the field with power.

24 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

Mechanics have been taught many different ways by thousands of hitting coaches. Good, knowledgeable hitting coaches say many of the same things. However, how they present or explain a technique can often confuse a young hitter trying to learn. For example, some coaches like to emphasize the hips or the hands. Our approach deals with how your entire body should work to allow you to see the ball, hit the ball hard and achieve consistent quality at bats.

We teach the mechanics of hitting by breaking it into three parts: the lower body, upper body and swing. Being able to execute the following is essential to becoming a good hitter.

Lower Body Balance -- Having great balance is a requirement of all good athletes. In hitting a baseball, maintaining your balance throughout your swing is imperative to achieving good results.

Think of an imaginary pole running through the center of your body that you never want to tilt throughout your swing.

In order to keep the pole straight, you need

great balance. The easiest way to accomplish this is to start with your feet being shoulder width apart with your knees slightly bent. You should also have the weight on the balls of your feet and you should bend at the waist in a comfortable athletic position.

Rhythm -- Creating rhythm and movement in your stance is important and will help you reduce tension, help to make a proper weight shift and keep you balanced on the balls of your feet. It is important that your head remain still, even though your body and hands might be moving. Everyone has a different rhythm and movement and the easiest way to figure out what works for you is to experiment by imitating some of your favorite major league players.

Weight Shift -- As the pitcher starts to throw the ball and extends his arm back, you need to slightly shift your weight to your back foot.

Think: “I go back when the pitcher reaches back.�

Stride and Loading Action -- Your stride should be four to eight inches, depending on your height and how wide of a stance you start with.

Your stride should start as the pitcher releases the ball and you should land on the ball of your front foot with your front toe closed. As you stride, you should “load your hands.” This is very important: Loading your hands means to pull your hands back slightly at the same time as you stride. You should now be in the launching position for a split second (hands cocked and back, with your top hand closer to the pitcher, creating a 45° bat angle at the precise moment your foot lands).

Pivot -- Your back foot pivots as you start your swing. This is commonly referred to as squashing the grape or bug.

Upper Body Hands -- The bat should be held in the fingers more than the palms of your hand in an area that is 4-6 inches off your back shoulder at a 45° angle. Grip should be relaxed and comfortable.

Elbows -- The back elbow can be either up or down and will depend on your strength and where you are most comfortable. The font elbow must be down and relaxed, which will help you achieve a short, quick swing.

Shoulders -- Front shoulder should be slightly lower than back shoulder.

Head -- Look at the pitcher with a full face, with two eyes on the pitcher and never tilt your head. Head should start on front shoulder and stays down on swing and finishes on back shoulder (simply replace shoulders).

Think about keeping your nose pointed at the ball until contact is made. This will help you from pulling off the ball.

Swing Hands -- Hands lead swing keeping barrel of the bat above the ball until contact. Swing should be short to the ball. Hands are palm up and palm down at contact which allows you to create backspin and carry on the ball.

Contact Points -- Your point of contact will depend on the location of the pitch. In order to be able to drive each type of pitch with backspin, you should strive to make contact at the following points:

Inside pitch -- in front of plate Middle Pitch -- center of plate Outside pitch -- off your back knee After contact, continue your swing and make sure the barrel of the bat is extended right at the pitcher before you finish your swing. This is known as extension and is important so you don’t cut off your swing. After you have extended your bat, you should follow through and complete your swing with a high finish. If you’re an advanced hitter, try releasing your top hand for better extension and balance.

Remember to maintain your head in a good balance position. Your body will follow your head, so if you move your head, your body will get out of balance and cause various problems.

I’m sure reading this article can be confusing to some of you and sounds like a lot to absorb. Actually, it’s not. I have to credit my dad for coming up with a simple chart for hitting that we call “one page hitting.”

The following template was devised after studying hundreds of hitters and reading and watching most of the video tapes and books available on hitting. Breakdown the areas, work on the lower body first, then the upper body, and finally the swing. If you can successfully execute everything on this chart, you are on your way to developing a solid foundation for hitting!

Next month we will cover the mental side of hitting.

Practice, practice, practice!!!

26 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

5

Pivot on the back foot - Squash the Grape!!

Think nose on the ball at contact!

4

Head - Look at the pitcher with a full face, with two eyes on the pitcher and never tilt your head. Head should start on front shoulder with 2 eyes on the pitcher. Head stays down on swing and finishes on back shoulder (simply replace shoulders).

4

Stride with the front toe closed and land on the ball of the front foot – stride at pitcher, hands should move to trigger or launching position as you stride.

(Loading Action).

IMPORTANT - You now should be in the launching position for a split second (hands cocked and back, top hand should be closer to the pitcher then the bottom hand at the precise moment the front foot lands).

4

3

Shoulders – Front should be slightly lower than the back shoulder.

3

Weight Shift – Shift weight back to go forward.

3

2

Elbows – The back elbow can be either up or down and will depend on your strength and where you are most comfortable. The front elbow must be down and relaxed, which will help you achieve a short, quick swing.

2

1

Hands – Bat should be held in the fingers more than the palms of your hand in an area that is 4-6 inches off your back shoulder at a 45 degree angle. Grip should be relaxed and comfortable.

UPPER BODY

1

Rhythm – Maintain a comfortable body movement to allow good weight shift and trigger mechanism.

IMPORTANT – Don’t tilt the pole!

Balance – feet should be shoulder width apart with the knees slightly bent. Weight should be on the balls of the feet with the knees slightly inside the ankles.

2

1

LOWER BODY

TM

Maintain your head in a good balance position. Your body will follow your head.

If you move your head, your body will get out of balance.

Swing path – The path of your actual swing should be level to a slight C with a high finish.

After contact, continue your swing and make sure the barrel of the bat is extended right at the pitcher before you finish your swing. Advance hitters try releasing top hand for better extension, balance and follow through.

Contact Points: •Inside Pitch – In front of plate •Middle Pitch – Center of plate •Outside Pitch – Off your back knee

Hands are palm up and palm down at contact which allows you to create backspin and carry on the ball.

Hands lead swing keeping barrel of the bat above the ball until contact. Swing should be short to the ball.

SWING

T h e Ja ck C u s t H i t t in g C h e ck l is t

CATCHING

THE ATLANTIC LEAGUES’ BOBBY THOMPSON

TRAVIS ANDERSON

At most baseball training and instructional facilities, you hear and read mostly about hitting and pitching.

Throw in some lessons on how to turn a double play and how to get ready to throw a runner out who is tagging up from third, and that’s the outline on what’s taught. But in addition to all of those things, Diamond Nation will now feature a catchers program.

Enter Travis Anderson.

Anderson, a 25th round pick in the 2001 Draft by the Atlanta Braves, played nine seasons of professional baseball. After spending his first two years with the Braves, he played seven years in the Independent League; three seasons with the Camden Riversharks and four seasons with the Somerset Patriots. After the 2009 season ended last month, Anderson decided that it was time to retire.

“The goal is to get signed and to get out [of the Independent League],” Anderson said. “For me, I’m just going to step away. I have a wife and we have a baby on the way and I want to have a little more time for them.

Now, I just want to help kids get better.”

Anderson knows a thing or two about getting better. His first season with the Patriots, in 2006, Anderson struggled. He batted .248, his lowest since his first year in pro ball in 2001, and slugged just .333. He also struck out 53 times, the most in his career. Anderson worked extremely hard in the offseason and the results showed the following year.

In 2007, Anderson improved in every statistical category. He batted .295, slugged .474 and hit 10 home runs, more than tripling his home run total from the year (3). While Anderson’s numbers improved, so did the

Patriots, as they won the South Division Championship en route to being defeated in the Atlantic League Championship series.

The following year, the Patriots won the Freedom Division Championship and faced Anderson’s former club, the Riversharks, in the Atlantic League Championship. Anderson struggled with injuries in 2008 and had just three homers the whole year entering the best-of-five championship series. But he saved his best for last. With the Patriots up 2-1 in the series, Anderson hit a walk-off home run to break a 2-2 tie and give the Patriots its fourth Atlantic League Championship. It was the first time in the history of the Atlantic League that the championship series ended in that fashion (remember Bobby Thompson?).

“The home run, that’s a dream come true,” Anderson said. “That’s what you dream about as a little kid and when it actually happened, that was a total shock. It was a really hard year for me and to end it like that, that’s the way you dream about it.”

Anderson’s timely bat carried over into 2009, as he had the best offensive season of his career. He batted .306 with eight home runs and 58 RBIs. And as Anderson continued to put up big numbers, the Patriots again found themselves Freedom Division Champions again and back in the Atlantic League Championship series. No last-minute heroics were needed this time as the Patriots won back-to-back Atlantic League titles.

