Baseball Factory Alumni Update

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

Here are more Factory alums that have had outstanding performances so far this year:
College Notes

Ray Angelucci | SUNY Cortland | RHP
Ray has been a major reason that Cortland is 35-7-1 on the year. He has been the ace of the staff going 10-1 with a 1.19 ERA and holding opponents to a .157 average against him.
Baseball Factory Events: 2007 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout

Pablo Bermudez | Florida International University | OF
Pablo is swinging the bat very well late in the season for the Golden Panthers. The toolsy outfielder is currently hitting .320 with 13 doubles, three home runs, 23 runs batted in and 12 stolen bases.
Baseball Factory Events: 2006 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout, 2006 and 2007 Team One South, 2007 Under Armour Cape Cod High Classic

Josh Elander | Texas Christian University | C
Elander starred for Team USA last summer and is heating up this spring at TCU. His numbers currently stand at .317 average, nine doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 34 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases. Expect to hear Josh’s name called earlier in next month’s MLB Draft.
Baseball Factory Events: 2007 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout, 2008 Under Armour Pre-Season All America Tournament, 2008 Under Armour All-America Game

Zane Evans | Georgia Tech | C/P
Zane came through in the clutch last weekend against the University of Virginia in the final game of their series. In the top of the 10th inning he belted a 2-run home run with two outs to put the Yellow Jackets on top. In the bottom of the inning he took the mound to get the final two out and his fourth save of the season.
Baseball Factory Events: 2009 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament

Goose Kallunki | Utah Valley University | 1B
Goose has been an offensive force for the Wolverines this spring, helping them to an unbelievable 32-game winning streak that was recently ended. For the season Goose is hitting .417 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs and 76 runs driven in.
Baseball Factory Events: 2007 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout, 2007 Baseball Factory Omaha World Series

Jake McGuiggan | Harvard | SS
Jake finished the year as the Crimson’s leading hitter. His final numbers were a .352 average with 11 doubles, two home runs and 21 runs batted in.
Baseball Factory Events: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout, 2006, 2007, 2008 Baseball Factory Cape Cod Training, 2006, 2007, 2008 Baseball Factory Christmas Camp and Tournament, 2009 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament

Kyle McLain | Washington and Jefferson | 3B
Kyle has been an instrumental part in Washington and Jefferson’s 35-8 record on the season. The 3B has posted big numbers, hitting .409 with 36 runs batted in and 10 stolen bases.
Baseball Factory Events: 2008, 2009 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout

Benton Moss | University of North Carolina | RHP
Benton has settled into the Saturday starter role for the Tar Heels in this, his freshman season. With wins over UVA and Georgia Tech he has boosted his record to 5-2 with a 2.40 ERA and 63 Ks in 60 IP. In addition, this true student-athlete is a Morehead Cain Scholar at UNC.
Baseball Factory Events: 2010 Under Armour All-America Game

David O’Neil | University of South Carolina Beaufort | 3B
Gabe Torres | University of South Carolina Beaufort | 2B/SS
David and Gabe were instrumental in Sand Sharks’ incredible regional run that has resulted in the school’s first trip to the NAIA College World Series. Torres had several clutch hits and is hitting .330 on the year with six doubles, 20 RBI and 13 stolen bases. O’Neil is hitting .300 with 12 doubles, a home run, 30 runs batted in and 18 stolen bases.
Baseball Factory Events: 2006 Baseball Factory College Recruiting Program, 2007 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout, 2007 Baseball Factory Dodgertown World Series Baseball Factory Events: 2007 Baseball Factory Personal Video Program, 2008 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament

High School Update
Lewis Brinson | Coral Springs High School | OF
Lewis finished his season strong facing quality pitching in South Florida. For the season, he hit .394 with 22 runs scored, four doubles, four triples, four home runs, 21 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases. The University of Florida commit should be selected on the first day of the MLB Draft next month.

Byron Buxton | Appling County High School | CF/P
The best high school player in the country this year continues to show why. He has led his team to the Georgia AA Final Four with his bat, defense and pitching. In the 2nd round of the State Tournament he set the tone with a 3 hit shutout in Game 1 and went 3-4 with two doubles and two RBI in the deciding Game 3. One of the three runs he scored was on a deep sacrifice fly where Buxton scored all the way from second base. In their latest state tournament series, Byron won the first game on the mound with a complete game 8-inning performance in which he also homered to deep left and scored the winning run after leading off the 8th inning with a single.

Gavin Cecchini | Barbe High School | SS
Gavin led the Barbe team, coached by his father Glenn, to yet another State Championship. The sure fire 1st rounder capped off his incredible high school career with an outstanding senior season. Gavin finished with a .413 average with six doubles, seven home runs, 32 runs batted in and 31 stolen bases.

Ty Hensley | Edmond Santa Fe High School | RHP
Ty finished his outstanding career dominating on the mound. In the first round of the Oklahoma State Tournament he threw a complete game 1 hitter with 13 Ks in a 4-1 win over Stillwater. In this start he showed the stuff we have become accustomed to seeing from Ty – a 92-96 mph fastball with his hammer curve and solid change. He appears to have cemented his status as a 1st round selection.

