Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Positive Attitude

Never get down on yourself for anything. Yeah, you might mess up every once in awhile or lose a game. Don't put yourself down because of it. Look at the positive. Make yourself better from your mistakes. Work through your weaknesses and turn them into strengths. The only enemy is yourself.

Hitting

Hitting is a major part of the game of baseball. If you can't hit the ball then you're going to have a rough time playing at the college level (unless your a pitcher only of course). Hitting can be complicated but I have found a website that will help with the aspect of hitting. Here is a great website of the proper techniques in hitting. Go out and get better! Good Luck.

Hitting Practice Drills

Extra Work

Don't go in doing the bare minimum to get by. What I mean is don't settle on just going to practice and that's it. Go to the batting cage on your free time and get better at something. Go to the field and practice your fielding. Go the extra mile and get better not only for yourself but your team as well. No one's going to make fun of you for trying to get better. In fact, it may inspire others to do it as well.

Study, Study, Study!

Your first semester is possibly one of your most important. The transition into college life is hard. Exams are harder, homework is harder, and balancing everything is harder. Make sure you use your free time wisely. Get your studying in and make your life easier. The more you study, the easier the homework, the easier the exams, and the easier it is to play baseball. Good grades allows you to play. Bad grades don't. I know you didn't come to fail school. Make sure you study and work hard in everything on and off the field.

Pitching

Pitching is one if not the most important aspects of baseball. Without a good pitcher, you aren't going to win. Pitching is an art. You can't just go out there and expect to be a pro at it. It takes practice just like everything else. Check out this website to learn about all the different pitches and how each is thrown. Definitely a good site for anyone wanting to learn!
Different Pitch Grips

Baseball

If you love baseball enough to play it in college, here are a few pointers.

1) Do what you're told. You're not at the top of the food chain anymore like you were in high school. You're with grown men and they won't stand for a know-it-all freshman.

2) Play your heart out. Leave nothing behind. Chances are you're playing there for a reason. You probably have scholarship money and if you don't play to your potential, they can give that money to someone who will.

3) Have fun. Yeah the intensity is picked up in college ball but what did you expect? Go out there and play the game you love. Improvement is always an option.

College in General

College is a time of transition from teenage years to adulthood. Yes you'll probably do stupid things while in college but I'm pretty sure everyone does. There are times to be serious and there are times to joke around and have a good time. It really is true when they say it's the best time of your life. So don't waste it partying every night and losing your privilege of being there. Balance your social time and work time and have fun in the process.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

The First game as a freshman

I know you're going to be nervous for your first game. Who isn't? It's your time to show everyone what you got. You're against the big boys now. Or better yet men. The goal to getting through your first game is to relax. Remember what your doing. You're playing the game you love! Go out there and have fun. Never let your nerves take over your capabilities. If you're playing college baseball, you're on that field for a reason. You know how to play the game. Just go out there and do your thing. Always get better and learn from your mistakes.

Practices

The practices are much more intense and focused than high school practices. You're going to just have to deal with that. Here at Muskingum, we have been lifting 3 to 4 times a week which is 3 to 4 more times than I did in high school. Also, the coaches aren't as laid back as it may have been in high school. You're at these practices for a purpose, to get better. The coaches don't want you wasting theirs, your teammates, or your time so if you aren't going to put in the effort to get better, maybe college baseball isn't the life for you.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Balancing baseball and classes

Balancing work load in and out of the classroom can be hard but it spreads you apart from the rest of the students. You're playing a sport, studying for classes, and balancing the social life. It's not easy in any way but if you put your mind to it success will come your way. The best thing to do is to plan ahead. Organize yourself in a planner. Put when your classes are, big tests or papers, when practices and games are, then fit in studying and being a college kid. You got to have a good mind set to get through college as it is. Throw a sport into the mix and it gets harder. You have to know when to be serious and when you can goof around. Just as in baseball, you gotta know what you're doing every moment or it could cost you the game. Go in aggressive and come out on top!