Maintaining Strength Training

Yesterday the 2015 season began for the Defiance College Baseball team. In addition to team practices, the coming weeks of our own version of Spring Training will include not only individual workouts for pitchers, catchers and position players - but also time devoted in the weight room as well. So I thought I'd give a little insight into how we manage the strength component of our program during the season.

Our position players and pitchers [including dual guys] lift in two separate groups, two days per week - so that we're able to effectively manage the space in our weight room. Positionals typically lift after practice [Monday & Friday] while pitchers come in during the day [Tuesday & Thursday] to get their lift in. The program that we outline is derived from Eric Cressey's High Performance Handbook. Eric Cressey in my opinion, is the top resource for coaching strength & conditioning in overhead athletes.

Springing into Action

Welcome back to the Diamond! Since last I left you, the Defiance College and Defiance High School baseball teams had just officially announced their second straight Northwest Ohio Baseball Day w/ the Pros. The event was another huge success, with upwards of 200 people in attendance - all enjoying the fan fest atmosphere with big leaguers Jon Niese & Marc Krauss, as well as seven other minor leagues and 2 former pro-ballers. One of these two included local legend, Ned Garver - Garver who pitched 14 years in the big leagues from 1948-1961(including a 20-win season in 1951). I dare to say that Ned stole the show, with his stories of baseball's storied past and tales of losing out on the MVP award to Hall-of-Famer, Yogi Berra!


Mets LHP Jon Niese (left) & Indians minor league RHP Dace Kime (right)


Hit the jump to read about the Yellow Jackets' countdown to Spring Training!

 

Spring (Training) is Over

One of the great parts about the game of baseball is it can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere and at any time. And as it turns out, Spring Training is no different. Harry Caray said it best, "It's the fans that need spring training. You gotta get 'em interested. Wake 'em up and let 'em know that their season is coming, the good times are gonna roll."

Just as much as these past four weeks have served to aid the Yellow Jacket baseball team in sharpening their skills and getting both their bodies and minds ready for the coming season - it also serves as a reminder that [college] baseball is back. And at least until May, it's here to stay.

The Diamond has put together an official Spring Training wrap up and behind the scenes account of what the Niners encounter on a daily basis. A special 'sneak preview' was shown today to the Jacket faithful at the team's First Pitch Luncheon at Scotty's Club 111. Re-done and set to a different tune, take a look at DC Baseball's Spring Training summary.

Opening Day is less than a week away, on Thursday (2/28) the Niners will depart for Florence, KY to take on a regional opponent - MIAA's Calvin College. Not able to make it down to the Bluegrass State? No problem, live stats can be found at www.DefianceAthletics.com

Also follow the Diamond on Twitter for daily updates of the 2013 season and a continual look inside Defiance College Baseball.

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

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Cage Bombs

Have you ever wanted to know what it's like once you step into the cage? Once that cage door shuts, and its only you and the other guy? Some call it Thunder Dome and some just call it 'live bullpens'. Whatever your fancy, take a peak inside the cage as the DC Yellow Jackets experienced a little Cage Rage recently. It was just too much to contain!

What's the Buzz?

• Pitchers have had three live bullpen sessions so far, with one more to come later this week.
• Equipment for both the players and coaches has started to roll in.
• Individual workouts for both position players and pitchers continues to roll on and will likely conclude the last week of Spring Training.
• Internal discussion of movie selection for the team's trip to Ft. Myers, FL has increased rapidly as of late. Take a look at the leading vote getter.
• DC Baseball opens up in Florence, KY on March 1st to take on the Calvin Knights.

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @OnOffTheDiamond

A Breed of their Own

George Herman 'Babe' Ruth was once quoted as saying, "Pitching just felt like the most natural thing in the world." The Diamond recently went behind the scenes of Defiance College Baseball Spring Training, and picked up some footage of a few pitchers in their 'natural' habitat. They really are a special breed. Once again, thanks to Brad Kremer for his craftsmanship behind the lens - take a look at how senior pitchers Aaron Patterson and Jake Taylor passed the time in between live bullpen sessions this weekend. 

