NOW AVAILABLE! OUR LATEST ISSUE
Special Report On Sultan Of Stealing
Selwyn Young’s system has produced 2,915 stolen bases in 3,437 attempts over 15 years and broken many NCAA records.
Impossible Achievement Accomplished
Brady Ware of Indianapolis explains how he was able to throw a no-hitter and hit for the cycle in the same game.
Nightmare Scenario Takes Place
LHP Cam Guarino goes into Transfer Portal and lands at Georgetown. In his first outing, a line drive fractures his hand.
Weighted Ball Training Started In 1963
Baseball’s greatest inventor Danny Litwhiler came up with the idea which helped improve velocity and curves as well.
There is much more in this issue. To see what is covered, CLICK HERE.
Wake Forest No. 1 In CB’s NCAA Div. I Poll
Wake Forest (45-9) is ranked No. 1 for the third straight time in Collegiate Baseball’s NCAA Division I baseball poll presented by Big League Chew bubble gum.
The Demon Deacons, which beat Virginia Tech. two of three over the weekend, became the first team since North Carolina in 2017 to win all 10 ACC series in a season. They also set a program record for regular-season wins with 45. Wake Forest leads all NCAA Div. I schools in seven categories, including ERA (2.72), hits allowed per nine innings (6.57), shutouts by pitching staff (9), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.41), strikeouts per nine innings (12.0), WHIP (1.03) and win-loss percentage (.833).
To read the entire release, including the top 30, CLICK HERE.
CB’s May 22 National Players Of The Week
Collegiate Baseball’s National Players of The Week, powered by Diamond Sports, features a hitter who belted 6 home runs and 2 more who hit 5 home runs.
In addition, a pitcher was a major part of a no-hitter while 3 others fanned 12 batters, plus much more.
To read all of CB’s National Players of The Week, CLICK HERE.
Barbe No. 1 In National H.S. Poll
After capturing the Louisiana Division I non-select state championship, Barbe (Lake Charles, LA) is No. 1 for the fifth straight time in Collegiate Baseball’s National High School Poll powered by Diamond Pro.
Barbe finished with the best record in school history at 39-1 and won 20 straight games to close the season.
The Buccaneers capped a remarkable season by defeating West Monroe (LA), 10-4 to win its third state title in four years and 12th state championship overall.
For the season, Barbe posted a team batting average of .368 and a team ERA of 0.89 with a record 20 shutouts. The team stole 188 bases, recorded 92 doubles, 21 triples (a school record) and 28 home runs. They averaged 8.9 runs per game.
To read the entire top 30 and extensive notes, CLICK HERE.
Understanding GPS Can Help You Hit A Curve
Our brains track moving objects by applying one of the algorithms your phone’s GPS uses, according to researchers at the University of Rochester. This same algorithm also explains why we are fooled by several motion-related optical illusions, including the sudden “break” of baseball’s well known “curveball illusion.” To read more, CLICK HERE.
Special Q&A With Virginia’s Brian O’Connor
Virginia Head Coach Brian O’Connor and his coaching staff orchestrated one of the most amazing comebacks in college baseball history in 2015.
O’Connor led the Cavaliers to their first national baseball championship at the College World Series.
Due to injuries, Virginia lost 8 of 11 games at one point. They suffered through 4 losses in a row twice and 3 in a row 3 times.
Because of the injury epidemic, Virginia trotted out 31 different starting lineups over a 61-game span, and Cavalier position players combined to miss 146 games last season.
To read more, CLICK HERE.
Stotz Explains His Recruiting Techniques
Possibly the greatest recruiter in college baseball history was Dean Stotz of Stanford.
He retired after the 2013 season and was Mark Marquess’ top lieutenant for 37 seasons with the Cardinal. His ability to evaluate and recruit players was second to none.
In this article, Stotz explains for the first time what his secrets were to churning out numerous top 10 recruiting classes over the years that allowed Stanford to win two national titles
To read more, CLICK HERE.
Resilience A Must In Baseball, Military
When it comes to winning any type of championship, survival is the operative word. How teams handle trying times during the season determine their fate.
One of the top sports psychologists in the world is Ken Ravizza, and he explains how crucial it is to be resilient not only in baseball but the military and how this leads to better performances.
Both have much more in common than you realize.
To read more, CLICK HERE.