In just four seasons with the Patriots,

28 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

Anderson had three division titles and two league titles. It’s an impressive feat for a guy who could have given up after being released by the Braves after the 2002 season, which Anderson’s calls the low point of his career. That relentlessness is one of many messages he will pass along to young athletes as he begins his coaching venture at Diamond Nation. Anderson’s focus won’t be on players at the plate, but behind it.

“I want to spread the word of catching and help kids get better at it,” he said. “To do that, you have to show them and you have to teach other coaches what’s going on. Most coaches just throw the big kid behind the plate and that bothers me. Catching is a position that is changing and we have to open the doors and invite them in because it’s not always a position kids want to play.”

Anderson went through a lot over the course of his career. But whether positive or negative, it’s

all of those experiences that have helped him shape who he is today as a person and a player. And he is hoping that in the future, when catchers start to make the same journey he did, they see how Anderson and Diamond Nation helped shape them.

TRAVIS ANDERSON TO TEACH AT DIAMOND NATION INDOOR FACILITY

CATCHING SCHOOL:

CATCH LIKE THE PROS Travis Anderson will give you an introduction to catching in a four-part series, special to Diamond Nation Magazine. In Part 1 Anderson reviews the beginning steps to becoming a great catcher.

Part 1: THE SET UP This is where a lot of people get messed up. The set up is all about the feet. It’s like building a house; you have to start from the ground up and have a strong foundation. Most kids hear: “Just get down on the balls of your feet.” But that is not what we want.

My goal for you is to get into a comfortable position. If you’re not comfortable, you can’t succeed as a catcher. What we want is your feet to be in the area about as wide as your shoulders. And what you do is take your feet, point them straight ahead and then duck them out a little bit.

What that will do is give you some range, moving to your left and to your right. You have to be comfortable when you are down there and you have to be able to move. You don’t want to be locked into one spot. Our foundation is our feet.

Next are your knees. You want your knees wide. Pitchers are instructed to throw to our glove so what you want to do is get those knees wide and give the pitcher a big backdrop behind your glove. Your glove should be about as high as your knees. You want to make sure to keep that glove open and between the knees because I see a lot of kids keeping the glove too high. The pitchers are throwing to the glove, which is exactly where you want them to throw it, for strikes.

Now that you are all set up and ready for the pitcher to deliver, we will discuss in Part 2 about receiving and blocking the ball. These are both not only key elements to being a catcher, but blocking will help you get over the fear of the ball. We will talk about the cure for that as well as some of the same drills professional catchers use in the big leagues that you can also do.

REMEMBER: Always play catch with your catcher’s glove. I see a lot of catchers playing catch with their normal glove, but you aren’t using the normal glove behind the plate. You want to get used to that catcher’s glove and use it as much as you can.

Travis Anderson will be teaching clinics at the Diamond Nation indoor facility along with Princeton head coach Scott Bradley.

Email info@diamondnation.com to sign up today!

The Catching School will take place on:

Thursday,

12/3,

7:30pm-9:30pm

Sunday,

12/6,

2:30pm-4:00pm

Thursday,

12/10, 7:30pm-9:30pm

Sunday,

12/13, 2:30pm-4:00pm

Thursday,

12/17, 7:30pm-9:30pm

Sunday,

12/20, 2:30pm-4:00pm

Sunday,

12/27, 2:30pm-4:00pm

Thursday,

12/31, 9:00am-10:30am

30 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

THE PATRIOTS BECAME THE FIRST-EVER BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS IN ATLANTIC LEAGUE HISTORY.

PATRIOTS WIN #5

Patriots Win Fifth Championship The Somerset Patriots won their record fifth Atlantic League Championship this season by defeating the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 3-1 in the Championship Series.

Following a record breaking regular season that saw the team win 86 games, the Patriots were the favorites to take the title once again. In doing so, the Patriots became the first-ever Back-To-Back Champions in league history.

Somerset clinched a playoff berth by winning the Freedom Division First Half Championship in early July. Despite already earning the playoff spot, the Patriots continued to dominate the league and finished the second half in first place again.

Since the Patriots won both halves, a Wild Card team was selected to round out the four playoff teams needed for the post-season schedule. The Patriots would take on the Newark Bears in the Freedom Division Championship Series. Somerset was 12-8 over the Bears during the regular season and hosted the first two games of the Division Series at TD Bank Ballpark.

Patriots ace Jim Magrane took the mound

in Game 1 and was true to form, shutting down the Bears for seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball to lead Somerset to a 2-0 victory. The Patriots broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the eighth inning on a suicide squeeze by shortstop Anthony Granato that scored left fielder Elliott Ayala, who walked earlier in the inning.

Somerset’s pitching once again overpowered Newark in Game 2, shutting out the Bears 5-0 behind another gem by starter Joel Kirsten, who allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings. The Patriots offense was led by second baseman Matt Hagen, who went 3 for 4 with two runs scored, two doubles, two stolen bases, and three RBI. The series then shifted to Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium, where Newark fought back from a nine run deficit to overcome the Patriots 13-12 in Game 3.

The Bears scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure the win.

Hagen continued being an offensive force in the series, slugging a three-run home run in the first inning to kick off the scoring.

Despite the heart-breaking loss in Game 3, the Patriots regained their composure

32 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

classic for the Patriots. Trailing 4-0 after the first inning of Game 3, the Patriots chipped away at the lead with a solo home run by Anderson and later a game-tying three-run home run by Nettles. Patriots reliever Josh Miller worked 5.1 innings and allowed just one run on eight hits to put Somerset back on track and earned the win in the Patriots 8-6 victory.

with lefty star Brian Adams on the mound in Game 4. Center fielder Sean Smith led off the game with a solo home run and the Patriots never looked back.

Adams picked up the win in the deciding game, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out seven and walking one in seven innings of work. With the win, the Patriots advanced to the Atlantic League Championship Series against the Blue Crabs.

The Patriots weren’t given much of a chance in Game 4 with Blue Crabs ace John Halama on the mound. However, it was Patriots starter Jason Standridge who proved to be the star in Somerset’s 111 victory over the Blue Crabs to clinch the title.

Standridge picked up the complete game win, allowing one run on five hits while striking out seven and walking six. Nettles hit his third home run of the series during the blowout and Mike Rodriguez and Noah Hall each drove in two runs.

The Championship Series once again began at TD Bank Ballpark and it didn’t take long for the Patriots offense to get rolling, scoring five runs in the bottom of the second inning of Game 1. Catcher Jason Belcher and first baseman Travis Anderson had clutch hits in the inning and Magrane got the win after allowing two earned runs on five hits and seven strikeouts in seven innings pitched.

The Blue Crabs evened up the series with a 10-4 win in Game 2. Third baseman Jeff Nettles crushed a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to close the gap to 5-3, but Southern Maryland continued to power past the Patriots in the game.

The final three games, if necessary, moved to Southern Maryland and began with another post-season

MVP JEFF NETTLES

Nettles won the Championship Series MVP, hitting .281 with nine runs scored, three home runs, and seven RBI in the post-season. It is the second time in his six-year Patriots career that he has received the honor. It was also Nettles' third Atlantic League Championship with Somerset.

IVY LEAGUE PIPELINE TO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

By D.P. Benjamin

SCOTT BRADLEY Princeton University is consistently one of the top colleges in the Nation. From 2001-08, it was ranked first by U.S. News & World Report. After a year at second place in 2009, Princeton returned to the No. 1 spot in 2010, sharing that honor with Harvard University.

But Princeton isn’t just front page news in US News, TIME and Forbes. The University is making a name for itself on the baseball field as well.

The transformation from books to bats is thanks to head baseball coach Scott Bradley. While the Princeton baseball team has seen 39 of its players taken in the MLB draft since it began in 1965, 16 of those have come since Bradley took over in 1998. And of the Tigers’ 10 players taken in the top 10 rounds of the Draft, six have come under Bradley’s tutelage. Of those six, three are now playing in the big leagues: Chris Young and Will Venable are with the Padres while Ross Ohlendorf is with the Pirates.

Princeton also currently has seven players at the Minor League level, four of whom were taken in the 2009 draft. Tim Lahey (Triple-A, Twins), Christian Staehely (Class A, Mariners) and Erik Stiller (Double-A, Indians) all have at least a year under their belts while Dan DeGeorge (Class A, Indians), Brad Gemberling (Class A, D-Backs), David Hale (Rookie ball, Braves) and Jack Murphy (Rookie Ball Blue Jays) are all getting started.

No matter what level they are currently playing at, the ball players still have one thing in common: Scott Bradley was their college coach.

