Summer Ball Coming To A Close

This summer has been quite the grind, and with a week to go with the Bandits 17U squad, I figured today's topic was appropriate.  Any player reading this can feel it; fatigue.  For most of you, you've been playing since the fall, whether it be fall ball or individual work, and have continued up to this point.  That's a solid 10 months of baseball.  Now that your season has either finished, or is about to finish, I want you to do one thing for me...Take some time off.  Take the next 2 weeks to be a kid.  Go out with your friends, go down the shore, kick your feet up, and RELAX!

You guys have absolutely earned it. Once those two weeks are up, it's time to get back in the weight room and start pushing towards next season.  You guys have an opportunity every off season to make yourselves above and beyond what you were this past season.  If you get in the weight room in the middle of August, and continue through the fall, winter, and early spring, you will see gains in all areas of your game.  For now, I want to say excellent work to ALL of you who have pushed through the aches and pains of another long season.  Take some time to enjoy the last month of the summer.  When break time is over, I'll be waiting for you in the weight room...

Bandits Update

So here we are at the end of the week in East Cobb, and boy has it been an up and down week.  As you know, we won our first game Tuesday against the ABC D-Backs from Texas, 8-0.  Wednesday, we played at Sprayberry High School against the All-American Prospect 17's out of Florida, losing 8-0.  LHP Jeff Courter (Archbishop Wood, 2011) threw the ball very well, but a few balls evaded our gloves on that day.  Such is baseball.  Thursday afternoon, we played the Northeast Lumberjacks, from Massachusetts, and prevailed 10-1. LHP Chris O'Brien (Malvern Prep, 2011, UNC Commit) and LHP Matt Hollenbeck (Hatboro-Horsham, 2011) were both missing bats all afternoon, while the lineup went to work on the opposing pitching staff.  Friday afternoon, we had the pleasure of playing at Pope Christian High School, home of the 2009 AAAAA State Champion Greyhounds.  LHP Sean Cosgriff (Germantown Academy, 2011) worked his way out of some early jams to keep the Bandidos ahead, 5-4.  RHP Mark Maksimow (Notre Dame, 2012) came in and carved up the Diamond Jacks Black squad, preserving the lead, and pitching his way to an 8-4 victory.  Today, we played an early game, with LHP Matt Hollenbeck and LHP Jeff Courter pitching on short rest and a ton of moxie.  Unfortunately, we took the loss against Longshots Baseball 11 from Massachusetts, and will play our final game of the tournament tomorrow.  RHP Ryan Filipowicz (Holy Ghost Prep, 2011) will take the mound for the final outing, with LHP Sean Cosgriff in relief.  To all the parents, friends, and family who have supported the Bandits throughout the season, we want to thank you for all the support.  Let's get a win tomorrow!

Bandits in Georgia

I am the pitching coach for the Philadelphia Bandits 17U AAU summer team, and we arrived in Georgia Monday afternoon for the East Cobb 17U National Tournament. We played yesterday and defeated a team from Texas, 8-0. LHP Chris O'Brien (Malvern Prep 2011) and RHP Mark Maksimow (Notre Dame 2012) threw the baseball extremely well, putting up goose eggs over a combined 5 innings pitched, striking out 7 over 3 innings, and 3 over 2 innings, respectively. Today, we face a team from Miami, Fl, which should be a good test for our boys. LHP Jeff Courter (Archbishop Wood 2011) will take the ball for us, while RHP Ryan Filipowicz (Holy Ghost Prep 2011) will follow him. I'll keep you updated, for now, we need to get to the ball field!