20 Great Ways To Use Cell Phones In Coaching
Since the mid-1980s, cell phones have been widely available to the public.
As they have become more sophisticated over the years, they have turned into miniature computers called smartphones that have numerous software functions, e-mail capability and internet browser functions that have become an indispensible tool for coaches.
For the first time, Collegiate Baseball is exploring many of the technological advantages coaches can gain with smartphones.
To read more, CLICK HERE.
Schreiber Discovers Breakthrough Technique
One of the most creative uses of cell phones is being utilized at Alvin Community College. Jason Schreiber, assistant baseball coach at Alvin Community College (Alvin, Tex.), listened intently to a lecturer speak at a convention.
“That person said that we retain 10 percent of what we hear, 50 percent of what we do and 90 percent of what we teach someone else,” said Schreiber.
“A light went on in my head when I heard that. I was fascinated with the 90 percent figure. I wondered if my players might be able to teach me about certain baseball concepts they were having trouble with on the field which would allow them to learn concepts more efficiently. The big problem was that there was not enough time in practice to have my guys teach.
“Then it hit me that my guys could teach me concepts they were having trouble with via the video capability on their cell phones. Every kid has a cell phone with video capability.
“What I discovered was remarkable. Not only did I know for certain my players understood what we were teaching through these videos they made. I learned kids today take great pride in the videos they produce — so much so a player’s sense of urgency goes up dramatically when you have them teach a skill they do not perform well. Often the result is that player finally understands the concept and performs better on the field.”
To read more, CLICK HERE.
Iowa Western’s Incredible Coaching Wizard
One of the most incredible stories in college baseball history is unfolding at Iowa Western Community College.
Located in Council Bluffs, Iowa near Omaha, this school has accomplished what many thought was impossible — three NJCAA Division I national championships over the last five seasons all under an amazing coach named Marc Rardin.
In the 57-year-history of the NJCAA World Series, Iowa Western is the only Iowa junior college ever to win this prestigious event and the first Northern District representative to win it all.
In 12 seasons at Iowa Western, Rardin has led the Reivers to eight NJCAA World Series, won 10 consecutive regional titles and eight Northern District titles. Consider the tremendous challenges his teams face every season.
Many high profile NJCAA Division I baseball programs offer 24 full ride scholarships for baseball. His program has the equivalent of 10 full rides.
No player in the last 12 years has been given a full ride, and typically he gives out 1/2 scholarships to his athletes. All outdoor activity stops for 3-plus months from mid-November through February as practices take place indoors because of bone chilling weather.
To read more about Marc Rardin’s amazing system, CLICK HERE.
SPECIAL REPORT: Cardinals’ Potent Running Game
The University of Louisville has put up staggering stolen base numbers over the past eight years under Head Coach Dan McDonnell.
During the past two seasons, the Cardinals have stolen 150 bases (second nationally) in 2013 and 133 in 2014 (second nationally). In his first year with Louisville in 2007, his ball club swiped 153 bases (second nationally).
In six of the eight years, his teams have pilfered at least 89 bases. His tough-minded teams also refuse to allow pitchers to throw inside as his batters have been hit 100 or more times in five of the eight years and ranked first nationally in 2013 with 129 hit by pitches, second in 2012 with 115 HBP and sixth last season with 109 HBP.
Having more men on base and stealing efficiently allows his teams to have more runners in scoring position which has allowed Louisville to score over 400 runs seven of the eight years he has been with the Cardinals.
For more on this story, CLICK HERE.
U.C. Irvine’s Gillespie Explains How To Stop Stealers
With the home run becoming increasingly rare in college baseball, the running game on offense is more important than ever.
In 2010, the year prior to BBCOR bats being mandated for use by college programs, NCAA Division I programs averaged 0.94 home runs per game, according to the annual statistics’ trends compiled by the Association.
In 2011, that average dropped nearly in half to 0.52 with the new bats in use. The last two years, Division I teams have averaged 0.42 home runs per game in 2013 and 0.39 in 2014 — the lowest home run numbers in over 40 years.
Programs which are adept at stopping the running game of opponents have a big advantage when it comes to winning in today’s game.
Few coaches in college baseball have the track record that U.C. Irvine Head Coach Mike Gillespie has when it comes to shutting down base stealers.
To read more of this story, CLICK HERE.
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