Bradley’s career record with the Tigers is 263-2581 and has registered at least 10 Ivy League wins in

every season. Prior to Bradley taking over, Princeton had a total of three Ivy League titles which game in a 10-year span. Then Bradley stepped in and led Princeton to five Ivy League titles and five NCAA Tournament appearances in six years. The baseball program makeover was complete.

Bradley played college baseball at the University of North Carolina, graduating in 1982, and was named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Team in 2004. Bradley was drafted as a catcher in the third round, 64th overall, of the 1981 Draft by the New York Yankees (The round before, the Yankees selected John Elway with the 52nd overall pick). Bradley spent nine years in the big leagues, also playing with the Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds. On June 2, 1990, while playing for the Mariners, Bradley caught Randy Johnson’s first nohitter. Bradley played 604 games in the big leagues, hitting .257 with 18 home runs and 184 RBIs in 1,648 at-bats.

Bradley then served as a Minor League coach in the Atlanta Braves and Colorado Rockies organization. He then was the assistant coach at Rutgers University before taking on the head coaching position at Princeton.

Bradley’s Tigers fell just short of the Ivy League Championship series this season, losing to Cornell in the Gehrig Division Playoff Game.

But Princeton will compete for the Ivy League Championship every year. Something that couldn’t be said when Bradley took over 13 years ago and the Tigers were known more for their work in the classroom than on the diamond.

34 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM 35

DIAMOND NATION, FLEMINGTON, NJ

WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

PETERSON’S PITCHING PERSPECTIVES: PREVENTING INJURIES IN YOUNG PITCHERS

PROBLEMS WITH YOUTH ARMS

By Rick Peterson and Gary Armida

Rick Peterson is a major league pitching coach formerly with the A's and Mets and now with the Mil. Brewers.

With an increasing number of leagues around the country, the amateur-level pitcher is asked to pitch much more than a pitcher who grew up 20 years ago. This increased use, while providing young players with increased opportunities to hone their skills, has led to increased risks of major injuries.

and win games, proper development and training of a pitcher is more important.

Over time, if the kid is not managed properly, he will have an arm injury. The statistics prove that. Parents must be realistic if they really want to take care of these precious arms. While winning amateur level championships is exciting, those trophies do not compare to the health of an aspiring pitcher.

This overuse eventually leads to fatigue. And fatigue is one of main reasons for the rise of pitching related injuries. Fatigue hurts coordination. Think of a runner; once the runner is fatigued, he loses his stride. It’s the same with pitching. When a pitcher is fatigued, his delivery begins to deteriorate. His front leg begins to collapse; his arm is late, meaning that when the foot hits the ground, the arm is not in the proper position. Then there are issues with accelerating properly through the delivery. Finally, RICK PETERSON WITH young pitchers will have problems PEDRO MARTINEZ with the deceleration phase. The deceleration phase is the all-important follow through. For a person without extenOveruse and Fatigue sive training, the easiest indicator for fatigue is the lack of a follow through. If you see a pitcher When a pitcher throws with increased velocity who is suddenly throwing everything high in the without proper conditioning and training, he is zone, it means that the pitcher is fatigued. put at an even greater risk for injury. The hard throwing youth pitcher is often asked to throw Distance and Velocity more games, pitch more innings and is used during more stressful situations in order for a team Dr. Michael Axe conducted a study regarding to win more often. The focus at the amateur distance and velocity. Dr. Axe conducted relevel, especially in Little League and other youth search using pitchers, ages 8-14, from all leagues, needs to shift from winning to helping around the world. This international research kids develop appropriately and safely. It’s very found that distance and velocity are directly important that parents and youth coaches underlinked. This means that youth pitchers who threw stand that while it’s exciting to be competitive

The concept of overuse is difficult to measure as every young pitcher is different. Some young pitchers may mature more quickly than others. But, in general, youth pitchers are widely overused. When one looks back 20 or 30 years ago, a child would simply play Little League Baseball. Now, many baseball players, especially the elite-level prospects, are playing baseball all-year round. The school of thought in this era of specialization is: the more repetition and experience you get, the better pitcher you will become.

38 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

the hardest also threw the farthest.

The implications of this study are great for the proper training of a youth pitcher. First, one should know that velocity equals power.

Power is the summation of speed and strength. If a pitcher is to throw with high velocity, he needs speed and strength. The speed comes from the arm motion and the proper delivery. The strength comes from proper conditioning. Without proper physical conditioning, injury is likely to occur.

The Importance of Long-Distance Throwing Long-distance throwing, or long toss, is a key ingredient to building a pitcher’s arm strength (or any other thrower). Part of my conditioning program is regular long-distance throwing. The best activity for building arm strength is long distance throwing. With Dr. Axe’s study that the hardest throwers throw the farthest in mind, long-distance throwing builds strength which therefore increases velocity. The value of increased strength,

obviously, is one measure of preventing injury.

Proper execution of long-distance throwing is throwing the ball on an arc, not on a straight line. Throwing on a straight line is a speed component. Take a look at other distance sports like the javelin. The javelin travels on an arc to go farther. In other words, long tossing on a straight line does not build up strength. It is building distance that increases strength. The proper execution of long distance throwing is when a player takes a crow hop and throws the ball as far as he can within his delivery, meaning a proper delivery with about 80 to 90 percent effort.

While the concept of long-distance throwing has been around for ages, it is far too underutilized.

A regular program must be in place to build arm strength. It is not an everyday exercise as it should be part of a cycle with other conditioning work.

Rick Peterson is the current Major League Pitching Coach for the Milwaukee Brewers.

In addition to his 30 years of professional experience, Peterson is the founder of 3P Sports, a company whose mission is to eliminate pitching injuries in young pitchers. For more information, visit the website, 3psports.com.

BACK TO SCHOOL, BUT WHAT A SUMMER!

Somerset

LITTLE LEAGUE When the 10 players of the Somerset Little League reported to Bernardsville Middle School on Thursday, Sept. 10, they remained in the spotlight. No TV cameras, of course, but teachers and classmates were still talking about the young celebrities who came within one win from competing in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. They had lost, 4-0, to South Shore National of Staten Island in the Mid-Atlantic Regional finals, completing a 21-2 season that at one time was a 20-game winning streak.

They had won districts, sectionals and the New Jersey state championship.

The day before school opened, they had shared delivery pizza in the school cafeteria with the principal and vice-principal.

And there they were on the first day of school, having all agreed to wear new, red Somerset Hills LL collared shirts.

through town on a fire truck and receiving a proclamation from the mayor.

Pavlini, an engaging kid who smiles easily, had brought a reading assignment -- a paperback of “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie -- in case he arrived early at the gathering. Iaione, with perhaps the entertaining sense of humor, more than once said under his breath that his friend was in a hurry because, “He has a date tonight.”

Pavlini just smiled and shook his head.

The four of them were playing fall baseball, an extension of a season that began in early spring. They were playing on the “big field’’ now, having graduated from Little League dimensions. Bowerbank and Tantleff were also playing flag football. Pavlini talked about playing ice hockey in the winter and Bowerbank would be playing basketball.

All the usual stuff kids their age do.

Still a team.

“A lot of kids were saying they saw us on TV,’’ said 13-year-old Eddie Pavlini, a second baseman/pitcher. “It was kind of weird. And my art teacher was going nuts, saying, ‘It’s so cool!’ There was still a buzz all through school.’’

Pavlini and 13-year-old Jonathan Iainoe, along with 12-year-olds J.P. Tantleff and Luke Bowerbank, sat down with their coach, Doug Oliver, at the Bernardsville Library in late September. The previous week, the team had been honored in Bernardsville, NJ, riding

However, there was nothing usual about this summer.

Tantleff had to miss out on a camping trip to Pennsylvania. Bowerbank and his family were supposed to be at the Outer Banks for 10 days, but son and dad wound up staying home due to the tournament. His mom didn’t want to cancel the trip, so she and the rest of the family headed off to North Carolina.

Iaione’s family was also supposed spend a week at the beach in the Outer Banks, but instead the vacation wound up being revised to just a few days in Baltimore. Oliver, too, had

40 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

to eat more than a week on a rental in South Jersey, but eventually was able to spend a few days.

In other words, no one really expected the unexpected.

“At the beginning of the year, we never thought we would get this far,’’ Iaione said.

“We knew what the odds were. We never thought we’d even get close.’’

“There was a lot of pressure in the districts,’’ said Oliver, a standout wrestler at Piscataway High School and then at Rutgers University. “We had been practicing almost every day since we selected the team on June 15th, so there was a great commitment from the kids. I think we all knew we had a talented group and had an opportunity to do some special things.’’

It would begin with a 15-3 victory over Bedminster in District 17 and include two victories over North Hunterdon National for the district title. At Section 1, two of Somerset’s wins would come by a combined 28-4, and would culminate with a 4-3 extra inning win in the finals against Tri-Town (Boonton/Mountain Lakes). In that game, as Tantleff recalled, “[Pavlini] bombed one over the fence to tie it.’’