Steve Bernhardt is the Executive VP of Baseball Operations with Baseball Factory. Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt formerly served as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.

Flat Feet Can Affect Your Balance

Guest Blogger: Steve L. Rosenberg, DPM
Arch Specialist for Baseball Factory
http://www.archspecialist.com/ia-baseball.shtml

All sports require balance to be successful and baseball is no exception.

What should a coach look for in their players at any age? The answer to that question is balance, because a player who demonstrates balance at any age or level is more likely to be successful at the plate, pitching and in the field. Coaches continue to preach that players should get the balls of their feet on the ground and when that is consistent in a player they have conquered an important part of the game. No matter what your skill set is there are many drills that will help develop speed, foot work, timing, rhythm and hand eye coordination; however, knowing that your feet are supported and your lower half is stable and balanced makes it much easier to get results.

In my practice the first thing that I determine when I’m evaluating a player is what his feet are doing when they hit the ground. If the player’s foot is flat it can lead to balance problems. Whatever age the player is, it is very important to check out their feet to see if they are flat footed. A flat foot is an unstable foot and is more likely to break down, fatigue and become problematic. Flat feet will also affect the player’s ability to transfer his body weight when on the mound at the plate or in the field. If a pitcher consistently collapses his back leg, the pitching coach should check his feet. A flat foot will probably be the reason for the collapse. I always suggest to coaches that if they truly want to know whether their player will have balance issues, check out their feet. Flat feet or abnormally pronated feet is a major contributing factor to an unbalanced lower half. Flat feet can also lead to foot problems in players such as plantar fasciitis, muscle spasms, lower leg fatigue and not getting the most efficiency out of your lower half.

Many players’ have flat feet and are unaware of how it can affect their balance during the game. Arch supports and orthotics continue to be the best way to create better balance in the lower half and change a player’s foot mechanics. Arch supports are designed to stabilize abnormal foot mechanics and treat flat feet. Instant Arches® Baseball is an arch support specific for baseball cleats and supports the player’s feet throughout all aspects of the game.


Dr. Steven L. Rosenberg is the official Arch Specialist of Baseball Factory & Softball Factory. Dr. Rosenberg is a podiatrist in private practice spanning over 27 years, specializing in sports medicine, pain management and all other aspects of podiatry. His practice is located in Santa Monica, California. He has lectured worldwide and is a regularly featured blogger on the Huffington Post AOL. He has authored numerous articles on foot injuries, injury prevention, women’s shoe issues, foot biomechanics, and the treatment of foot problems through utilization of eastern and western medicine. Dr. Rosenberg is the CEO and President of Foot Products Enterprises Inc., which manufactures the unique arch product, Instant Arches® for baseball and softball. These Arches are also available for running shoes, all athletic shoes, sandals, flip flops casual and dress shoes. Dr. Rosenberg’s Instant Arches®, sold worldwide, are worn by men and women of all ages from preteens to adults. For more information on Instant Arches visit http://www.instantarches.com/ia-baseball.shtml.

Baseball Factory Alumni Update

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

Here are more Factory alums that have had outstanding performances so far this year:
College Notes

Justin Anderson | Stevenson University | 1B
Justin has piled up impressive numbers so far this season with .400 average, 14 doubles, two home runs and 32 runs driven in on the year. He was named CAC Offensive Player of the Week earlier in the season.
Baseball Factory Events: Private Hitting Lessons at Baseball Factory Headquarters

Joey Belviso | Mars Hill College | OF
Belviso was recently named First Team All-SAC as an outfielder. He is hitting .404 on the season with 15 doubles, nine home runs and 51 RBI.
Baseball Factory Events: 2007 Under Armour Cape Cod Classic

Alexi Colon | Tusculum | OF
Alexi has helped to lead Tusculum to an impressive 40-7 record this season. His impressive offensive numbers include a .336 average with 10 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 40 runs batted in and 15 stolen bases
Baseball Factory Events: 2006 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout, 2007 Under Armour Pre-Season All- America Tournament

Joey Cuda | Eckerd College | RHP
Joey has picked up where he left off in 2011 when he was named the Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Year. For the 2012 campaign he is 5-3 with two saves and a 2.82 ERA. He has 91 Ks in 70.1 IP.
Baseball Factory Events: 2007 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout

KJ Hockaday | University of Maryland | 3B
KJ has stepped in as a true freshman and made an immediate impact for the Terrapins. He has helped lead them to a 25-14 record and has posted the following numbers to date in the tough ACC: .319 average, six doubles, two triples, two home runs and 18 runs batted in.
Baseball Factory Events: 2010 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout

Kevin Kean | Anne Arundel Community College | OF
Kevin has spent the season wreaking havoc for AACC. He is hitting .420 with seven doubles, three triples, 38 RBI and 58 runs scored, and he leads the nations in stolen bases swiping 52 in 54 attempts.
Baseball Factory Events: 2008 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout

