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.

World Series Bound

When I arrived in the Greater Toronto Area on June 3rd, the Ontario Blue Jays 18U White team was 3-13. A little rough, I know. Nearly Two Months and 29 games later, the teams' record sits at 16-29 (13-16 since my arrival). Believe it or not (emphasis on BELIEVE IT), we are now only days away from traveling to Youngstown, OH for the NABF World Series!

During my constant talks with Head Coach Kyle Sheppard before my arrival, a reoccurring theme seemed to be our sub-par record. I stood confident by one particular statement I made to him, "Don't worry, we will hit our stride." And sure enough we did, within weeks we were fielding a competitive team with a winning attitude day in and day out. Our stride couldn't have come at a better time. The coaching staff knew after our trip to Virginia Beach that we were ready for our Regional Tournament, and had a real shot at making some noise in Altoona, PA.

After playing only three games (out of a scheduled five) in Altoona and posting a 2-1 record; the OBJs took second place and were thought to be eliminated. But due to an exception made by the NABF-WS committee, the Jays were granted a birth in Youngstown.

With an impending 15 team round robin tournament, the OBJ 18U White team is more than ready for the challenge ahead. Only one team workout stands in our way of pursuing that proverbial World Series Ring.

For anyone that will be in the Youngstown area August 4-7, watch out for the Jays of Ontario! Until next time, Take Flight!