Nancy Apriceno

And Bowerbank would double and score the winning run in extra innings.

“When you get to the states, at that point, you need to be talented and you need to be a little fortunate,’’ Oliver said.

In the states up in Garfield, the Somerset County entry needed both. It would get past North Wall, 4-3, and then would get solo home runs from Tantleff and Bowerbank and a three-run shot

by Connor Kirst, to defeat Haddonfield, 10-5, in the championship game.

In Bristol, Danny McDonnell hit a three-run home run to power the team past D.C. in the opener and Iaione would hit a three-run homer to carry them past Delaware. Kirst would provide another three-run homer to lift them past Pennsylvania.

But Somerset’s dream would end with two losses to South Shore National, including a 4-0 defeat in the final game.

“I felt after that [first] game, we could beat them,’’ Iaione said. “They were like a normal team. They had a lot of hitters, but they weren’t anything special. We were winning

Personal Jeweler

specializing in...

• Diamonds • Natural Colored Diamonds • Custom Design Work • Watches • Finest Quality Colored Stones • South Sea Pearls ... and much more!

nagoodasgold@aol.com

908.803.2635

Graduate Gemologist in residency from G.I.A. Registered Jeweler from G.I.A. Certified Gemologist appraiser from A.G.S.

FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM 41

the first game, 2-1, and then we gave up a two-run shot.’’

“I was really stiff and really nervous,’’ Iaione added. “We just didn’t hit.”

“We tried to be confident in the finals,’’ Pavlini said. “But we had a huge crowd rooting for us. People came up from home and they were cheering for us.’’

An estimated 500 people made the trip.

“The families are a very tight-knit group,” Oliver said. “They enjoyed socializing together and that was one of the key reasons we were so successful. The parents were willing to do as much as they could to see it through.”

The town had not won a Little League district title since 1981, when the team consisted of players from Bernardsville and Basking Ridge.

That team also won the state championship.

In the summer of 1981, Oliver was 22 and one year out of college.

For this team -- Alex Baratta, Carter Klein, Kyle Oliver and Kyle Verduin rounded out the roster -- the memories from the summer of 2009 will resonate long after they’re 22.

They will remember the game room in Bristol, with its air hockey, ping pong, music and the pool. They will remember their tour of the ESPN studios, where they sat behind the large desk in the studio and met on-air personality Mike Golic. They will remember Tantleff’s Nana being shown rooting in the stands so often on TV that she was actually being asked for autographs. They will remember playing baseball on live television, especially for the first time. They will remember having no cable TV for 10 whole days, clowning around and being unable to fall asleep from laughing so much in their bunk beds. They will remember Iaione not being pleased when coach took all

their cell phones away after a couple of days.

“I couldn’t text my girlfriend,’’ he lamented.

And of course they will remember their coach.

“He was really inspirational,” Pavlini said.

“He always believed in us and he gave us motivational speeches. When one of us would give up a home run, he’d come out [to the mound] and make jokes to try and keep us loose. Like, if it was a bomb, he’d say, ‘That ball was hit so far, it’s a two-movie flight.’’’

Mostly they will remember each other, playing the game they love and coming within a few key hits to reaching the national stage with teams from around the world.

“I had such a tough time watching the games from Williamsport,” Pavlini said.

“I just couldn’t watch. I was thinking, ‘I can’t believe I didn’t get there.’”

He’s watched replays of the wins, “about 500 times.”

“I’ve watched them about twice,” Bowerbank said.

“I haven’t watched them at all,’’ Iaione said.

The games, all of them, will be there forever, of course. And as time passes, the memories will become sweeter, the bonding more secure. State champs. National TV. After all, they were among the final 16 teams standing in the Little League Baseball Tournament. And according to Steve Barr, Media Relations Director of Little League International, there are roughly 6,500 U.S. teams who enter the tournament. In other words, these kids went further than 6,484 teams throughout the country.

“When we were in Bristol, I knew it was a huge accomplishment,’’ Pavlini said, holding his novel, looking at its cover. “But I think it’s still going to take some time to sink in.’’

42 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

conferences galas weddings Situated in Central New Jersey, the conference center at The Palace is the ideal venue for your corporate meeting.

Explore the timeless elegance of a wedding at The Palace, a 2009 Best of Weddings pick by “The Knot.”

Featured on David Tutera’s My FaiR Wedding

Featured on Platinum

Weddings

palacesomersetpark.com 877-palace4

333 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, NJ 08873

THE RALLYING CRY FOR WOOD BATS HAS RECENTLY GERMINATED FROM ALL FIELDS

WOOD METAL VS.

By Steve DiTrolio Currently Instructor and Coach for Diamond Nation.

Head baseball coach for Wardlaw-Hartridge Prep 2007-2009.

Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for Bloomfield College 2004-2006.

An ongoing debate with few resolutions There is no better sound in the world than walking through Diamond Nation and hearing the crack of a wood bat echo through the complex. It’s the sound of pure baseball; a crisp thwack that screams, “This is the way the game ought to be played.” Well, at least to some baseball puritans. There are others who don’t see the debate as being as simple as fair or foul.

Recently there has been a big push for the wood bat to return as the main weapon of choice in today’s game. There’s no question it’s the winning stick for the pros. But should its use be considered for all levels, and if so, will it make for a better game?

The rallying cry for wood bats has recently germinated from all fields - from parents and local Little League boards to high school athletic commissions and college athletic conferences. The sentiment is consistent: Supporters seek a return to the game’s roots.

Some leagues have already made the change. In 2006, the North Dakota High School Activities Association banned metal bats for baseball, primarily due to safety. The New York City Council also banned the use of metal bats for high school baseball in 2007.

These examples, however, remain the minority. Most youth leagues continue to say there is not enough data to warrant such a move.

I was fortunate enough to be born in an era when the metal bat evolved from basically a heavy piece of aluminum to a bat made of a metal alloy found on NASA’s space shuttles. The walls of the bat became so thin, they created a trampoline effect, sending helpless baseballs hurtling 400 feet from point of contact.

Since then, bat companies have been required to modify their specifications. The restrictions ranged from the type of metal used to the weight of the bat.

The bat companies have also been required to implement a BESR (Bat Exit Speed Ratio), which limits maximum velocity a ball can travel off the bat in relation to pitch speed. This speed could then be easily compared to the BESR of wood bats.

The catch here is that while specs remain the same for wood and metal bats, the metal bat can be swung at a faster rate. This is made possible by the weight and balance of a metal bat. It is easier to distribute the weight more evenly in a metal bat compared to wood, making it easier to swing the bat through the hitting zone with more velocity.

All that said, what makes for a better game? Myriad factors apply.

First is the quality of the game, especially offensive output. Plain and simple, the speed and power of metal bats generate more hits, more power, more runs. It is easier for players at the middle school and high school levels to produce offense with a metal bat. These younger sluggers are helped by the even balance of the metal bat, plus a generous sweet spot that affords more room for error and a greater chance of solid contact.

For kids who play and follow the sport from a young age, this increased offensive production makes the

44 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

game more enjoyable. Young players who struggle with hitting are likely to see more success with the metal bat. That sense of early accomplishment will lead to increased retention levels for a sport that is already losing young children to more fast-paced, up-tempo sports such as lacrosse and spring soccer.

But what about those pure qualities of the wood bat?

The craze of the wood bat has been growing each year, and Top Level Travel Teams have been the driving force. You cannot walk through a summer or fall baseball tournament these days without hearing the crack of the wood bat. It has become a staple in tournament baseball for a number of reasons.

First is speed of play. A game played with a wood bat will move swiftly, with fewer hits, fewer big innings. This ensures each game is played in the allotted amount of innings. Also, while metal bats can mask hitters’ flaws, a wood bat will weed out the average hitter. This is beneficial because most tournaments are not only attended by eager parents and fans, but also college recruiters and pro scouts. Their job: To hawk the fields looking for the next big player.

The wood bat makes for a pure game, each hit and run earned by the ability of a given team and player.

The wood bat’s smaller sweet spot requires more skill and better hand-eye coordination to make solid con-

tact. It teaches a hitter to play more fundamentally sound baseball while developing skills such as bunting, hitting behind runners, manufacturing runs, etc. In essence, wood becomes a great training tool to develop as a hitter.

The wood game also is less stress on the pitcher. In a day and age where pitchers’ arms are carefully guarded and pitch counts are as commonly quoted as batting averages, a pitcher in wood bat leagues can often expect to go deeper in games. Again, fewer hits, fewer runs, fewer big innings, lower ERA. These pitchers also enjoy more room for error. Hitters using wood bats have a tougher time producing hits from balls in and out of the strike zone compared to the pop that metal can supply, even on a badly hit ball.