Jordan Kipper | Central Arizona Community College | RHP
Kipper has been a top arm for the Central Arizona squad this spring. He is currently 7-2 with a 2.04 ERA and 58 Ks in 66.1 IP.
Baseball Factory Events: 2009 Under Armour Premium Video Program, 2009 Team One West, Team One Futures Game, Under Armour Southwest Regional Tournament, 2010 and 2011 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament

Steve Maher | University of St. Thomas (MN) | RHP
Maher has been a main reason that the Tommies are currently 22-4 and ranked #3 in the nation. He is a perfect 9-0 on the mound with a 1.56 ERA and 59 Ks in 56 IP.
Baseball Factory Events: 2008 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout

Tyler Moore | University of North Florida | RHP
Tyler has been dominant this spring for North Florida. He sports a 5-1 record along with a 1.91 ERA. He also has 62 Ks in 47 IP and is holding opponents to a .199 average.
Baseball Factory Events: 2009 Team One South

Jared Ruxer | University of Louisville | RHP
Ruxer has been an instrumental part in the Cardinals’ outstanding season and Top 25 ranking. The freshman is a perfect 5-0 on the mound with victories over then 12th ranked Ole Miss and #1 Kentucky – a game in which he threw six scoreless innings against the top-ranked team in the nation.
Baseball Factory Events: 2007 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout, 2007 and 2008 Baseball Factory’s Freshman/Sophomore Team at the Arizona Fall Classic, 2009 Team One West, 2009 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament

High School Update

Tyler Gonzales | Madison HS | RHP/SS
Tyler has been lights out recently and is making a strong push to have his name called on the first day of the draft. On Aril 9th he threw a complete game shutout in which he gave up only an infield single and struck out 18 hitters. In his last few outings, reports have the former Under Armour All-American in the 92-96 mph range while commanding his mid 80s slider that is a true swing-and-miss pitch.

Teddy Stankiewicz |Fort Worth Christian | RHP
Stankiewicz has continued to improve his draft stock throughout the spring. He currently has an 8-2 record with eight complete games – four of them shutouts. His ERA is a miniscule 1.08 and he has 103 Ks against only 14 walks. His ideal pitcher’s frame and outstanding stuff combined with the advanced command he is showing this spring have moved the big UA All-American into first round consideration.

Nick Travieso | Archbishop McCarthey | RHP
Nick continues to put his name on the short list of true power arms in this year’s draft. In his last outing he no-hit the formidable Gulliver Prep line-up and struck out nine in the process. Reports had him sitting in the mid 90s and touching 99 in that dominant performance. The plus velocity combined with his hard slider and improving command have Nick also in the first round conversation.

Steve Bernhardt is the Executive VP of Baseball Operations with Baseball Factory. Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt formerly served as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.

Your Innate Potential and Mine

Guest Blogger: Inner-Sports

by Garret Kramer

Did you know that when you disagree with the actions of another person, and are upset or frustrated, that you possess the potential to quickly get over your errant thinking and mood, to forgive, and to flourish? Whether you want to or not, that’s a different matter.

A few weeks ago, for example, I was stuck on a train of judgmental thoughts. Over and over, my thinking focused on my son’s baseball coach and one of his decisions regarding my son. I disagreed with the coach. And for two days, I went back and forth analyzing why he made this decision. Was he out to show my son who was boss? Had my son not set a good example for his teammates? How was this situation going to affect my son in his future baseball endeavors?

As you can imagine, the more I worked myself into this wayward mind-set, the worse I felt and the further from the truth I ventured.

Rule number 1: If you are upset about and disagree with the actions of another person, and think these actions are the source of your low mood, it’s you who isn’t seeing things clearly.

You see, my issue was not disagreeing with the coach. My issue was attributing my unhappiness to the coach’s conduct, when, in truth, my unhappy feelings originated from my own thoughts—and only my own thoughts.

My point is understanding that your thinking is the sole source of your feelings is the difference between allowing yourself to be a victim of uncontrollable circumstances, and realizing that you are steering the ship. In other words, if you believe that your life situations are in charge—outside in—you exist at the mercy of whatever happens to you; if you know that your thinking is in charge—inside out—you will naturally adapt from within (in spite of what happens to you) in order to maintain your own inner peace.

Now, this is not to say that I’ve grown to like the decision or agree with the coach. But since I realized that the quality of my thinking and state of mind were creating my perception of the matter, I ceased trying to make sense of it from such a low place. Thus, innately, my mood ascended to a perspective where I can make a sound choice about what to do next.

Rule number 2: The potential rests within you, no matter how disturbing a situation looks, to feel different about it—without trying to change it.

So, what did I decide to do next? Write this article, for starters, with the hope that you will profit from my temporarily misguided perception. How did I come to make this choice? Well, I certainly didn’t try to think positively, vent my frustration,  or pretend that I wasn’t  displeased—which would have only added more fuel (thought) to the fire, energizing my current negativity. Instead, I pulled back in the moment, went about my business, and, as my well-being automatically heightened, I started to view the same outside situation differently. To be specific, I recognized the value in the coach and recalled the productive choices he has made for my son over the years.

There was something else I noticed, too: Perhaps, innocently, the coach wasn’t seeing things clearly when he made this particular decision about my son—a tendency that, from time to time, we all have in common. 