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @OnOffTheDiamond

One Week Closer

Week One of Spring Training officially concluded this past Saturday, as the DC Baseball Jackets took some time off yesterday to recoup for round two. Spring Training breaks down in a few different ways for the Niners - consisting of individual workout times for both position players and pitchers, team practices and various weight sessions. Only 24 days until the Jackets journey down to Florence, KY for Opening Day to take on Calvin. In the meantime, Spring Training rolls on today - here's a recap of last week and also a preview of what's in store for the Purple and Gold:

What's the Buzz?

• Following an introductory team meeting on Jan. 27, Spring Training kicked off on Jan. 28 w/ indy workouts, team practice and a position players' lift.
• Juniors Darin Waterman, Brad Kremer and Aaron Helland were selected to the HCAC 'Players to Watch List'
• Team defense and drill work repetitions were the theme of the first few days of practice.
• Pitchers threw their first bullpens on Friday (2/1) and will throw again Tuesday (2/5).
• Hitters will see their first live pitching since #YJC action, this weekend (2/9 & 2/10)
• DC Baseball opens up in Florence, KY on March 1st to take on the Calvin Knights.

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

 

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @OnOffTheDiamond

Preparation Makes Perfect

With only six days left until the Defiance Yellow Jacket baseball team kicks off Spring Training, how have you been passing the time during this long anticipated wait? There are many popular methods out there; some people pass the time with exercising and staying fit, some are getting their lumber ready for BP and some have spent their time relaxing and waiting to report.

 

For the Diamond, even throughout these cold months, the preparation never stops. January 28 will be here soon.

 

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

 

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @OnOffTheDiamond

'Round the Corner

If there is one countdown that is universal throughout the game of baseball (besides Opening Day, of course) - it's the countdown of the days leading up to Spring Training. That's right folks, Spring Training is right around the corner - and for the DC Baseball Yellow Jackets, January 28th not only marks the first day of spring practice, but also the first team practice since October 6th. To keep them busy, the Niners have been working diligently in the classroom and also in the weight room - staying on top of their offseason strength & conditioning regiments.

The Diamond's Twitter feed will be posting daily updates on the countdown to Spring Training; and rest assured - OAOTD's coverage will be more in depth than this:

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

 

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @OnOffTheDiamond

The Wait Continues

Five days and counting. Five days until the first team conditioning for the NDCL Baseball Lions. It has been over a month (44 days to be exact) since I've stepped foot on a diamond. Which needless to say is 44 days too long!

It's been a long grind for me, but I've continued to stay positive. I'd be lying to you if I told you it has been easy for me to be here at Lake Erie while no longer being a "Student-Athlete". All I've known for the past three years was being a member of the Lake Erie Baseball Team. I thought it was my identity. But I soon came to realize that it wasn't. Your identity is what you make it, people respect and like you for who you are, not what sport you play (even at a small athletically consumed school like LEC). Being a Lake Erie Baseball Player didn't make me who I was, my character did.

Someone once told me that "Your character makes you a legend." I have let this concept take hold of me, and I am not looking back.

But the countdown is officially upon us, this Fall semester is flying by. With each passing day we draw closer and closer to pitchers and catchers reporting (Spring Training). It's still hard for me to put into words just how excited I am about this upcoming season at NDCL, although it is still unknown exactly what position I'll be in (Junior Varsity Assistant or Head of the Freshman Team).

I have also begun to explore more possibilities in the coaching realm. The chance that I will remain at the high school level is becoming more and more likely. Even though no definitive answer will be made until the late spring of 2012, a solidified role in the NDCL program for the imminent future is still in the cards.

Ultimately, I will have some very important and significant choices to make, but for now I'm just taking things Day by Day and waiting. Waiting for February that is! While also looking forward to our team's conditioning program to start, however due to Ohio High School Athletic Association rules (OHSAA) the coaching staff still cannot do any hands on instruction (which is why the entire month of February has a big red circle around it on my calendar). So for now, the wait continues.

Any and all updates concerning NDCL will come from my Twitter feed (#NDCL #pitchersandcatchers #springtraining)