So which produces the better game, wood or metal?

Where does the debate net out? It doesn’t, of course.

It rages on, and it remains in the eyes of the beholder -- or perhaps, in this case, the bat holder. Do you prefer instant offense, more punch and more confidence for young hitters? Or do you sit with the old-school baseball junkies who love a 1-0 pitchers duel.

My take? Swing away -- you can’t go wrong either way.

SPORTS MEDICINE

OFF-SEASON IS KEY TO PITCHERS’ SUCCESS

By John P. Kripsak, DO Your success on the pitching mound next spring could depend on how you spend your off-season. The winter months are an important time for pitchers to work on building their strength and improving their techniques to be in top form for baseball’s opening day.

First, it is important to give your arm a rest. Take at least two months off from pitching and any other sport requiring overhead arm movement, such as swimming and volleyball.

Resting the arm is especially important for children under age 16 who are still growing. Overuse of the arm muscles can put youngsters at risk for developing Little League elbow or Little League shoulder -- injuries that can ruin budding baseball careers.

Use this time to build up your core strength in your abdomen and back and improve your leg strength. Your effectiveness as a pitcher is not due solely to the power generated by your arm as you throw the ball, but it is actually generated by the power in your hips and torso. In fact, Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, who played a major league record 27 seasons and recorded the most career strikeouts in baseball history, credited his dominance and longevity to the strength in his legs, not his arm.

To improve your core and leg strength, try incorporating band exercises, physio-ball training and weightlifting to your regular workout routine. Consider working with a personal trainer who can help you develop an exercise plan to target key muscles.

Focus on enhancing your technique over the next few months. Pay attention to not only how you throw the ball, but to your hips, back and abdomen. A Functional Movement Screen evaluation may be helpful in identifying problems with your technique, including hip rotation and follow-through, so that you can fix any issues before the season starts.

If you invest the time now in the offseason, you’ll give yourself a big competitive advantage on the field next year.

Dr. Krispak is board-certified in family medicine and in sports medicine. He is the Medical Director of Somerset Medical Center’s Sports Performance and Rehabilitation Center located at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater. The center offers individual and group training sessions for athletes in all sports, functional movement screenings, specialized wellness programs, rehabilitation services and massage therapy. The medical center is the official health care provider of the Somerset Patriots, providing training and sports medicine services to the team.

For more information about Somerset Medical Center’s Sports Performance and Rehabilitation Center, call 908-203-5972. For personalized exercise and nutritional plans to help you meet your fitness goals, visit the center’s interactive Web site at www.somersetsportsperformance.com.

46 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

ATHLETIC RECRUITING VIDEOS IS ALL WE KNOW, AND WE KNOW IT ALL! Specializing in Baseball & Softball Videos

908.237.1522 john.johnson@combinesports.com

ADVERTISING INDEX 2.

3.

7.

9.

13.

15.

17.

21.

23.

25.

29.

31.

33.

35.

39.

41.

43.

45.

47.

47.

49.

51.

55.

56.

65.

67.

70.

71.

72.

page

Somerset Patriots Flemington Car and Truck Cortes & Hay Alfonso’s A Turf Flemington Furs Lake Charles Team Capital bank Crown Trophy JG Petrucci Massage Envy Anaconda Sports Golden opportunities Interior Motives 3P Nancy Apriceno The Palace Dilts Wilmington Trust Combine Sports Mariott Williams Harley-Davidson Construction Buffalo Wild Wings Alco Bourbon Street Cust, Dori & Benick HealthQuest Diamond Nation Convention Ad

It’s always been about partnership.

In business, as in life, some things never change.

For more than 100 years, the Wilmington Trust corporate family has been privileged to work with, and support, individuals and organizations committed to creating opportunities for businesses, large and small, in our communities.

In our second century of serving clients, our commitment to sustaining the health of the business community remains steadfast.

Gene McCarthy—609.395.9132 © 2009 Wilmington Trust FSB.

PLAYER PROFILE EVAN DeLUCA

YANKEE DRAFT PICK LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

to being part of the Yankee organization and all the possibilities that lay ahead for me”.

He had met pitcher Ian Kennedy and catcher Francisco Cervelli, both whom spent time with the Yankees this season, on a previous trip to Tampa. For DeLuca, mature beyond his 18 years, meeting those guys reinforced his ability to handle being around the New York Yankees.

The night before Evan DeLuca was to report to the instructional league in Tampa, he was still processing being a New York Yankee.

He was still thinking what it would be like to meet his favorite player, Robinson Cano.

He was dreaming about what it would be like to ask Mariano Rivera for advice on his cutter.

Fantasy continued to collide with reality on that late September evening for the lefthanded pitcher from Readington Township, NJ, who just a few months earlier had graduated from Immaculata High School. While he was unsure of what his future would bring him, he was sure of one thing: he was a professional baseball player. And that was the oar that continued to steady his boat of uncertainty.

“It’s pretty uplifting, to say the least,” said DeLuca, who was drafted in the 44th round of the 2009 Draft. “They’ve always been the team I wanted to play for. I look forward

“You just have to get into the mind set that you’re not a little kid anymore,” DeLuca said.

“You have to be a professional around these guys and they’re going to give you that same courtesy and not treat you like a kid.”

DeLuca first played organized baseball when he was five years old, taking part in a T-ball program in Whitehouse Station. He spent his first two years of high school at Hunterdon Central before transferring to the parochial school in Somerville. Throughout his high school years he also played for the Diamond Jacks at the Jack Cust Baseball Academy and the New Jersey Super 17.

While working on developing a cutter, DeLuca features a curve ball, changeup and a fastball that topped out at 97 while playing out in Washington in the West Coast League, an independent summer baseball league. DeLuca didn’t sign until after playing in the WCL, actually coming to terms with the organization just a few minutes before a midnight deadline in late August.

“That was my biggest high ever,” he said.

48 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

“I couldn’t be happier, that’s for sure.”

Following his five weeks in Tampa, the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder reported to an instructional league in the Dominican Republic. After two weeks there, he will likely be put on an off-season program before reporting to spring training.

His opportunity as a pro is the result of a passion and commitment to the game, an approach he willingly shares with young players aspiring to his accomplishments.

“The one thing you can never do is become complacent with the work ethic,” he said.

“Never settle with what you are now. You can always get better and you can always learn more. The biggest thing is to always keep wanting, because if you have the desire and the ability, things are going to work out the way you want.”

DeLuca believes that every played should strive to take that extra ground ball and that extra swing. And he believes that what has

truly helped him get to where he is today is giving more than 100 percent effort. He knows that there’s somebody out there who is better than him and someone who is going to work just as hard, so DeLuca has to work even harder.

“That’s one thing I’ve learned, and that’s one thing I try and think about every day,” he said. “Somebody out there has just as much talent and somebody out there is right behind you.’’

For now, those guys are ahead of him. And they’re all New York Yankees. And DeLuca will hope to take advantage of that.

“I would be doing myself a disservice by not asking questions,” he said. “I’m going to be around those big names and it would be stupid not to.”

But no matter whom he is getting advice from -- superstar or not -- DeLuca is going to make the most of every opportunity.

DN SITS WITH JENNIE & JACK AROUND THE MOUND WITH JENNIE FINCH Diamond Nation: Were there academies like Diamond Nation when you were starting to get into softball?

DN: What’s something that your fans would be surprised to find out about your softball accomplishments?

Jennie Finch: There wasn’t anything like this. We played on local fields, city fields, complexes, parks – anywhere we could. But there was nothing like this facility. It’s great not just having incredible fields, but instruction to go along with it and expanding it beyond just a place to play. It’s really excellent progress in the growth of youth sports.

JF: I struck out Albert Pujols on three pitches.

DN: What is the most common mistake you see young softball pitchers making and what advice do you give?

JF: The biggest mistake I see is girls are trying to throw strikes by aiming the ball.

It has to be mechanics first and throw the ball hard. You can’t teach speed and girls try to force the issue throwing strikes. Good mechanics and throwing it hard comes first, and then the location will follow.

DN: What’s the best part about being a role model for athletes?

JF: It’s just amazing being a part of something that has never been done, giving young women the same chances as young men. That equality and positive impact on young athletes and serving as a positive role model, encouraging their hopes and dreams is incredible. I always try to tell the athletes that baseball and softball is a lesson for life that extends beyond the field. Those skills you learn on the field will help you succeed in life.

DN: Your dad played a large role in your softball life, what advice would you give to parents about their role in their kids’ softball career?