Garret Kramer is the founder and Managing Partner of Inner-Sports.com. Inner-Sports evaluates and then coaches athletes of all ages on the behavioral characteristics that lead to peak performance on and off the field of play. Inner-Sport’s evaluative partner has created the behavioral assessment used at both the National Hockey League and the Major League Lacrosse scouting combines. Inner-Sports and Garret work with Baseball Factory players at select player development events.

Factory Players Staying Hot: Update

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

Here are more Factory alums that have had outstanding performances early in the year:

College Notes

Dan Child | Oregon State University | RHP
Dan threw eight scoreless innings over the weekend in leading the Beavers to a 9-0 win over Pac 12 opponent University of Washington. This pushed Dan’s record to 3-1 on the year with a 1.54 ERA.
Baseball Factory Events: 2009 Under Armour All-America Game

Garrett Fanchier | Belmont University | RHP
Garrett has emerged as one of the top closers in Division I baseball this season. In 15 appearances, Garrett has nine saves and is holding opposing hitters to a .232 average.
Baseball Factory Events: 2005 Baseball Factory National Tryout, 2006 Baseball Factory Pre-Season All-America Tournament

Brendon Hardin | Amherst College | 2B
Hardin is off to a torrid start for the Jeffs. The freshman is hitting .460 with three doubles, 11 runs batted in and three steals through the first 14 games of his college career.
Baseball Factory Events: 2009 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout

Joe Hudson | Notre Dame | C
The junior catcher is leading the Fighting Irish in hitting with a .415 average and leads the entire Big East Conference with a .528 OBP. Joe has eight 2B, one 3B, three HR and 24 RBI on the year.
Baseball Factory Events: 2006 Team One South Showcase, 2007 Under Armour Premium Video Program, 2009 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament

Justin Leeson | Georgetown University | CF
Justin has posted a solid early season line for the Hoyas. The junior outfielder has started all 28 games and is hitting .358 with six 2B, two 3B, one HR, 15 RBI and 12 SB.
Baseball Factory Events: Private Hitting Lessons at Baseball Factory Headquarters

Jensen Park | University of Northern Colorado | OF
Another true freshman that has made an immediate impact at a Division I program, Jenson has played in each of the Bears’ 22 games so far this season. The native of Hawaii is hitting .365 with five 2B, two 3B and 14 RBI.
Baseball Factory Events: 2010 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout, 2010 Team One West Showcase

Dayne Quist | UC Davis | LHP
Dayne has been dominant for the Aggies in the early season. Last weekend he won the series opener against the University of Hawaii by going seven innings and striking out nine. Fellow Baseball Factory Alum Tino Lipson provided the offensive support going three for five and scoring two of UC Davis’ five runs. For the season, Dayne is 4-0 with 1.99 ERA with two complete games and 48 Ks while only walking six batters.
Baseball Factory Events: Team One World Series

Travis Radke | University of Portland | LHP
Radke is yet another freshman who has stepped in to contribute immediately. He has been nearly unhittable on the mound going 5-1 with a 1.00 ERA and holding opponents to a .127 average against him. His ERA and opponents AVG both lead the entire West Coast Conference.
Baseball Factory Events: 2008 Team One Preview, 2009 Team One West Showcase, Team One Futures Game, Baseball Factory’s Arizona Junior Fall Classic Team, 2010 Team One West Showcase

Matt Sergey | Campbell University | RHP
Sergey is one the main reasons that the Fighting Camels have been such a pleasant surprise this season. His 3-0 record, 2.83 ERA and 49 Ks in 47.2 IP have helped lead Campbell to a 25-4 start.
Baseball Factory Events: 2006 Baseball Factory National Tryout, 2006 Team One South Showcase

Wade Wass | Meridian CC | C
Wade is putting up ridiculous numbers through the first 31 games of Meridian’s season. He is coming off a week in which he was named the NJCAA National Player of the Week after hitting .600 with four HR and seven RBI in three games. For the year he is hitting .450 with 35 runs scored, 15 home runs and 42 runs batted in.
Baseball Factory Events: 2009 Team One South Showcase

Nic Wilson | Eastern Arizona College | 1B
Nic has made quite an impact in his first season at Eastern Arizona. He is hitting .344 with 12 doubles, two 3B, a home run and a team-leading 24 RBI.
Baseball Factory Events: 2009 Under Armour Baseball Factory Tryout, 2009 Baseball Factory Christmas Camp and Tournament at Pirate City, 2010 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament, 2010 Baseball Factory College Recruiting Program


High School Notes

The inaugural National High School Invitational was a huge success. Hosted by USA Baseball at their complex in Cary, NC along with their partner Baseball America, sixteen of the nation’s top high school programs competed in this outstanding event. The winner in dramatic fashion was Mater Dei out of California. Making key contributions to the Monarchs during their championship run were Baseball Factory veterans Jeremy Martinez, Ty Moore and Davis Tominaga. Martinez, who will become the first 2-time Under Armour All-American this summer, went 7-13 during the tournament driving in several key runs and leading the pitching staff. Ty Moore was 5-12 with a HR at the plate and went 2-0 on the mound including getting the win in relief in the Championship Game. Davis Tominaga also excelled two ways. On the mound, he threw a complete game in earning the win over Bishop Gorman from Nevada. At the plate he contributed three hits against Bishop Gorman and hit the game-tying HR in the bottom of the 7th inning of the Championship Game. Congratulations to these fine young players and the entire Mater Dei team.

