The Next Step: NDCL Here I Come

As this is past summer season is officially in the books, I now look back and evaluate the experience as a whole. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I was given, and I know that this summer will undoubtedly aid me in furthering my career as a baseball coach. Having the chance to run my own staff, institute a throwing and conditioning program for all pitchers on the team, and travel throughout the states to multiple tournaments (including a World Series tournament); all pretty much for the first time, is something I will never forget.

As I look back on our pitching staff, I can confidently say that every single kid who put in the time and work all summer long, showed improvements as the summer progressed (that rings true for the entire team, position players included). Working with guys like Brett Nasello and Josh Appel, who will be attending schools in the states this fall to further their baseball careers, was a real treat for me. Because I knew I could give them a sneak peak at what awaits them in what is now only a couple weeks; they definitely have a leg up on the rest of the incoming freshman pitchers at their repspective schools. Guys like Andrew Gangadeen, Elliot Sebastian, Lucas Donovan, and Cole Kaiser, (who have 1-2 years left in the program) showed great promise and the talent to pitch competitively at the collegiate level. Each and every one of these guys were extremely coachable and I would like to thank every single one for the chance to work with them.

If our staff learned half as much from me as I learned from both them and Coach Sheppard combined, then I'd say that I did my job pretty well. I wish the entire OBJ 18U White team and the Ontario Blue Jays organization as a whole, nothing but the best and much success in their future endeavors.

Now the time is upon me to start looking forward to my next coaching opportunity. There's always a  next step, right? And no, it is not as the Student Assistant at Lake Erie (as was posted before). I thought long and hard about all my options over the summer and explored them to the fullest. I was offered and in turn accepted a position as an Assistant Baseball Coach at Notre Dame Cathedral Latin (NDCL) in Chardon, OH. I met with Head Coach Jim Clark last month to discuss the position; I will be working with the Freshman and Junior Varsity pitching staffs and will serve as either the Assistant JV Coach or Head Freshman Coach (this will be determined at a later date). I'm excited about this chance to coach in one of the most reputable Division II High School programs in the state of Ohio. However, due to OHSAA rules, baseball practices cannot officially start until February. So it's going to be a long offseason!

By the time February rolls around, I know I'll have the itch to get back on the field again. I might even have that itch by next week! Scratch that, I definitely will have that itch by next week (pun intended). But until that time, I will be focusing on getting ready for May 2012, which is of course when I will finish my undergrad degree. Also, in that time I will have started an internship at Cleveland Whiskey that I'm sure will keep me quite busy.

As updates on my impending career choice become relevant, they will be posted on OAOTD. Let's hope these next 6 months fly by, NDCL here I come!

You can also find any and all updates on my twitter feed: @_CamCastro. And for more information on NDCL click here.

Taking Shape and Taking Flight

With this past Storm season officially in the books, we take some time to respect the progress the program has made and the direction it continues to head in. The 2011 season brought a school record in wins and an overall record of 21-26. This resulted in a 7th overall place finish (we were picked to finish 10th in the preseason) in the conference and a near conference tournament birth. Unfortunately when we had it in our grasps, it slipped away. We finished 4.5 games behind the fourth place finisher Saginaw Valley State University. Two GLIAC teams, Grand Valley State University and Wayne State University received bids to the Midwest Regional Tournament, with GVSU advancing to the Division II College World Series. To them we tip our caps. However, we competed fiercely with both of those teams, and we know that we are not far off their pace.

This season also heeded five, count 'em FIVE, Storm members receiving All-GLIAC honors. Shortstop Ryan Rua and Outfielder Brandon James were bestowed First Team honors. Outfielder Matt Toth was named to the Second Team; lastly First Baseman Jae Leeworthy and Relief Pitcher Doug Fox received honorable mentions. Furthermore, Rua and James were also named First Team All-Midwest Region, and Toth was awarded Second Team. These recognitions vouch for themselves, but they undoubtedly represent just how competitive the program is and how good of a ship Head Coach Brian McGee is currently sailing.

Now I turn my focus inward, with finally having accepted the decision that my playing career has unexpectedly come to an end (which believe me is THE hardest pill I have ever had to swallow), I am officially setting my sights on landing a Graduate Assistant coaching job pending graduation next May. As I have previously posted, I've already started to get the ball rolling on this; Friday June 3rd I will be leaving for Ajax, Ontario. Where the Ontario Blue Jays 18U White team awaits. Due to recent staff changes with the team, I will be assuming full responsibilities as the team's pitching coach. I'll be developing and implementing a throwing program and conditioning regiment for each individual pitcher. If I aim to be a college pitching coach and eventually a head coach, this is a great starting point. I also expect to learn and retain a lot of good solid baseball knowledge from Head Coach Kyle Sheppard, which will only increase my capabilities and skills as a coach.


Another opportunity recently came across my plate that I'm still exploring and looking into. With my playing career at an end, but still one more year to go here at Lake Erie College, Storm Coach Brian McGee has generously offered me a position as the Student Assistant Coach for the 2011-2012 academic and athletic year. The details of this position are still in the works but I fully expect it to be an awesome learning experience, and something that will only further aid me in landing that Graduate Assistant job next summer.


With the experience I gained last summer as the head coach of the Lorain Saints, my upcoming position with the OBJs, and my impending role with the Lake Erie Storm for next season; my resume and reputation as a baseball coach is quickly taking shape. It's looking more and more like this dream of mine (to stay involved with the game of baseball in anyway I can for as long as I can) is honestly turning into a reality. OAOTD (On and Off the Diamond) now turns its attention up north, with many posts to come over the summer relative to the OBJs 18U White team and the experience(s) that it results in.

I've been rifling through my brain recently, to come up with a one-liner for the summer that not only sufficiently (and temporarily) replaces Rage On, but also does justice to my goal with the Ontario Blue Jays and associates well with the Blue Jays name. And after much deliberation, I have landed on something that I think really encompasses all of these aspects. Until next time, Take Flight.