JF: I think it’s all about finding a balance, knowing your daughter and finding that line on how far to push, yet still allowing them to love and enjoy the game. It is just a game. You want to give her the best opportunity to succeed and do her best, but some girls respond better to being left alone and some respond better to being pushed. My dad pushed me really hard and there was tension sometimes, but he made me better and I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.

DN: What’s next for Jennie Finch?

JF: I will continue to do camps and clinics and Team USA is approaching. I also have appearances and I’m trying to spend as much time with my family in the offseason as possible. And I am really excited about the future of Diamond Nation.

DN: Thanks a lot for your time Jennie. For more information on when and where Jennie will be appearing and instructing, make sure to check out www.diamondnation.com

50 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

CRACK OF THE BAT WITH JACK CUST Diamond Nation: How does it feel to be home after a long season?

Jack Cust: It feels good. New Jersey is home. We just bought a house here and I always enjoy coming home. It’s a lot of fun.

DN: What’s the most common mistake you see from young hitters and what advice would you give them?

JC: A lot of times, kids try to do too much.

I think that happens all through out baseball. A lot of guys at all levels try to hit the ball further and harder than they actually are able to. I think that’s a problem everyone has. You just have to keep it simple and not over think too much. The key is to stay within yourself.

DN: When the Jack Cust Baseball Academy first started, did you envision it being what it is today with Diamond Nation?

JC: No, definitely not. It has turned into something that’s really amazing. I’m pumped up to see how far it has come

and with the vision of my Dad and Diamond Nation President and General Manager Keith Dilgard, they were able to make something like this a reality. I’m really excited to give back to the kids and it’s awesome that they have these great facilities use and play.

DN: What ballplayer(s) did you look up to when you were a kid?

JC: Don Mattingly. I was a Yankee fan so I would always watch him. I liked his style of play and the way he hit. My Dad played with Rick Cerone and I always thought it was cool that my Dad played with a big league guy. Cerone was one of the guys that made me think it could be a reality for me.

DN: What do you do when you are in a slump and what advice would you give to a kid who is struggling at the plate?

JC: My whole life since little league, I just try to work my way through it as best as I could. I go out and do as much hitting as I can. I just put in that effort and stick with a routine. I try to do some extra

hitting and batting practice, but I try to stick with the same drills I have done my whole life. As a kid, you just have to work your way through it and keep things simple. Once you step into the box, it should never be on mechanics.

Your concentration should be on seeing the ball and hitting the ball. You just want to hit the ball hard and make solid contact. Even as a professional, you do bring those things you are working on into the batters box. But when you are going good, you aren’t thinking about that. You are just hitting the ball and getting a good pitch to hit. Think less and just concentrate on seeing the ball and hitting the ball.

DN: What advice would you give to a kid who is going to be trying out for a travel team or his high school team?

JC: Just have fun. The main thing is to have fun. There can be a lot of pressure put on kids and it increases when you get older, so the most important thing is to just have fun and give it your all.

DN: Thanks a lot for your time Jack. For more information on when and where Jack will be appearing and instructing, make sure to check out www.diamondnation.com

JACK AND JENNIE’S TAKE ON HOW TO PREPARE AND PRACTICE WHEN THERE IS POOR WEATHER IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS. Jack: I’m always at the baseball academy, hitting off a tee or hitting soft toss or working in the batting cage. I use the tee to get loose and then I take lots of batting practice. That’s all you can really do. You can find a gym and we have the HealthQuest Sports Dome to throw a little bit and hit and run. But during the winter, I just hit a lot off the tee and soft toss.

Jennie: The Finch Windmill and shoulder exercises are really important

when working out and can be done anywhere. You just find a way: a basement or a gym. You have to be working at it year round if you want to play at the highest level. If you want to take your game to that next level, you have to put in the time and effort. Thinking about my opponent inspires me to get up that morning where maybe I don’t really feel like getting out of bed. But I think about what my opponent is doing and it gets me ready to work. Confidence is built in preparation.

908-482-7037 573 Foothill Rd Bridgewater, NJ 08807-2119 www.rtpdn.com/ravcon ravconstruction@optonline.net

52 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

DNM BOOK CLUB GOOD READS FOR 2009 FROM DIAMOND NATION MAGAZINE

The Yankee Years

By Tom Verducci and Joe Torre Suggested Retail Price: $26.95 Buy it at amazon.com Twelve straight playoff appearances. Six American League pennants. Four World Series titles.

This is the definitive story of a dynasty: the Yankee years.

When Joe Torre took over as manager of the New York Yankees in 1996, the most storied franchise in sports had not won a World Series title in eighteen years. The famously tough and mercurial owner, George Steinbrenner, had fired seventeen managers during that span.

Torre’s appointment was greeted with Bronx cheers from the notoriously brutal New York media, who cited his record as the player and manager who had been in the most Major League games without appearing in a World Series.

Twelve tumultuous and triumphant years later, Torre left the team as the most beloved and successful manager in the game. In an era of multimillionaire free agents, fractured clubhouses, revenue-sharing, and off-the-field scandals, Torre forged a team ethos that united his players and made the Yankees, once again, the greatest team in sports. He won over the media with his honesty and class, and was beloved by the fans.

But it wasn’t easy.

Here, for the first time, Joe Torre and Tom Verducci take us inside the dugout, the clubhouse, and the front office in a revelatory narrative that shows what it really took to keep the Yankees

on top of the baseball world. The high-priced ace who broke down in tears and refused to go back to the mound in the middle of a game.

Constant meddling from Yankee executives, many of whom were jealous of Torre’s popularity. The tension that developed between the old guard and the free agents brought in by management. The impact of revenue-sharing and new scouting techniques, which allowed other teams to challenge the Yankees’ dominance. The players who couldn’t resist the after-hours temptations of the Big Apple. The joys of managing Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, and the challenges of managing Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi. Torre’s last year, when constant ultimatums from the front office, devastating injuries, and a freak cloud of bugs on a warm September night in Cleveland forced him from a job he loved.

Through it all, Torre kept his calm, kept his players’ respect, and kept winning.

And, of course, The Yankee Years chronicles the amazing stories on the diamond. The stirring comeback in the 1996 World Series against the heavily favored Braves. The wonder of 1998, when Torre led the Yanks to the most wins in Major League history. The draining and emotional drama of the 2001 World Series. The incredible twists and turns of the epic Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series against the Red Sox, in which two teams who truly despised each other battled pitch by pitch until the stunning extra-inning home run.

Here is a sweeping narrative of Major League Baseball in the Yankee era, a book both grand in its scope and fascinating in its details.

54 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

You’ve seen the commercials -- a football referee looking at an instant replay monitor or a baseball coach sitting in the dugout dialing up the bullpen. But each is really talking to the patrons at the restaurant/bar, all of whom are pleading to make the game go longer. And both ref and coach are more than happy to oblige, as each goes out of his way (tripping a football player about to score or flashing a light in the outfielder’s eyes) to make sure the customers get what they want.

For Buffalo Wild Wings, it all adds up to their slogan: You have to be here.

And now, you will get a chance to as

Buffalo Wild Wings is now open for the first time in the state of New Jersey.

Buffalo Wild Wings was founded in 1982 by two longtime friends, Jim Disrbow and Scott Lowery. A year earlier, while judging a figure skating competition at Kent State University in Ohio, Disbrow met up with Lowery and the pair decided to get themselves Buffalo-styled chicken wings.

Unable to find what they craved, they came up with the idea to open a restaurant of their own. They decided to locate it in Columbus, the home of The Ohio State University, because of its large student population. In 1982, the new restaurant was set up in an empty storeroom space near the campus with the name Buffalo Wild Wings and Weck.

Now, they are one of the top 10 fastestgrowing restaurant chains in the country.

There are about 575 restaurants over 40 states and that number will continue to grow. They have 14 signature sauces and make over 30,000 wings a week. Aside from the menu, which features anything from burgers to ribs, they are also a sports bar with flat screen televisions. And Buffalo Wild Wings’ promotions gear towards each side; the excellent food – including Wing Tuesdays, Boneless Thursdays and Night Hunger. And the sports fan – Fantasy Football and Football Challenge.

“We feel that there is really nothing like a good neighborhood sports bar,” Sullivan said. “It’s a unique brand and we are excited to open it up by Rutgers University. Buffalo Wild Wings is a really great concept that a lot of people are going to have a really good time being involved with. Food and wings is one thing, but the experience is great.”

DNM’s Select Restaurants For 2009

“It was about two-and-a-half years in the making to bring the first Buffalo Wild Wings to New Jersey and we are very excited,” said Stephen G. Sullivan Jr., president of the AntSul Group, an independent franchise owner and operator of Buffalo Wild Wings. “I grew up in central New Jersey, and having played against Jack Cust, I know it’s such a great sports area. Diamond Nation is a great place and it’s a great tie in for us from a sports perspective.