Another standout at the NHSI was 2011 Under Armour All-American Matt Olson. Olson pitched the first game for Parkview HS going six strong innings against George Washington HS (NY) to earn the victory. He helped himself at the plate as well with a 1B and 3B. Later in the tournament, Olson showed why he is one of the top hitters in the 2012 class by turning around a fastball from top prospect Max Fried and hitting it deep over the right center field fence. Olson finished 5 for 10 during the event.

One last note, 2009 Under Armour All-American Lance McCullers, Jr. is off to an outstanding start this spring. McCullers has used his mid to upper 90s fastball and sharp slider to go 6-0 with 57 Ks in 30.1 innings for Tampa Jesuit and has yet to allow a run this season.



Steve Bernhardt is the Executive VP of Baseball Operations with Baseball Factory. Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt formerly served as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.

It All Starts From the Ground Up!

Guest Blogger: Steve L. Rosenberg, DPM
Arch Specialist for Baseball Factory
http://www.archspecialist.com/ia-baseball.shtml

Being Balanced Will Bring Out Your Natural Ability

It’s baseball season, so hit the ground running and let the games begin.

The feet are the first thing that hit the ground and without balanced feet a player’s mechanics can be affected. Standing flat footed at the plate and swinging off-balance can lead to frustration and not actualizing your full potential. The player's timing is off because his lower half is not properly balanced and the balls of his feet are not on the ground. Having a balanced lower half will allow the hitter to become more fluid and confident and their rhythm, as well as timing, will be better. As kids continue to develop the good habits they learn through good coaching early on, their success will be parallel. As they get older and continue to pursue their dreams the little things to improve will be easier.

Having a fundamentally strong foundation is the first step. Even though all hitters go into slumps, they come out of them because they go back to basics working with hitting coaches who can break them down and then build them back up to give them more confidence. Hitting coaches work on developing muscle memory and mechanical triggers in players and when their lower half is balanced all the triggers and muscle memory work in sync.

There are those who will say that plate discipline makes a better hitter. Warren Spahn the hall of fame pitcher once said that, “it is all about timing and a good pitcher will try and disrupt that timing.” Ted Williams states in his book, The Science of Hitting, three rules to be a better hitter:

1. Get a good ball to hit
2. Proper thinking at the plate
3. Quickness with the bat when the ball is picked up the last third of its flight toward the hitter

Hitters should also “know their happy zone.” If you complement that with keeping your hands inside the ball, the balls of the feet on the ground and a balanced lower half; hitters will have a great deal of success at any level.

As a pitcher it is the legs that drive the power and the feet drive the legs. If the pitcher’s feet are not balanced and they are not able to reach a balance point on the mound, the drive off the mound will be less powerful and that can affect the release point, elbow or shoulder. If the player’s biomechanics are not corrected early in his career it can translate into repetitive overuse injuries and lead to arm, elbow or shoulder injuries somewhere down the line.

I believe that most pitching injuries are due to repetitive overuse of one particular motion over a prolonged period of time. It probably starts as early as Little League because of poor mechanics. Players at a young age usually play multiple positions and can develop poor mechanics and bad habits if they are not careful. If their throwing mechanics are off as a position player or pitcher, overtime muscles tendons and ligaments in the arm, elbow and shoulder will break down. Therefore, when they begin to play high school ball and then advance to the next level, college or professional ball, the soft tissue damage has already begun.

So the question is?

Do arch supports in baseball cleats improve a player’s ability to have success at the plate, on the pitcher’s mound or in the field?

It is my opinion that it does.

In order for a player to be balanced from the ground up, it starts with their feet.

Arch supports are designed to place the ball of the foot on the ground as well as stabilize and balance the joints of the foot which in turn will strengthen the muscles of the foot and prevent the arch from collapsing. When the arch continually collapses during the normal course of the game the muscles in the arch could fatigue, tire, cramp or spasm. Most of the time, it is because the player has flat feet. Flat feet can lead to a player’s inability to be consistent at the plate, in the field or on the mound. As a result the player’s performance could be compromised. Therefore, it is important for feet to be supported in baseball cleats and realize the role they play in the overall success of playing baseball. Do not take them for granted.

There are many arch support products available today that players can choose from, one of these products is Instant Arches® Baseball, the only baseball specific arch support that can be placed in baseball cleats and provide the support needed to keep players balanced and the balls of their feet on the ground.