Diamond Nation is all about the

experience and the same holds true for us. Their facility is just absolutely incredible. The wow factor they have for sports fans is the same thing we strive for.”

AFTER the GAME

Buffalo Wild Wings

FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM 57

HALL OF FAME NEWS New York Mets

In sickness and in health Modern medicine may have made some greats even better

By Trevor Hayes National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum McCoy Stadium bulged. The home of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox could barely contain the standing-room-only crowd, and their noise swelled outside of the stadium, with chants of “Papi, Pa-pi.”

David Ortiz gave the crowd what it wanted when he hit three homers in three games for the PawSox. 2008 saw Red Sox Nation descend upon Pawtucket to see their slugger recover from his wrist injury. Despite only 10,031 seats in McCoy stadium, a crowd of 11,460 saw Ortiz hit his first bomb in a PawSox uniform.

came as a part of the resolution to the labor struggles that year.

In baseball terms the change is still recent.

Hall of Fame careers take a minimum of 10 years to build and players must wait five years after retiring to be elected, so only a handful of Hall of Famers could have played rehabilitation games. Even fewer Hall of Famers – like Paul Molitor who suffered a broken knuckle that sent him to the Beloit Brewers for a rehab game in 1990 – have needed to take advantage of the rule change.

For many of the players enshrined in Cooperstown, things were just handled differently.

Thomas Boswell summed up the difference in his 1989 book The Heart of the Order.

The minors are often known for their promotions, but the attendance boost a major league star provides can be better than any giveaway. But while minor league rehabilitation assignments are common today, very few Hall of Famers ever played one.

“Once upon a time, you spit on a cut and rubbed a bruise,” Boswell wrote. “Now, if you don’t feel perfect, a battery of trainers, doctors and masseurs try to decide whether you need diathermy, deep heat, whirlpool, ice, massage, ultrasound, acupuncture, cortisone, hypnotism or an L.A. shrink.”

In 1980, a change to the rules allowed teams to send major league players on injury rehabilitation assignments and still accrue major league service time. The rule change

In 1992, almost $100 million was paid to players on the disabled list. With more sophisticated equipment to detect injuries and the monetary investment in players, teams

58 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

today are much more cautious. Molitor’s string of injuries – pulled hamstrings, pulled ribcage muscles, torn ankle ligaments, elbow injuries and the broken knuckle – ultimately forced him to become a designated hitter to limit the wear on his body.

Tales like future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn leading the National League in hitting with a .353 average in 1996 despite a torn Achilles’ tendon are becoming rarer. Gwynn and his 2007 Induction mate, Cal Ripken Jr., were throwbacks to the early days of baseball.

Ripken set a new record by playing in 2,632 consecutive games, which lasted from 1982 until 1998. Over that time, 3,695 major leaguers were placed on the DL. Ripken’s first trip to the disabled list was in 1999, his 19th season in the majors. He’d two years later.

The man Ripken passed for the title of Iron Man, Lou Gehrig, once had his hands x-rayed late in his career. Seventeen healed bone fractures were uncovered with the pictures. Gehrig apparently had no clue they existed. He also suffered a few severe bean balls to the head in an era before batting helmets were used and fought through chronic back spasms to play every day.

ended at 2,130 games and he never played again.

Columnist Jim Murray once wrote “He was a symbol of indestructibility – a Gibraltar in cleats.”

In the days before teams started using doctors and trainers, players took the field with all sorts of injuries, whether they wanted to or were ready to. An exhausted Dizzy Dean asked to sit out of the 1937 All-Star Game, but played anyway. The Hall of Famer gave up a homer to Gehrig and then a line drive to Earl Averill. Averill’s liner added injury to the insult of the home run. The ball struck Dean’s foot, sidelining him with a broken toe.

The star pitcher wasn’t given enough time to recover though. The Cardinals rushed him back into service. The toe forced Dean to alter his delivery which resulted in shoulder damage and cut his career short. Dean played four more seasons but never pitched more than 20 games in a season again.

Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle is another star

The only thing that could force Gehrig from playing was the illness that eventually took his life, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, ALS causes muscles throughout the body to degenerate. In 1939, after suffering from the disease for over a year, Gehrig’s skill had deteriorated to the point that he pulled himself from his team’s lineup. His streak

FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM 59

who was limited by injuries. Mantle is considered one of the all-time greats, but injuries plagued him throughout his career.

At 19, during Game 2 of the 1951 World Series, Mantle charged hard after a fly ball trying to help cover ground for an aged Joe DiMaggio. When he saw DiMaggio in position, Mantle pulled up and caught his spikes on a sprinkler head in the Yankee Stadium outfield. He tore several ligaments in his knee and neglected to rehabilitate it properly. The incident became the source of a series of leg problems.

Rex Barney, a former player, broadcaster and public address announcer once said of Mantle, “Before every game he had to wrap his left leg from the ankle up with an Ace bandage as tight as a mummy. After every game, he would unwrap it, tears of pain on his face. Never said a word.”

Hall of Famer Nellie Fox said: “On two legs, Mickey Mantle would have been the greatest ballplayer who ever lived.” And 1989 Hall Inductee Carl Yastrzemski said, “If that guy were healthy, he’d have hit 80 home runs.”

Like Mantle, Dodger legend Sandy Koufax was cut down in his prime by injuries. Arm problems forced the L.A. fireballer to retire early. Winning his third Cy Young in 1966 after going 27-9 with a 1.73 ERA, Koufax retired at 31, saying “When I’m 40 years old, I’d still like to be able to comb my hair.”

Koufax’s arm problems were well documented. Reynaud’s Phenomenon, a circulatory problem which caused him to lose feeling in his fingers, cost him half of the 1962 season. He dominated over the next few years, throwing four no-hitters including a perfect game between 1962 and his retirement, but elbow problems caught up to him.

After already starting two games, Koufax threw Game 7 of the 1965 World Series on just two days rest. The strain on his arm was getting to be unbearable and his catcher Johnny Roseboro asked what they should do

without the use of the hurler’s devastating curve. Koufax replied “Just blow them away.”

He threw a three-hitter and struck out 10, ending the Series with a 0.38 ERA in 24 innings.

Within a decade after Koufax’s retirement, medical science made a great leap forward.

Dr. Frank Jobe and Dodgers pitcher Tommy John made history in 1974. To save John’s career after elbow problems, Jobe pioneered what has become known as Tommy John surgery, where an elbow ligament is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body.

While no Hall of Famer has had the operation, plenty of active pitchers have a four-inch scar from the Tommy John procedure, including A.J. Burnett, Matt Holliday, Mariano Rivera, Kenny Rogers and John Smoltz.

Some of those players may soon be in Cooperstown, a tribute to a doctor’s skill and a player’s determination to keep playing.

Members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum receive free admission to the Museum, as well as access to exclusive programs, such as the Voices of the Game Series. Additionally, members receive a subscription to the Hall of Fame's bi-monthly magazine, Memories and Dreams, the 2009 Hall of Fame yearbook and a 10% discount and free shipping on retail purchases. For information on becoming a member, please visit baseballhall.org or call 607-547-0397.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open seven days a week year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Museum is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. seven days a week. The Museum observes off-season hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. from the day after Labor Day until Memorial Day Weekend. Ticket prices are $16.50 for adults (13 and over), $11 for seniors (65 and over) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations, and $6 for juniors (ages 7-12). Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger. For more information, visit our Web site at baseballhall.org or call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.

60 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

HALL OF FAME NEWS Honus Wagner

Ninety-foot Thieves Hall of Famers Dominate Stolen Base Records

By Samantha Carr National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – Great base stealers have more than just speed. They have something intangible, something that convinces them they will steal that base.

They also have something else in common.

Most of them are in the Hall of Fame.

“My greatest asset was my ‘arrogance’ on the bases, which enabled me to light the fuse to a ball club,” said Hall of Famer Lou Brock, who became the oldest player to steal 100 bases when he totaled 118 in 1974. “Baserunning ‘arrogance’ is just like pitching ‘arrogance.’ The runner gets to first base and stands out there nine or 10 feet

off the bag. Do I challenge the pitcher and catcher or do I back away? If you’re ‘arrogant,’ you are presenting a presence that tells the opposition, ‘I am ready for the test.’.”

Brock held the career stolen base record when he retired in 1979. The record has since been topped by the newest electee to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Rickey Henderson. Henderson stole 1,406 bases during his 25-year career.

Henderson was elected by the Baseball Writers Association of America in January with 94.8 percent of the vote. He will be inducted on July 26 and receive his plaque in Cooperstown.

Henderson, who is considered by many the greatest leadoff hitter of all time, gained the nickname “Man of Steal” because of his dancing fingers and quick feet. He led his league in stolen bases 12 times.