Dr. Steven L. Rosenberg is the official Arch Specialist of Baseball Factory & Softball Factory. Dr. Rosenberg is a podiatrist in private practice spanning over 27 years, specializing in sports medicine, pain management and all other aspects of podiatry. His practice is located in Santa Monica, California. He has lectured worldwide and is a regularly featured blogger on the Huffington Post AOL. He has authored numerous articles on foot injuries, injury prevention, women’s shoe issues, foot biomechanics, and the treatment of foot problems through utilization of eastern and western medicine. Dr. Rosenberg is the CEO and President of Foot Products Enterprises Inc., which manufactures the unique arch product, Instant Arches® for baseball and softball. These Arches are also available for running shoes, all athletic shoes, sandals, flip flops casual and dress shoes. Dr. Rosenberg’s Instant Arches®, sold worldwide, are worn by men and women of all ages from preteens to adults. For more information on Instant Arches visit http://www.instantarches.com/ia-baseball.shtml.

Summer Plans

Dan Mooney: Your Link to the Colleges

With High School seasons well underway, players are already starting to look for summer teams. Many players have been on teams in the past or already know where they will play, but for those who don’t have plans or are looking to make an even greater impact on their game, I want to address summer schedules and what players need to accomplish in their daily routines.

Athletes need to have a plan in everything they do. Take a look at how your high school season went and decide what the best plan to improve is. I tell all the players I work with in the Exclusive Program to use a simple desk calendar; write down all practices, games, lifts, long toss programs, agility work, etc. on the calendar. If you’re not doing something for baseball every day, you’re not trying to get better. And the reality is someone else out there is outworking you. Each day you miss a workout, highlight the day and take a look back at the end of the month. Hold yourself accountable. The best athletes are the best self-evaluators.

In pursuit of a productive off-season, you will find that playing time is the key to success. Whether it’s with a travel team, tournament team, or showcase circuit, innings are crucial. Don’t get me wrong, camps and practice are also important, but getting out there to play and compete will make the greatest impact when it comes to improving your game. I learned more about calling a game and how to manage a pitching staff through my experience playing and making mistakes in games than any other instructional situation.

With that said, one of the most important things you can do this summer is to find a team you will PLAY ON. I talk to hundreds, if not thousands of players that are always looking for the “National Cobra USA Professional Scout All World Summer Olympic Team.” If you find an elite club you know you will play on that’s great, but only so many kids can play at one time. Don’t be satisfied with just being a part of something. Find a team that you know will provide you with those critical innings over the course of the season.

Take control of your baseball career this summer with proper management and a team you will play for. Write everything down, have a plan as you head into the summer and then execute it. You’re in control of your off-season so make the most of it!



Dan is the Senior Director of College Recruiting. Dan was drafted in the 40th round by the Chicago Cubs after his senior year at Monsignor Donovan High School, but decided to begin his collegiate career as a catcher at Brevard Junior College. He later transferred to the Univ. of Florida where he redshirted for a season, before transferring to North Carolina State University where he was a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer. After college, Dan played professionally in the Boston Red Sox organization where he reached the double-A level before being forced to retire after an injury. Dan has assisted hundreds of players reach their goal of playing college baseball and has developed relationships with college coaches across the nation through his time as a player and during his career in the college recruiting department at Baseball Factory.

Factory Alumni Update

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

Here are more Factory alums that have had outstanding performances early in the year:

College Notes:

Taylor Dugas, University of Alabama, OF
Dugas, a Team One and Under Armour Pre-Season Alum, has hit from the minute he walked onto the Alabama campus. That hasn’t changed this year as he is off to a .351, six 2B, one 3B, four SB start. His LH bat looks to be selected high in this June’s MLB Draft.

Logan Ehlers, Howard College, LHP
Logan emerged as a top LHP at Baseball Factory’s Christmas Camp and solidified his standing with an outstanding outing at the 2008 UA Pre-Season AA event. He is off to tremendous start this season with a perfect 4-0 record, a 0.90 ERA and 33 Ks in 30 IP. The other ace of the Howard College staff is Factory alum Clayton Crum. Clayton is also 4-0 with a 0.92 ERA and 25 Ks in 19.2 IP. This duo has helped lead Howard to an 18-2 start and a #5 national ranking.

Josh Elander, Texas Christian, C
Elander was an under-the-radar prospect prior to attending a Baseball Factory Tryout in the fall of 2007. After that he starred at the 2008 Under Armour Pre-Season AA and then at the UA All-America Game at Wrigley Field where he put on one of the most impressive HR Derby displays you will ever see. He has already helped lead TCU to a CWS appearance during his college career and looks to be a 1st round pick in this year’s MLB Draft. He is hitting .388 this season highlighted by his game-winning hit in the 12th inning that led to a victory over UTSA. That hit capped a 5 for 6 day that included three RBI and two SBs as well as throwing out the only opposing base stealer that tried to run on him.

Jordy Hart, Utah Valley State, OF
Hart is an outfielder at Utah Valley State. He participated in a Baseball Factory Tryout and at Team One West in his high school days. Last week the freshman led the Wolverines to an upset victory over #11 ranked Arizona State University. Jordy had two 2-out triples, scored three runs and drove in five in the 9-6 win.

Jacob Hoyle, Western Carolina, 1B
Jacob worked his way through the Factory system as a Tryout player, a member of the Under Armour Fall Classic team and ultimately as an Under Armour Pre-Season AA. This season at Western Carolina he is putting up some of the best numbers of any freshman in the country. The 1B is hitting .391 with seven doubles, two HRs and 28 RBIs including a 2 for 4 day in a recent defeat of Clemson.

Tim Leary, Westmont College, 1B/RHP
Leary is a former member of the Baseball Factory College Recruiting Program and played for the Factory in the Under Armour Southwest Tournament. The 6’8”senior is capping off his tremendous career at Westmont in style. He was recently named the Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Week. He earned the honor by throwing 6 innings on the mound giving up one run and striking out seven while hitting a double, two HRs and five RBIs for the week. On the year, Leary is hitting .396 with nine doubles, 10 HRs and 42 RBIs, recently becoming Westmont’s all-time career leader in runs batted in.

Austin Maddox, University of Florida, RHP/C
Austin is starring for the #1 ranked team in the nation, the Florida Gators. This former Under Armour All-American is 1-0 with six saves on the mound. He has not given up a run this year and has not walked a batter while striking out 22 hitters. He is also hitting .333 at the plate.

Benton Moss, University of North Carolina, RHP
This former Under Armour All-American has taken his high level ability and intelligence to the college level and found early success. Benton is 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA for the Tar Heels. He has struck out 15 and opposing batters are only hitting .203 against him.

Brando Tessar, University of Oregon, RHP
Brando was a high school standout, participating in a Baseball Factory Tryout, Team One West and the Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament. He was lights out for the Ducks last week with a complete game shutout of the University of Connecticut. He gave up only four hits and struck out six in the win. He is 3-0 with a 3.55 ERA for the season.

High School Notes:

Byron Buxton, Appling County, OF/RHP
The top high school player in the country and Under Armour All-American has gotten off to his expected outstanding start. Byron’s hot hitting has led his Appling County team to a 10-0 start and a #1 ranking in the GACA Coaches Poll. Although he may be the 1st player selected in the June MLB Draft as an OF, he has also excelled on the mound this season with a combined no-hitter to start the season and a 6 inning 14 K performance against #3 Pierce County in his last outing.

Trey Killian, Mountain Home, RHP
Another of last summer’s Under Armour All-Americans who is off to a hot start. Fresh off his basketball season, Trey led the Mountain Home squad to a 3-0 win in its first conference game of the year. The RHP went the complete seven innings in the shutout, giving up three hits and striking out 15.

Jesmuel Valentin, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, SS
Jesmuel, one of last summer’s Under Armour All-America Game MVPs is having an outstanding early season with the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. He is hitting .714 with 6 doubles, a triple, three HRs and 22 RBIs while playing his usual high level infield defense.



Steve Bernhardt is the Executive VP of Baseball Operations with Baseball Factory. Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt formerly served as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.

The Bad Fight

Guest Blogger: Inner-Sports

by Garret Kramer

Here’s something that, in my opinion, you should do as soon as possible: Start experiencing your struggles and stop struggling with your experiences. Sound tricky? Think of it this way: Everyone feels low from time to time; we all struggle. But if you can roll with the lows—experience what it’s like to feel out-of-sorts as opposed to fighting it—then your lows won’t be as crippling or last as long.

To illustrate, say you wake up in a lousy mood. You’re thinking negatively and feeling blue. But rather than go about your morning, you try to figure out the external source of your blue mood; reasoning that once it’s unearthed you’ll feel better. Is it the client you had to deal with before you left the office last night? Is it the children you have to hurry off to school? Is it the meeting with your accountant scheduled for later? And as you continue this search, all of these things, and many more, become problematic. Why? It’s simple, by searching outside you are combating your low mood instead of experiencing it.

Do you know the difference between having an experience and fighting it?

The truth is that it’s impossible for any external circumstance to bring you down. Only your thinking can do this. So, in looking to your circumstances, you are not only giving them erroneous power, you are adding strength to your own innocent thoughts and feelings as well.

For example, the other day I met with a hockey player who, with the trade deadline fast approaching, was convinced that he was going to get traded. He was in a foul mood since he didn’t want to go to another team, or so he thought, and he was sure that he was going to feel this way until the deadline past. However, once he grasped that his mood was the by-product of his insecure thoughts and not the external predicament of being traded, he began to settle into the experience of feeling insecure. That’s not to say that he relished the experience, he just didn’t battle it. And you know what? Without anything changing on the outside, his well-being started to ascend.


All experiences, even when it doesn’t feel this way, are opportunities.

In other words, the hockey player didn’t fight an inner fight that he could never win. He understood that his bound-up thinking was temporary; he was merely riding a roller coaster that would eventually carry him upward to a viewpoint of clarity, calm, and perspective.

The bottom line is that external circumstances are always neutral. The fact that you think is the one and only reason that you struggle. Thus, the next time you get stuck in your thinking and feel down, simply have the experience—don’t fight it in any way. And one more thing: It won’t feel this way at first, but even the most difficult experiences are, in reality, pointing you in a direction where opportunities lie. As I said, start embracing these experiences as soon as possible.


Garret Kramer is the founder and Managing Partner of Inner-Sports.com. Inner-Sports evaluates and then coaches athletes of all ages on the behavioral characteristics that lead to peak performance on and off the field of play. Inner-Sport’s evaluative partner has created the behavioral assessment used at both the National Hockey League and the Major League Lacrosse scouting combines. Inner-Sports and Garret work with Baseball Factory players at select player development events.