The Legendary Ty Cobb FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM 61

When he retired, Hall Of Famer Lou Brock led almost every category related to stolen bases

Henderson and Brock dominate the record book when it comes to swiping bases. The top two modern single season records are: Henderson with 130 steals in 1982, and Brock with 118 steals in 1974. They each led Major League Baseball in steals for six seasons. They have the top two career seasons with 50-plus stolen bases, Henderson with 13 and Brock with 12, which were all consecutive.

In fact, Hall of Famers are all over the record books for stolen bases. The top four career base stealers are in the Hall of Fame: After Henderson and Brock are Billy Hamilton with 912 and Ty Cobb with 892.

Henderson holds the record for most times leading a league with 12 AL titles, but Hall of Famer Max Carey is not far behind, leading the NL 10 times. Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio has the most consecutive seasons leading his league with nine.

Two records exist for the most stolen bases in a game. Prior to 1901, that record stood at 7 by Hamilton and George Gore. The modern record is six and is held by Hall of Famer Eddie Collins, Otis Nixon, and Eric Young.

Brock and Collins are tied for most career steals in the World Series with 14. Cobb stole home more than any other player, pilfering the plate 54 times.

The stolen base was not a recorded statistic until 1886, and it was much different then.

A stolen base was awarded to any runner who advanced an extra base on his own accord. This included a runner who went from first to third on a single.

The shoes of Hall Of Famer Lou Brock 62 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

With this definition of the statistic, the stolen base was viewed less as an achievement by the runner and more as a failure by the defense. The 1880s and 90s showed wildly high totals, including Harry Stovey recording 156 stolen bases in 1888.

The base stealing gloves of Ricky Henderson

The modern definition of the steal came in 1896, although caught stealing was not measured until 1920. Prior to that, stolen base percentage was calculated by the percentage of steals per game for a team.

This, it was decided, was not an accurate measure, and was later changed to the number of steals divided by attempts. The player with the highest stolen base percentage with at least 300 stolen bases is Tim Raines with 84.7.

In the early 1900s, one player’s antics forced a rule change to the stolen base.

Henderson, the most successful base thief of all time, turned the stolen base into one of his greatest weapons on the baseball field.

The Detroit Tigers had men on first and third in the ninth inning against Cleveland. Davy Jones, a player with good speed, was on third, and Germany Shaefer was on first.

The team tried a delayed double steal to sneak the runner home, but the Cleveland catcher did not throw down to second.

"You got to creep, creep. You got to play games with them,” Henderson said of the opposing pitchers. “You got to make them know you're back there. Once they know you're back there, they’re going to panic and a lot of time they’re going to give that hitter a great pitch to hit."

On the next pitch Shaefer stole first base to go back and try it again. After an argument, the umpire allowed it and Shaefer tried to steal second on the next pitch. The Cleveland catcher threw the ball into center field and the run scored to win the game. Shortly afterward, the rule was changed so that once a player reaches second base, he cannot return to first, outlawing the steal of first base.

Base stealing champ, Hall Of Famer, Ricky Henderson FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM 63

Members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum receive free admission to the Museum, as well as access to exclusive programs, such as the Voices of the Game Series. Additionally, members receive a subscription to the Hall of Fame's bimonthly magazine, Memories and Dreams, the 2009 Hall of Fame yearbook and a 10% discount and free shipping on retail purchases. For information on becoming a member, please visit baseballhall.org or call 607-547-0397

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open seven days a week year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Museum is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. seven days a week. The Museum observes off-season hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. from the day after Labor Day until Memorial Day Weekend. Ticket prices are $16.50 for adults (13 and over), $11 for seniors (65 and over) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations, and $6 for juniors (ages 7-12). Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger. For more information, visit our Web site at baseballhall.org or call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-5477200.

Left: Mickey Mantle - If he only had two good legs....

Below: Tim Raines - 5th all-time for steals

64 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

PROUD BUILDERS OF DIAMOND NATION

609.620.1100

alcosportsusa.com 9 Princess Road • Suite B • Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

EXPERTLY DESIGNED LIGHTING FRON LITTLE LEAGUE TO MAJOR LEAGUES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY

MUSCO LIGHTS UP DIAMOND NATION Musco, which has specialized in the design and manufacture of systems for lighting and recreating and athletic fields since 1976, provides the sports lighting for hundreds of stadiums across the nation, from the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field to

facility and the light levels used there say a lot about the facility,” said Kevin Hladik, Editor of the A Safety Awareness Program (ASAP) Newsletter.

“The average little league field has a 50/30 light level, but at Diamond Nation, it is 70/50, which gives 33 percent more lighting on both the infield and outfield and allows for a quicker response time for hitters and fielders. Many college and even some minor league parks use that same level.”

There is more to Musco than just providing light, however.

Musco lights are more energy efficient and trouble-free for YANKEE STADIUM owners. Automated on/off Lamade Stadium, the home of the Little scheduling systems -- such as Musco’s League World Series in Williamsport, PA. Control Link -- help reduce public concern regarding wasted energy on empty fields.

Musco works with organizations such as As a result, it cuts energy costs in half, Amateur Softball Association, Babe Ruth reducing spill light by 50 percent. The League, Disney, England and Wales automated system also makes it easier on Cricket Board, Little League Baseball® and the owner, who doesn’t have to worry Softball, Major League Baseball, NASCAR about training someone to turn on/off and the NBA. lights at the end of a shift.

With a pedigree like that, it only made sense that Musco would team up to provide the lighting at Diamond Nation in Flemington, NJ. “Diamond Nation is a state of the art

Musco is not only focused on being environmentally friendly, but safety is its big concern.

“It’s important that the sport is being played safely and under good conditions,”

66 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

Hladik said. “There is not a wood or steel pool in the ground … with having a concrete base, you don’t have rusting. It’s about raising awareness to improve the experience for the kids.”

And the kids at Diamond Nation are reaping the benefits. There are less dark spots on the field. For example, when a ball is hit, the fielder is able to clearly follow the flight of the ball the entire way into the glove. Not only does this improve the quality of baseball/softball being played, but it allows the kids to play in a safe environment.

While the lighting is designed to enhance playing conditions, it is also less obtrusive for neighbors and the environment that surrounds Diamond Nation.

DIAMOND NATION, FLEMINGTON, NJ

Musco has played a key role in developing guidelines for safe and efficient sports facilities.

“It has helped to provide a change in the way that people view their sports lighting,” Hladik said. “It will not only impact the present, but the future as well.”

140,000-SQAURE-FOOT, HEATED HEALTHQUEST SPORTS DOME PROVIDES ALL-YEAR ROUND PLAY

WINTER LEAGUE

HEALTHQUEST SPORTS DOME

Who says that you need warm weather to play baseball or softball? Just because it’s winter and the weather is colder, that doesn’t mean you have to stop playing; nor should you either because when your spring season arrives, you can have the advantage over other teams.

How? Join a Diamond Nation winter league.

The age groups for the baseball league range from 10 to 18 years old while the ages range from 16 to 18 years old for softball. Both leagues get a combined total of 50 to 80 and 60 to 100 teams. The way the leagues are set up, teams have four practices in December and then play eight games over the course of January and February.

Teams and Players will be able to develop their baseball and softball skills playing live games in the 140,000 sq. foot heated HealthQuest Sports Dome in Flemington, NJ, which is the largest air structure in the nation.

Entering it's sixth season of winter league baseball and softball individuals who do not have a team to play or can join a team to be coached by Diamond Nation's experienced staff.

“What separates our winter league is that the kids aren’t just practicing in a cage or a bullpen setting like most winter programs,” said Keith Dilgard, President/GM of Diamond Nation. “They are able to work on new things and get better while playing in a game setting.”

68 FOR ADVERTISING CALL: 908.455.1613 . ON LINE: WWW.DIAMONDNATIONMAGAZINE.COM

NJSIAA COACHES CONVENTION

While the full-size baseball field is a little limited in the outfield, the dome features a full-size little league and softball field.

The winter is a time to get better and get ready for the spring, and Diamond Nation gives players a heads start on that.

“Kids on the west coast and down south are playing all-year round in warm weather,” Dilgard said. “We want to be able to give kids in the north east that same advantage and thanks to the dome, we can level the playing field.”

Whether you want to improve your pitching, hitting, fielding or throwing, it’s time to trade in those snow balls for baseballs and softballs.

For more information, go to www.diamondnation.com

JAREN MATHEWS: RUTGERS UNIVERSITY

Cust, Dori & Benick CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS ‘Dedicated To The Financial Success Of Our Clients’

ACCOUNTING SERVICES TAX SERVICES BUSINESS PLANNING INVESTMENT CONSULTING

908 •782•7300 110 MAIN STREET • FLEMINGTON, NJ