Factory Players Staying Hot

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

Here are more Factory alums that have had outstanding performances early in the year:

College Notes

Aaron Brown Pepperdine OF/LHP
Aaron was impressive in the 2010 Under Armour All-America Game and is already making an impact as a true freshman at Pepperdine. He has three saves in three appearances without allowing a run and is hitting .293 with three doubles and 10 RBIs at the plate

Kris Bryant San Diego 3B
The former Under Armour Pre-Season All-American has been tearing it up for the University of San Diego. Kris is hitting .412 with three doubles, a home run, 12 RBIs and three stolen bases.

Dylan Butler Louisiana-Lafayette OF
Dylan, a 2-time Under Armour Pre-Season All-American, helped lead the Rajun Cajuns to a 3-1 victory over Houston. He went 3-4 with two RBIs and made an outstanding game-ending catch in the right field corner to seal the victory. He already has three HRs and 12 RBIs this season.

Kevin Gausman LSU RHP
Gausman was lights out in the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game and has carried that over to his brief LSU career. The redshirt sophomore is slated to be picked in the top ten selections of this June’s MLB Draft. In the meantime, he is off to a 3-0 start with a 1.86 ERA and 20 Ks while only allowing 2 BBs.

Matt Hillsinger Radford OF
Matt was a Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout performer and was selected to play for the Baseball Factory’s 16U Team that competed in the USA Junior Olympics. Now at Radford, his early-season numbers are a .362 average with three doubles, a home run, 10 RBIs and four SBs

Kevin Jordan Wake Forest OF
The best story in college baseball last year looks to be having a happy ending this season. In a well-documented and incredible story, former Under Armour All-American Kevin Jordan missed last season recovering from a kidney transplant operation. The donor of his new kidney was Wake Forest’s Head Coach Tom Walter. On March 6th, Kevin hit his first collegiate HR in a 13-4 win over Valparaiso

Ryan Kramer Dickinson RHP
This former Team One North pitcher had a dominant day in his first start of the season. Ryan pitched 5 23 innings, allowing only two hits, in a win over Pitt-Bradford. Of the 17 outs he recorded – 15 were by strikeout.

Deven Marrero Arizona State SS
The consensus top college SS in the country is swinging a hot bat. Deven is hitting .387 with a HR, six RBIs and two SBs on the year. He also continues to show the outstanding defense that was on display in the 2008 Under Armour All-America Game and he should be a top 10 selection in this June’s MLB Draft

Shane Mattingly Washington College RHP
Shane spent many hours doing private lessons in the Baseball Factory Headquarters. All of his hard work has paid off so far this season with two strong pitching performances. He is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in two starts. He has allowed 2 hits and struck out 16. His outing against City College of NY where pitched the first six innings of a no-hitter helped him earn Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Week honors.

Aaron Nola LSU RHP
Aaron’s last start was a dominant effort in a 5-0 win over Tulane. He went eight shutout innings to earn the victory. For the year, this former UA Tryout player is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA and has walked two and struck out 20 in his five appearances. Nola received some support in the win over Tulane from Factory alums DH Grant Dozar (2-3, RBI), 2B Jacoby Jones (1-4, SB, Run Scored) and C Ty Ross (1-4, RBI)

Jerrick Suiter TCU OF/RHP
The 2010 Under Armour All-American is off to a great start in his freshman season at TCU. Jerrick is hitting .435 with a 3B and four RBIs and also has a scoreless appearance on the mound

Phil Ruzbarsky Richmond OF
Ruzbarsky was a stand-out at Baseball Factory’s 2007 Omaha Pro Select Training and Tournament. This season he is off to one of the best start’s in the country for Richmond. He is hitting .432 with four doubles, a triple, five home runs, 14 runs batted in and two stolen bases.

Brett Winger Michigan 1B
Brett, a former Team One South participant and Under Armour Pre-Season All-American, is swinging the bat well for the Wolverines. The first baseman’s fast start includes a .357 average, three doubles, a triple, two HRs and 10 RBIs

High School Notes

Two of the top LHPs in the nation turned in outstanding early-season performances. Both young men are from California and pitched in last summer’s Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field.

Cole Irvin Servite LHP
Cole’s first outing of the season was a successful one. He threw six innings and struck out nine in a 6-1 win over Mia Costa

Kyle Twomey El Dorado LHP
Kyle was equally impressive as he tossed five shutout innings in a 6-0 win over San Clemente. Kyle struck out seven in his outing and got some offensive help by way of a Chris Rivera homerun. Chris is one of the top 2013 players in the country.

Jose Mesa, Jr. Flanagan RHP
Jose threw at an Under Armour Tryout just prior to the season and flashed a 90-93 mph heavy fastball and a wipe-out slider. Apparently he has maintained that stuff as he threw a no-hitter against Cypress Bay in his last outing – striking out 18 in the game. He is 3-0 already this season and has 31 Ks in his last 13 innings.


Steve Bernhardt is the Executive VP of Baseball Operations with Baseball Factory. Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt formerly served as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.